Funding & Finance

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News, opinions and advice on capital raising and finance strategy.

How should the CCI deliver funding to startups and research organisations?

A little over one week ago, the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, issued a call for public comment to help inform the development and operation of the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute. Over the past seven days, we have been pressing our readers to get involved and provide a 'private sector' perspective (after making the seemingly unpopular suggestion that commercialisation in Australia has been hijacked by public servants with MBAs). Today, we're turning our attention to the last section of SmartForm, which requests suggestions for the delivery of funding.

Clive Peeters’ $20m internal fraud – are you vulnerable too?

The Australian business community is still reeling from the news that a Clive Peeters employee managed to embezzle $20m before anyone noticed. The obvious question arises: is anyone safe from this kind of fraud?

The hard sells hear some home truths

It's not an easy game standing up in front of a crowd of 120 people and pitch to a panel of hard-to-please angel investors, as 11 brave entrepreneurial souls did recently at the Melbourne Pitch Club event (held 25 June).

At last, a Federal grant for IT

The Federal Government has just launched a new grant for third party service providers to help small and home based businesses with: • ‘free or low cost’ IT skills development • training and mentoring services • improved web presence and e-business capability Funding is available up to $500,000.

CSIRO-developed hybrid battery secures US$32.5M, but who profits?

So while this $US32.5 million US Government funding for UltraBattery is certainly a tremendous validation for the technology and the CSIRO researchers who developed it, the international licensing option pursued means that Australia will, in all likelihood, only receive couch change from what stands to be an extremely lucrative venture for the foreign companies (Furukawa Battery Company and East Penn) that are actually doing the commercialisation.

You have 90 seconds to pitch. GO!

If you were given the opportunity to stand up for 90 seconds and pitch your company to a panel of angel investors and a raucous, how would you fare?

The benefits of Australian VCs and US VCs

August is Venture Capital Month at Anthill and last week we launched a new series written by San Francisco-based Steve Anderson focusing on the capital raising cultures in Australia and the US. Today, Anderson discusses the comparative advantages and disadvantages of pursuing funding from Australian VCs or US VCs.

Delivery of specialist advice (CCI ‘Call for comment’)

Yesterday, as a continuation of our five part blog series calling on members of the private sector to join me in responding to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research’s 'Opportunity for Comment', we asked readers to help us respond to the first part of the Department's SmartForm, 'Addressing the Commercialisation Gaps'. Today, we're turning our attention to the second section, which we're calling: 'Delivery of specialist advice'.

Cool Company Awards, 2009 – Nominations Open!

It's on again. Over coming weeks, we'll be scouring the nation for Australia's coolest companies. It's the first stage in Australia's most innovative business awards program - The Nomination Phase.

Venture Capital by Design: Seminar

This first event in Anthill's upcoming 'Tunnel Talk' series, held in conjunction with Design Victoria, is a two-part initiative developed for business builders, commercial...

Addressing the commercialisation gaps (CCI ‘Call for comment’)

Yesterday, I posted an article calling on members of the private sector to join me in responding to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research's Opportunity for Comment to "help inform the development and operation of the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute." Naturally, I invite you to join me and post your own responses to each section, as a way to encourage open dialogue and the sharing of opinions. This way, when you do formerly submit your thoughts, you will do so informed by the views of many.

Addressing the commercialisation gaps (CCI 'Call for comment')

Yesterday, I posted an article calling on members of the private sector to join me in responding to the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research's Opportunity for Comment to "help inform the development and operation of the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute." Naturally, I invite you to join me and post your own responses to each section, as a way to encourage open dialogue and the sharing of opinions. This way, when you do formerly submit your thoughts, you will do so informed by the views of many.

When business is booming, but the cupboard is bare

An over-efficient accounts payable person can be the worst enemy of cashflow in a business, writes Sue Hirst.

Minister Carr wants to know how you would spend $196 million

For those unfamiliar with the proposed Commonwealth Commercalisation Institute (CCI), the initiative was announced as part of the 2009 Budget. At the time, Nick McNaughton, writing for Anthill, made the observation that the CCI should be viewed as welcome relief, citing Powering Ideas - An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century and Australia’s failure over the last decade to keep up an appropriate level of investment in innovation compared to our peers.

A guide to angel investing (ebook)

Designed to help high net worth individuals become successful Angel Investors. Angel investing involves active mentoring and coaching of an early stage management team towards a successful exit or additional funding, probably from a venture capital firm. This book sets out a comprehensive and rigorous process which will help the Angel generate deal flow, evaluate investment proposals and manage the investment and subsequent harvest. The book also provides a useful guide to managing operational risks in the venture.

"A guide to raising angel and venture capital finance (ebook)"

This eBook by celebrated Australian entrepreneur and lecturer Dr Tom McKaskill was developed as entrepreneur’s guide to securing venture finance.

“A guide to raising angel and venture capital finance (ebook)”

This eBook by celebrated Australian entrepreneur and lecturer Dr Tom McKaskill was developed as entrepreneur’s guide to securing venture finance.

Capital raising complexity and why I haven’t blogged

I’m in the middle of raising another round of capital and it occurs to me that one of the costs of professional investment, especially with VCs or Private Equity firms, is complexity. Not many people talk about this.

Website of the Week: HelpMeChoose.com.au

Last year, the continued emergence of online consumer voice and choice collided with the global economic downturn, delivering consumers both the will and tools to demand a greater level of accountability from their financial service purchases. Enter HelpMeChoose.com.au...

Funding in the US – Holy Grail or Holy Hell

August is Venture Capital Month at Anthill and today we’re launching a new series written by San Francisco-based Steve Anderson focusing on the capital raising cultures in Australia and the US. Today, Anderson discusses the pros, cons, illusion and reality of raising capital in the US.
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