Entrepreneur
In his former career, Melbourne entrepreneur Joel Smith played AFL with Hawthorn Football Club. Today, he is the CEO of Gavl, a digital tech start-up transforming the way people engage in what is arguably their favourite pastime outside of sport: real estate. Launched in October 2016, Gavl is an app-based platform that lets users watch […]
Australia’s ‘AirBnB of storage’, Spacer, has signaled its intention to become the global leader in space sharing with the acquisition of US start-up Roost. Like Spacer, Roost is a peer-to-peer marketplace for shared storage, commercial and parking space. The acquisition will see Spacer take control of Roost’s database, tech platform and customers. Spacer will also […]
When Fergus Watts reluctantly hung up his AFL boots a decade ago, he wasted no time in reinventing himself. Today, the 31-year-old steers Bastion Collective, a privately-owned communication agency that is forecast to turn over $20 million in 2017 and which counts NAB, Continental Tyres, Blackmores, Kathmandu, PowerCor, Witchery, Mirvac and Stocklands amongst its clients. […]
Mobile recruitment platform Found has closed its most recent funding round, bringing its total funding to $2.5 million. Red Bull Holden Supercars owner Roland Dane, Dimmi founder Stevan Premutico and MYOB CEO Tim Reed have come on board as investors, with the latter two joining Found’s advisory board. Established by Andrew Joyce and Peter Marchiori […]
Seventeen businesswomen were inducted into the Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame this week. Now in its 19th year, the initiative celebrates female business owners, including social entrepreneurs, who are not only trailblazers in their industries but role models for other women. The Businesswomen’s Hall of Fame was developed by Suzi Dafnis, the founder and CEO of HerBusiness […]
What is mojo and why should having it matter to you? Mojo is having passion, drive and a clear plan to get what you want in your business. Mojo makes everything run smoother and makes it that much easier for you to stay focused and determined. Mojo is the juice you need to achieve your goals. […]
Melbourne-based audio tech startup nura made headlines, last year, when its flagship product – ‘nuraphones’ – attracted US$1.8 million on Kickstarter, making it the most-funded Australian campaign ever. Since then, the company has continued to gather pre-launch support for their headphones, described by one investor – UK music industry veteran Ric Salmon – as a […]
Industry recognition has proved a huge boon to Adelaide Green Clean (AGC), the sustainable cleaning and waste management company named the 2016 Telstra South Australian Business of the Year. AGC founder and CEO Jordan Walsh credits the win with fast-tracking a merger negotiation, which in turn “brought business growth forward by at least five years”. […]
Based on the global growth potential of her personalised video marketing start-up, Data Creative, Renece Brewster was recently selected to participate in EY’s 2017 Asia-Pacific Accelerating Entrepreneurs program. The program, which involved a strategic growth forum in Rome, earlier this month, provided the Melbourne businesswoman and 23 other entrepreneurs with support, expert guidance and network […]
By the time their DIY teeth whitening brand had been on the market for 18 months, HiSmile co-founders Nik Mirkovic and Alex Tomic had generated $10 million in global e-commerce sales. With just $20,000 in start-up capital, the young Queenslanders bootstrapped their way to success by harnessing digital and social trends, including influencer-led marketing, to […]
“Motivation” is the snake oil of modern society. These days, it seems like every half-decent public speaker and author is shelling out advice on staying motivated, kicking goals and winning at life as though there’s a simple formula that the rest of us are too foolish to grasp. It’s not that simple. The Tony Robbins(s) […]
Launched in November, last year, Melbourne start-up Vollie is breaking down barriers to tech-savvy millennials engaging in volunteer work. In addition to satisfying the demand for skilled labour from not-for-profits, including charities and social enterprises, co-founder and managing director Matthew Boyd said the online platform is helping professionals progress their careers and companies demonstrate their corporate […]
We hear over and over again that businesses need to innovate otherwise they risk being chewed up and spat out by disruptive forces. But creating a company culture where people can be innovative is easier said than done. I recently sat down to talk about innovation with Xero’s former Managing Director, Chris Ridd. Ridd made an […]
Less than two years after Woolworths purchased a 25% stake in Adore Beauty, the e-commerce site’s founder and CEO has announced a buy-back, citing a loss of strategic alignment. Kate Morris, who set up Adore Beauty in Melbourne in 1999, then aged 21, explained that while funding from Woolworths had helped Adore grow by 125% […]
Underpinned by a readily scalable solution to multiple pain points in the education sector, Canberra EdTech start-up Quizling has secured partnerships with some of Australia’s most prestigious cultural institutions plus funding from leading angel investor groups. Having amassed thousands of local users since launching a year ago, co-founders Dion Oxley and Damien Trask are looking […]
When launching her handmade Jewellery business in March 2014, Melbourne designer Erin Browne resolved to take a gradual approach. The decision was fuelled by her desire to self-fund the brand, which meant part-time work, and form a deep understanding of the market she was entering. Wanting a hands-on education in ecommerce, she opened an online […]
If you have an entrepreneurial spark, with a focused passion and unwavering determination to start up your own business, you’re off to a good start. While the experience of setting up your first business can teach you invaluable lessons, many of those costly start-up mistakes can be avoided by investing in a Master of Business […]
Each year, an estimated 15 billion trees are cut down worldwide to produce paper, timber and other consumables. Terrified by the statistics, Sydney-based entrepreneur, designer and self-proclaimed ‘eco-warrior’ Ziah Lane launched 100% tree-free tissue brand NO ISSUES, eager to drive a consumer revolution that would help preserve the planet for future generations. Validation, both of […]
Sydney-based tech start-up Audience Republic, which helps event organisers boost ticket sales, today closed a $525,000 seed investment round. Co-founders Jared Kristensen, a former promoter, and Jason MacLulich, ex CTO of GoCatch, raised capital from Artesian Capital and QUT Creative Enterprise Australia. Funding also came from angel investors Radinck van Vollenhoven (Stocard’s MD, formerly with Spotify and […]
The decision to launch a start-up is often justified by statements such as “it was time to do something on my own”, “now was as good a time as any” or “it’s too good an opportunity to pass up”. These statements, while high on enthusiasm, are low on balanced consideration. While all opportunities carry a risk and […]
