James Harkness

Seven companies have become the nation’s first crowd-sourced funding (CSF) intermediaries after receiving Australian Financial Services (AFS) licenses from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Under the CSF framework, which commenced in September 2017, Big Start, Billfolda, Birchal Financial Services, Equitise, Global Funding Partners, IQX Investment Services and On-Market Bookbuilds have been authorised to […]

Despite having only launched in January, last year, Checkbox has already amassed a small fortune of accolades. Notably, the Sydney-based regtech startup was named Regtech of the Year at the Australian FinTech Awards and Best SaaS Startup at StartCon in Sydney. In addition, CEO Evan Wong took out the Westpac Innovation Challenge and StartCon Pitch […]

The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) has called for the Federal Government to improve the financial outlook of SMEs by introducing a loan guarantee scheme and legislating maximum payment times for business-to-business transactions. In its 2018 pre-Budget submission, the IPA – a professional accounting body representing 35,000 accountants, business advisers, academics and students – made […]

RBA data reveals the average interest on small business loans is the lowest it has been since at least 1993, with owners paying $9 billion less than they were six years ago, according to the Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA). Noting that small businesses are a significant driver of the economy, ABA Chief Economist Tony Pearson […]

Undertake test-and-learn initiatives and dare to take risks. Map out the year’s objectives. Quickly become indispensable to critical business partners. Embrace new technology (or go the way of Kodak). Improve the digital experience for customers.  These were just some of the recommendations yielded by our first “Let’s Talk…” feature for 2018, which posed the following question […]

In closing its latest funding round, Canva has seen its valuation surpass US$1 billion mark, making it the second Australian startup after Atlassian to obtain Unicorn status. [See also: Let’s Talk… Growth (Is there anything wrong with aspiring to be a unicorn?), “We’ve only achieved 1% of what we know is possible,” says CEO of […]

A national accelerator program geared towards indigenous entrepreneurs has helped nine startups become viable commercial enterprises.    Run by early stage investment group Investible, the inaugural Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) accelerator saw participating entrepreneurs gain insights and experience from a line-up of startup founders, mentors and investors over eight weeks. In total, entrepreneurs were introduced […]

Splend, Australia’s leading supplier of rental vehicles for the ride sharing drivers, has secured a $7.2 million investment from Element Fleet Management, positioning it realise the next phase of its global expansion plans. In exchange for the strategic investment, Element has secured a 12.5% stake in the two-year-old business, which previously received funding from Investec […]

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has released a cybersecurity guide to educate business operators about the risks and help them prevent cyberattacks. Noting that 60% of small firms that experienced a cyber breach went out of business within the following six months, Ombudsman Kate Carnell said operators couldn’t afford to be complacent […]

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has warned banks not to pass moral judgment on appropriately registered and regulated adults-only businesses. Kate Carnell said she had written to the Australian Bankers Association to express her concern that banks are discriminating against the legitimate adult industry by withdrawing or failing to provide financial services. […]