Getting Plugged Into the Startup Scene

ICT Illawarra – Lightening Talks, NovemberGeoff McQueen, Internetrix & Hiive Systems

Being an entrepreneur can be very isolating

Australia is a small market a long way from most of the world’s tech in Silicon Valley

You can dramatically increase your chances of success by learning from others

Fortunately, there is a large community of entrepreneurs, many of whom are willing and able to help you

It’s the community, stupid

Active and high quality mailing list◦ A bit over a year old◦ 732 members◦ 3781 posts

Regular Friday Drinks◦ Bar 77, Grace Hotel, Sydney

More info at www.siliconbeachaustralia.org

Silicon Beach

Run in NSW by Dept Industry & Innovation

Free to join, but need to have good tech

Run or connect to range of activities & events◦ Recently put on the Tech 23 conference◦ Also arrange for discounts to trade shows, etc

Also $20K in matched funding available

More info at www.ats.business.gov.au

Australian Technology Showcase

Informal meet-ups for Sydney Entrepreneurs

Run by Kim Heras, editor of TheNextWebAU every 2nd Thur

Good mix of wantrepreneurs & more established players

More info at:www.meetup.com/open-coffee-sydney/

Open Coffee

Roughly quarterly evening events in Syd◦ “This is NOT about starting. This is about

growing”.

Good selection of speakers & networking

Drinks are usually funded by a sponsor

A few regulars from Wollongong

More info at www.growthtown.com

Growthtown

Have been 5 since Sep 08, held in Syd (2x), Melb (2x) & Canberra (1x)

Come up with idea, build product, launch product, pitch business in <2 days

All volunteer driven

More info at:www.startup-australia.org

Startup Camp

Bar Camps are informal, conference style meetups with open agendas & little planning

Provide an opportunity to share ideas & meet diverse people in the tech community

One on this Saturday, 21st at ATP, Redfern

More info at: www.barcamp.org/BarCampAustralia

Bar Camps

Plug into the wider, global community

Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders from the Stanford Technology Ventures Program◦ Search on iTunes or go to ecorner.stanford.edu

Watch leading tech summits, streamed online◦ Web 2.0 Summit: tv.web2summit.com◦ Consumer Electronics Show: www.cesweb.org◦ and many, many more

Podcasts & Remote Access