Anthill Magazine

So how did 'The Great Recession' on Monday become "The Great Recovery' by Friday? Well it didn't, but in between the beginning and end of the week, we did have a remarkable run of good data to boost our spirits (such evidence is now better known as 'green shoots' after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke used the term to describe a positive run of data showing signs of a possible recovery).

In today’s information highway, there is no shortage of advice on how to invest in the stock market, but very limited information on how to invest in private companies. The only way you can really get out of a private investment is when there is a liquidity event, such as a trade sale or IPO. This may take years, if it happens at all, so there are certain steps you should take prior to investing in your neighbour’s ‘exciting new venture that’s sure to go global’.

How do businesses determine their price to customers?

Okay, this is, for some people, going to be an uncomfortable column to read as I am going to seriously challenge what for many seems like an obvious 'conventional wisdom'. In many cases it is better for the planet if you offset your carbon emissions than if you reduce them via your own in-house efficiencies. The woman with the fully carbon offset Hummer is probably a better friend to the planet than the man in his non-offset Prius.

Sometimes the hardest thing in business is not finding customers; it is being paid for the product or service you provide. As Australia's economy slows, the average age of accounts receivable is stretching many smaller and emerging businesses to almost breaking point.

University of Queensland Business School's Enterprize competition is a rare thing - a business plan competition that doesn't ask winners to give up an...

Last week, we posted the first in a series of video excerpts from a panel discussion at the 2009 Anthill Smart 100 Awards, held in April at Digital Harbour in Melbourne's docklands. We received lots of positive feedback about Liesl Capper's insights on innovation and commercialisation in Australia, but it turns out you are an impatient bunch. So here we're posting the introductory insights of all five members of our master innovator panel - Ryan Trainor, Campbell Rose, Janine Kirk, Liesl Capper and Tim Pethick. We'll post part two – a more free form discussion – next week.

Last week, we posted the first in a series of video excerpts from a panel discussion at the 2009 Anthill Smart 100 Awards, held in April at Digital Harbour in Melbourne's docklands. We received lots of positive feedback about Liesl Capper's insights on innovation and commercialisation in Australia, but it turns out you are an impatient bunch. So here we're posting the introductory insights of all five members of our master innovator panel - Ryan Trainor, Campbell Rose, Janine Kirk, Liesl Capper and Tim Pethick. We'll post part two – a more free form discussion – next week.

From the 'indomitable spirit of entrepreneurship' file comes this curious video report by the New York Times about two lower-class Pakistani brothers who defy threats from conservative local Islamists and manufacture fetish and bondage wear for Western customers, earning more than US$1 million a year.

Social networks are fundamentally reshaping the newspaper and TV industries worldwide. In an earlier article, "What the newspaper industry needs to do to survive", I explained the changing dynamics of the newspaper industry. In this article I look at where TV is headed.

The winning websites and digital campaigns in this year's Webby Awards - dubbed the "Oscars for the Internet" - were announced last night.

It wasn't so long ago that Angel investing in Australia was considered to be disorganised and largely anonymous. Last week, the Australian Angel investor movement...

Although there is much investment capital available in Australia, raising it can be a tough road for entrepreneurs, particularly for early-stage or start-up companies....

When aiming to generate media coverage for our start-up or business, we often get one thing wrong. It relates to our training as marketers. We are too targeted.

Nearly 12 months after the Federal Government's surprise decision to axe the popular Commercial Ready Grant Scheme, Nick McNaughton embarked on a mission - to plot the impact of its closure on Australian innovation. In his first report, McNaughton heads to the coal-face, seeking feedback from those most affected by the cut - technology developers and members of the early-stage investment community.

Jarrad Woods, a video game developer for Canberra-based studio 2K Australia, notified his employers of his decision to quit by creating a Flash game for them to play.

Earlier this year, prominent UK PR agency Taylor Herring compiled a list of the Top 50 Publicity Stunts. Some of them created a global buzz, some were very expensive and some were downright illegal. But they all succeeded in turning heads and getting chins wagging, which surely put a smile on the brands being publicised.

A highlight of the 2009 Smart 100 Awards was a panel discussion focused on What and Who Drives Innovation in Australia. In this video excerpt, Liesl Capper, founder of MyCyberTwin.com, shares her thoughts on the current market, investors and customers.

In April 2009, the winners of Anthill's inaugural Smart 100 assembled at Digital Harbour in Docklands, Victoria. Nominate for 2010. Smart 100 Awards Cocktails 2009...

In an effort to secure required development funds and a way forward, open source media software platform Miro today announced its revised business model: adopt a line of the software's code.