Renata Cooper

It seems surreal that we are in December already. The year has flown past and, what a year it has been. Change seemed to be the only constant through 2014.

Earlier this month I was in San Francisco and New York. This was my first trip to the US as an angel investor and in spite of hearing all about how different and dynamic the market is compared to Australia I was still amazed.

The importance of community engagement is a foregone conclusion. It is a crucial growth component for businesses of all sizes. In an increasingly experience driven and co-creation led economy, excellent community engagement is a brand’s utopia.

In 2013, Google commissioned a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) research to identify ways to accelerate the growth of Australian tech startup sector. The research found that this sector has the potential to contribute $109 billion or 4% of GDP to the economy.

Entrepreneurs and business owners get into the game for many reasons. Money, power, to change the world, help people, leave a legacy or just as an alternate to working for someone else.

Investing in startups used to be something only millionaires and the über wealthy could afford or even think about. But times have changed.

When you start a business, you have a fair idea of whether you are setting it up as a primary source of income or as equity that you can divest for a profit in the future.

With the $484.2 million Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Program giving small business up to $20,000 in loans, a cut in company tax for those earning below $5 million taxable income and other measures, there’s a lot to smile about.

The Australian economy is at an interesting period of transition.

We just wrapped up our Kickstart Your Business Grant that received over 300 applications. The applications were a good indicator to how businesses were structured to grow by sourcing funding.