#Start Ups
Why trademarks matter to start-ups, and the secrets to getting them right
Trademarks do more than identify your brand, they provide several business and legal benefits at relatively low cost. Yet many start-ups make elementary mistakes, such as leaving trademark registration too late, which can haunt for years to come. A recent David and Goliath case highlights why trademarks matter. Stylkea, a niche small business providing stick […]
Why startups can’t afford to ignore design and branding when launching their product
Design is more than just a pretty font and it can’t be just an afterthought. Instead, it’s a quintessential element of product strategy, inextricably linked to business success, that must be considered from day one. If I told you that the best startup idea in the world would fail in today’s internet age without design […]
Aussie start up founders react to the budget
These Aussie start up founders share their thoughts on the Federal Budget reveal earlier this week, giving us an insight into how SMEs are going to be affected – the positives and the negatives. Carl Hartmann, Co-founder at ShortLyster “The part of Mr Frydenberg’s speech most relevant to the startup sector was his […]
Let’s Talk: The X Factor
Today we’re discussing customer retention and what businesses need to do to in order to achieve the so-called “X Factor” with their audiences. Customer experience is becoming increasingly important as the ability to share positive or negative reviews online is so easy in today’s digital age – and it can be very damaging to a […]
Is outsourcing a positive or negative for businesses?
Jacqui Miller, founder of Dynamic Business Outsourcing Solutions (DBOS), believes that the right kind of outsourcing can be instrumental in accelerating business growth and financial wellbeing. Outsourcing can be viewed as negative, particularly by unions and job hunters, however with changing work cultures and technological advancements, outsourcing is now more widely available as an option […]
Four accelerators granted access to $9m fund to grow Queensland’s start-up ecosystem
The Queensland Government is granting four industry-focussed business accelerators access to a $9 million fund to create jobs and rapidly grow up to 120 early stage businesses and start-ups between them. BlueChilli, Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast, QUT Creative Enterprise Australia (CEA) and Unearthed are the first four accelerators to receive funding from the Advance Queensland […]
5 reasons businesses fail & how to avoid it
Too often we hear of businesses going bankrupt and startups closing their doors because times are tough. Over 50% of small businesses fail in the first year and 95% fail within the first five years. But why is that? And more importantly what can you do to avoid this happening to you? The following 5 […]
What’s in store for Australian tech entrepreneurs in 2016?
2015 was undoubtedly the year of startups and entrepreneurs. It was the year that took the likes of Uber, Atlassian and Canva to new heights and put the brakes on Dropbox, Snapchat and Twitter. Collaborations between brands and people grew, but so did our need for niche products and individuality. We also saw digital become […]
What can we learn from fintech disruptors?
On Tuesday Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, declared: “there has never been a more exciting time to be in fintech,” – but in truth, there has never been a more exciting time to be in any kind of innovation. We can’t deny that technological innovation came late to financial services but it’s here now and it’s […]
The legal industry: fast asleep while technology enables a new model for start-ups
The challenges for traditional industries are intensifying. After decades in the driving seat, technology is now striking the heart of what some industry sectors have traditionally kept to themselves. And arguably, it’s about time, as a new wave of technology enabled start-ups are finding more efficient ways to deliver services tailored to a client’s needs […]
StartupAUS outlines Federal policy priorities to improve start-up scene and strengthen economy
Australia’s national peak advocacy group for technology entrepreneurship, StartupAUS, has outlined its Federal policy priorities to improve capital and talent for Australian startups and strengthen economic prosperity. The recommendations were presented to The Hon. Christopher Pyne, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science last Friday 9th October at a special board meeting. Policy action items recommended […]
Businesses must embrace innovation and ‘think like start-ups’
Research findings released today have shown that smaller Australian businesses value innovation more than larger businesses. The results, revealed by the Commonwealth Bank Business and Innovation Study, also showed that roadblocks to innovation include a lack of ideas, time and resources, business partners who are all talk and no action, and a lack of data […]
Tech leaders and start ups excited by Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister
Tech leaders have expressed new found enthusiasm and excitement following Malcolm Turnbull’s appointment to Prime Minister this week. As a founding director of Australia’s first internet company, OzEmail, Mr Turnbull’s credentials and acumen are expected to deliver a boost to tech start ups across Australia. “He understands the challenges we face in regard to tech disruption […]
Is it worth it? The 5 questions to ask before you turn your idea into a business
How many times has it happened, another week ends and you feel like it was the longest in memory. You ask yourself, why do I do this job? What is the alternative? What would change bring? The reality could be that if you changed jobs you would find yourself in the same situation in a […]
Starting up? 5 big questions to ask yourself before you do
Kind words can perhaps unintentionally disarm an entrepreneur into believing that it is obvious they will succeed. So before you turn your great idea into a business, there are some tough questions you need to ask yourself.
Want to be a successful start-up? Take the ‘lean’ approach
The lean start-up approach means that when you launch any new business or product you do so based on validated learning, experimentation and frequent releases.
Disrupting loyalty: How start-ups are hacking customer acquisition and retention
More and more, people are comparing your brand less to your competitors, and more to the best of the best brands in the world.
Visa overhaul to fuel innovation
Start Up Australia has welcomed a new proposal to try and boost innovation and entrepreneurialism by changing the residency rules for wealthy Chinese investors, but called for more details on the plan.
Government to move on employee share schemes
The start-up community is set to benefit next year from changes to employee share schemes and progress on the setting of clear crowd source funding rules. The start-up and venture capital sectors have loudly complained about tough conditions for aspiring tech entrepreneurs, warning they are forcing many to relocate overseas and damaging Australian competitiveness. The […]
Banks urged to collaborate with start-ups
The man in charge of the government’s financial system inquiry, David Murray, has warned that accommodating technological advancements that lift productivity and drive competition will prove a key future challenge. New innovation, particularly in the payments system, is disrupting the banking sector with emerging payment providers like PayPal and Google now competing with traditional institutions. […]
Business school aims to disrupt the education sector
It’s a concept that Ryan Trainor hopes will disrupt the education sector and provide budding entrepreneurs with the skills to succeed in business.
Australia improves its innovation standing
Australia has moved up two places on the 2014 Global Innovation Index (GII) and recorded the top ranking for trade and competition.
Banks face disruption from start-ups
The wealthy financial services industry is being targeted by emerging tech start-ups keen to take a share in the huge profits being generated in the sector. The founders of two of Australia’s most successful technology companies, SEEK and Atlassian, this week warned that the “insane” profits of the major banks (amounting to nearly $30bn per […]
Leading entrepreneurs fear future of engineering
Matt Barrie, founder of Freelancer.com said engineering is the foundation of successful new start-ups, yet new enrolments for the degree at Australian universities continues to fall.