At just six years old, Eagleby’s Hendrix Demarchii is gaining international attention after his pet treat business, Hendrix Pet Co, won Startup of the Year at the 2026 Global Recognition Awards.
Hendrix started the business by selling natural dog treats at local dog parks, carrying stock on his scooter and taking EFTPOS payments himself.
His mother, Jamison “Jamie” Sky, said the idea came about while she was walking dogs for a local family, work she had been doing for about a decade.
She said Hendrix became fascinated by the idea of earning and managing money himself, with his first payments from the dog walking work going into his own account.
“He was learning about money,” Ms Sky said.
“All of a sudden, now that I wasn’t purchasing anything for him, he really stopped and thought, ‘Do I really want that? Do I really need that?’”
The business idea came after Hendrix spent months getting to know dog owners at local parks while playing with their pets.
“I said to him, ‘Why don’t you next time you’re in there sell dog treats?’” Ms Sky said.
The pair began by buying a small amount of treats from a pet shop to test whether there was interest.
“He sold out,” she said. “I went, ‘Okay, so there’s a demand.’”
From there, Ms Sky helped source a Queensland manufacturer while Hendrix chose the branding, packaging and products himself.
The business has since expanded through repeat customers and word of mouth, with Hendrix now in discussions with retailers and veterinary clinics while developing a pet food line.
The Global Recognition Awards receive about 15,000 applications each year, with fewer than 6% recognised, Ms Sky said.
Judges described Hendrix’s venture as a genuine business operation rather than a novelty project, citing his direct customer engagement and community involvement.
Alongside the business, Hendrix has written a book about entrepreneurship and recently appeared on radio and television segments.
Despite the growing attention, Ms Sky said her son’s favourite part of the business remained simple.
“He likes being around the people and playing with the dogs,” Ms Sky said.
“It’s not about the profit for Hendrix, that’s not what pushes him.”
Ms Sky said the experience had also taught him confidence and persistence.
“He’s a go-getter,” she said. “He says yes.”
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