Profiles
The art of juggling
80-hour work weeks are not uncommon if you’re the founder of a startup – building a business is a tough gig, particularly in the online space where competition is so fierce.
Profiles
Startup hopes to sock it to the competition for a good cause
Entering an established industry is a bold move for any start-up business, one that requires a compelling value proposition and a key differentiating factor to set itself apart from existing players. Whether it be price, quality, service or strong partnerships, such start-ups need an angle.
Insights
Startup Boyfriend
I’m going to take a courageous step and let you all in on my love life, not so much because I’m a self-important narcissist, but because, as somebody who has been juggling the demanding duties of full time work with building a start-up and trying to maintain a relationship for the past nine months, I’ve learned some lessons in love that I hope other entrepreneurs, often wrapped up in their own little world, may find helpful or at least somewhat insightful.
Insights
Your idea Sucks!
Having recently moved up to Sydney from Melbourne to take on a new opportunity, one of the first ports of call on my list was visiting arguably Australia’s largest start-up conference
Insights
The digital economy and ESOP’s
While Australia’s House of Representatives continues its unrelenting descent into an embarrassing soap opera, the country’s digital economy, while showing signs of growth and immense potential, continues to be plagued by challenges that result in many start-ups packing their bags and heading off-shore.
Insights
Hipsters & Startups
Those who can’t do…start.
Thick rimmed glasses, fixed rim bicycles, skinny jeans rolled up to just below the knee, boat shoes, vegan diets. Okay, you got me, I’m talking about hipsters. Or am I? You’ve probably noticed the convergence between hipster culture and local start-up culture so let’s explore why.
Profiles
Co-working in Australia
Like many things start-up, co-working spaces trace their lineage to San Francisco where, in 2005, Brad Neuberg opened CitizenSpace, arguably the world’s first co-working space. In less than a decade since, over 700 co-working spaces have sprung up around the United States and several hundred more have opened their doors across Europe.
Other
Zendesk [events]
Denmark has many great exports. My personal favourites would have to be Manchester United goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel, rockabilly-metal band Volbeat, Carlsberg and the country’s multi-platform customer support and service desk management solution. Of course, I’m talking about Zendesk.
Insights
Advance Innovation
Advance is an Australian non-profit public-private partnership with communities spanning 90 countries and outposts in New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong and London. Founded by Ken Allen, Advance fosters a worldwide community of Australians, taps into knowledge far and wide and facilitates global career opportunities, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Insights
Startup Profile: 121Cast
While one might be forgiven for thinking that the founders of the Melbourne based 121Cast might have faced some challenges based on their age, Ed Hooper, who we caught up with, insists that that this was never an issue due to their previous involvement in successful start-ups.
Other
Privacy Reforms and You
So you store customer data in an offshore location and the host then sells this information to marketers. An obvious privacy breach. No drama, your contractual clauses will relieve you of any liability, right? Maybe not. You could soon be up for a $1.1m fine.
Insights
Startup Grind comes to Melbourne
Startup Grind, the community of founders, entrepreneurs and ‘wantrapraneurs’, was established in February 2010 in Silicon Valley, by Derek Andersen of RedCommand and TechCrunch fame. The Grind has since expanded rapidly and now has 36 chapters ranging from places such as LA, New York and London to Budapest, Guangzhou, Tel Aviv and most recently, Melbourne.
Insights
“I’m creating an App” – Zzzzzzz
Back in 1988, Flava Flav – the clock-necklace adorned, self-proclaimed ‘hype man’ for legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy – told us not to believe the hype. He was having a go at the media and critics in light of the group’s negative press. He could have just as easily been referring to the mobile apps of a quarter century later.
Insights
Startups left behind in the Asian Century
The Asian Century whitepaper was supposed to be the Australian Labor Party’s landmark answer to the emerging economies of Asia, particularly that of China, Japan, India, South Korea and Indonesia. It was to be our roadmap and response to the fact that within only a few years, Asia will be both the world’s largest producer and consumer of goods and services.
Insights
Startup Profile: Adioso
We’ve all been there. You come up with a seemingly awesome idea but after going through the motions in your head you refuse to pursue it further. You call dealbreaker. For some reason or another, you felt that the idea would not be worth the time, effort or money involved and would probably not scale.
