Innovative technology startups gain access to extra $40m growth capital
Sydney-based venture capital firm OneVentures has been appointed as the fund manager for an extra $40 million of venture capital funding from the Federal Government's Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program.
Could Facebook become a threat to mobile operators?
Ovum's latest report states that Facebook is invading mobile operators space and could potentially become a very serious threat. However, mobile operators aren't taking Facebook as a serious competitor but rather as a business partner.
Peepoo: Solving the developing world’s messy toilet problem
According to a report in the New York Times, Swedish entrepreneur Anders Wilhelmson has developed and tested a biodegradable plastic bag that acts as a single-use toilet for urban slums in the developing world. The Peepoo can be buried after use, where a layer of urea crystals kills off pathogens that produce disease and converts the waste into fertilizer.
Australian businesses very satisfied with their group buying campaigns
A new survey shows that 95% of businesses that use group buying websites to sell to sell products or services are happy with the results of their promotions which have brought them new customers and increased foot traffic.
Australian importers should be cautious, says Travelex
Travelex has issued a a word of caution to Australian importers and SMBs so they be careful with their purchasing practices in a moment when the $AUD is strong.
Creative Industries Innovation Centre serves monthly business advice — and it’s free
Businesses operating in the creative field will be able to discuss their challenges in a free one-hour session with senior consultants in a new service beginning this month. The CIIC Biztro, an initiative of the Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC), will be available in five cities.
NSW seeks young entrepreneurs for Round Table series
Are you a business owner under 35 living in New South Wales? Industry & Investment NSW is inviting young NSW entrepreneurs to a Round Table event on Friday 4 Jun 2010 (3pm to 5pm). This event was developed to help the NSW Government gain a better understanding of the hurdles and expectations of young people who are starting and running a business.
500 interstate electricians to help in Queensland flood recovery
Over 500 electricians from all over Australia have joined the National Electric and Communications Association in a effort to help inspect more than 30,000 homes and businesses that were affected by the floods in Queensland.
Entries now open in 2011 NSW Export Awards
The awards are open to all NSW companies that are doing business in the international marketplace. Award categories recognise the range of exports from the State and include small business, manufacturing, information and communications technology, services, and agribusiness.
City of Melbourne grants $55,000 for local business to start up and expand
The name of the seven recipients of the City of Melbourne’s 2011 Small Business Grants, Social Enterprise and Micro Business Grants Program have just been announced. The total of the grants amount to $55,000 which will allow Melbourne’s businesses to start up and expand.
Amex survey reveals small business to be healthy and quickly adaptive to slowdown
Small is indeed beautiful when it comes to business structures. Economists who have for long trumpeted the virtues of being small should be able to pat themselves in the back one more time as small enterprises show great resilience, not to mention optimism, despite fears of a global economic crisis. A survey by American Express reveals that a majority of the nation’s small businesses are quickly adapting to the adverse economic conditions and a third expect to increase profits despite from a slowing, and fragile, global economy.
April5 has been awarded a $20,000 Enterprise Connect innovation grant
Marketing agency April5 has secured a $20,000 Enterprise Connect innovation grant to develop and implement business strategies and plans which will increase productivity and growth.
Research: Smart phones and dumb employees are a toxic mix
Smart phones have brought both the world and the office to the palm and pocket, enabling increased productivity for the workforce on the move. However, this new-found freedom has exposed a mountain of previously secure company information to the threat of theft and destruction at the hands of cyber criminals.
FlyingSolo.com.au
There are more than a million solo business owners in Australia. If you are one of them, check out FlyingSolo.com.au.
Eventarc raises some cool funding from Domenic Carosa’s FCDF
Founded by web-developers Scott Handsaker and Andrew Edwards in November 2009, Eventarc has turned over AUS$4million in transactions in the past 13 months. That's approximately $300,000 per month. Becoming quickly revenue positive has proven to be an important factor when picking investments for the Future Capital Development Fund (FCDF), according to Domenic Carosa.
NSW government partners with Tom McKaskill to create online tool for high-growth business
The NSW government is set to earn serious brownie points with aspiring business folk. It’s launched an online resource for entrepreneurs to facilitate high growth. Serial angel investor Dr Tom McKaskill joined forces with Industry & Investment NSW and the Australian Technology Showcase to develop the High Growth Diagnostic, currently in beta.
The best way to gain attention in the information age
In the 1920s, Ernest Hemmingway sat around a table of fellow writers and bet them that he could write a story in just six words. With great disbelief, the writers took his bet. Hemmingway quickly wrote six words on a napkin and passed it around the table. The words were: “For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” On the issue of brevity, Hemmingway was a man ahead of his time.
Businesses for sale reaches record high, says the latest BizExchange Index
According to the latest BizExchange Index of Private Company Values, the number of small businesses for sale has achieved a new record. Keeping up with the trend registered in the last quarters, the September quarter BizExchange Index shows that Australian business owners continue to try to sell their businesses while market sentiment remains negative.
Is broadband jargon too hard to understand? 91% of Australians think so.
Compare Broadband, a broadband comparison site, recently conducted a poll which showed that 91% of Australians think that the use of complex jargon by internet services providing companies makes choosing a broadband plan difficult.
More and more Australians are adopting multichannel as their typical shopping behaviour
Australian consumers are changing their buying behaviour and are increasingly adopting multichannel as their favoured way of engaging with brands and products. The research indicates that multichannel shoppers will spend between three and six times more that store only shoppers.