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Investors back people, not products. Don’t forget it.

Recently, I have been reflecting on a saying I learned from VC friends when I was living and working in Silicon Valley: “Always invest in an A grade team with a B grade product rather than a B grade team with an A grade product”.

Investors back people, not products. Don't forget it.

Recently, I have been reflecting on a saying I learned from VC friends when I was living and working in Silicon Valley: “Always invest in an A grade team with a B grade product rather than a B grade team with an A grade product”.

Can a company really outsource something as important as R&D?

Long before the term ‘GFC’ became common parlance, cost cutting was part of the fabric of business. The question is: are all departments of an organisation eligible for outsourcing or should some be kept close to the company’s chest? Peter Lewis looks at what can be done with Research and Development.

Can a company really outsource something as important as R&D?

Long before the term ‘GFC’ became common parlance, cost cutting was part of the fabric of business. The question is: are all departments of an organisation eligible for outsourcing or should some be kept close to the company’s chest? Peter Lewis looks at what can be done with Research and Development.

The most useful software programs are free (and other things your computer technician doesn’t...

Two weeks ago, David Moore commenced his expose into the secrets of computer maintenance -- rules that are carefully guarded or simply too embarrassing to share. This week, he continues with the uncomfortable truth about brands purchases and the concept of ‘free’.

The most useful software programs are free (and other things your computer technician doesn't...

Two weeks ago, David Moore commenced his expose into the secrets of computer maintenance -- rules that are carefully guarded or simply too embarrassing to share. This week, he continues with the uncomfortable truth about brands purchases and the concept of ‘free’.

Growing your business through the recovery? It’s about combining online and offline value.

So, you’ve weathered the storm that was the GFC. That’s a relief, no doubt. But where to now? Looking forward there is justifiable concern that uncertain consumer sentiment, combined with the absence of the 2009 stimulus package, will see sales remain lacklustre.

Want to be exactly what your customers are looking for online? Tap into the...

This more sophisticated way of searching marks the realisation of a catchphrase which was coined some seven years ago, ‘the long-tail’. The theory suggests that businesses capable of selling specialist, low-volume products to people actively seeking them can collectively match the revenues of large-volume, mass-market products, by...

Are you an ‘ideas man’. I hope it’s a common affliction.

I know myself well enough now to succumb to the rush of a new concept 'that has never been done before', before heading back to the here-and-now. I figure that this sort of activity, although no help to my current workload, is good for keeping my mind active, rather than feeling guilty about never being able to put these ideas into action.

Are you an 'ideas man'. I hope it's a common affliction.

I know myself well enough now to succumb to the rush of a new concept 'that has never been done before', before heading back to the here-and-now. I figure that this sort of activity, although no help to my current workload, is good for keeping my mind active, rather than feeling guilty about never being able to put these ideas into action.

Flipping websites a con?

A post last week from Flippa.com marketing manager Luke Moulton prompted a fierce response from some of our readers. To look at the post, titled 7 things you must do before attempting to sell your website, with its six comments, you wouldn't initially think this to be the case. This is largely because the most passionate responses bypassed our formal comments section.

A tribute to Lego (and some awesome stop motion)

We love Lego. And we have no doubt that you do too. This Friday, we've assembled three of our favourite Lego-related videos, from the educational (MIT’s Eric von Hippel: Open Innovation) to the inspiringly creative (My Desk is 8-Bit by Alex Varanese) to the mind-blowingly, bodaciously awesome (Pixels by Patrick Jean). Happy Friday Anthillians!

Why 2010 is the perfect year to start a company

In this fast and furious clip, filmed at the Churchill Club's 11th Annual Top 10 Tech Trends event in California last month, Steve Jurvetson is given two and a half minutes to explain why he thinks the future looks bright for 'disruptive' startup companies.

Iceland: From boom to bust to haven to where-the-bloody-hell-are-you?

Being a single industry economy is notoriously dangerous. And few countries understand this better than Iceland. Not wanting to remain in the doldrums, Iceland is trying to re-brand itself as a journalistic haven, centre of creativity and popular tourist destination. Cue cart-wheeling citizens.

Australian business investment returning back to 2008 levels [PODCAST]

RMIT economist Steve Kates talks about business investment, which is headed back to 2008 levels. He also looks at construction activity which appears to be flat with reduced investment in residential housing. This will exacerbate the housing shortage. He predicts high debt levels will drive inflation around the world as governments are forced to print more money to stay afloat.

Why Innovation (with a capital ‘I’) is not essential to long term success

Rear vision is a wonderful thing, but if you look at the history of disruptive pioneers you will find the path littered with the corpses of those who dared to be first with disruptions but failed, as is so often the case. The problem is that these pioneers are seldom heard from.

Why Innovation (with a capital 'I') is not essential to long term success

Rear vision is a wonderful thing, but if you look at the history of disruptive pioneers you will find the path littered with the corpses of those who dared to be first with disruptions but failed, as is so often the case. The problem is that these pioneers are seldom heard from.

Three things every Australian startup needs to do this June

This month, in extreme contrast to the harsh winters of yesteryear, Australian startup entrepreneurs could almost be described as 'spoilt for choice'. In fact, my inbox is currently brimming with initiatives designed to promote and support entrepreneurship, seeking Anthill's support.

Seeing the wood AND the trees: Why Andrew Grant sees 'carbon sinks' when he...

Andrew Grant is chief executive of CO2 Australia Limited, the market leader in the establishment and management of major reforestation projects, forests that operate as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide to lessen the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate. He talks about the challenges and opportunities of carbon trading schemes.
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5 Ways to get more out of your coffee shop meetings...

Far too much time is wasted in coffee shop meetings. More often than not, the conversation falls off topic, interruptions cause distractions and, before you know it, the meeting is over and you’ve achieved nothing. That’s what Antony Gaddie calls a Coffee and Doughnut meeting. You get a coffee and… zero. He’s the founder of Green Ant Marketing and he shared with us (over coffee) five things that you can do to help you make the most of your coffee shop meetings.

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Five essential things to get right if you want to raise...

So you’ve got a brilliant idea, or maybe you’ve even started building your nascent business, but you think it might help to bring on some extra money. You try to raise the money, but wherever you go it seems there are roadblocks and challenges, and it’s difficult to know where to start. To help tackle this tricky tropic, we interviewed Bryan Vadas. He’s the founder of iPledg (Australia’s leading crowdfunding platform for creative, commercial, charitable and community projects) and Capital Exchange Australia (an education and funding platform for startups).

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New Zealand’s Xero eyes US IPO, further disruption as subscribers increase...

Xero recently held its annual meeting in Wellington, during which the company revealed some interesting details about its future. As has been widely suspected, the...

OPINIONS & ADVICE