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Design unveiled for spectacular eco-friendly Chinese sports stadium

Sports stadiums have typically been Colosseum-type structures, designed to leave an imposing mark on the landscape. However, as reported in the excellent sustainable design blog Inhabitat, Los Angeles-based NBBJ Architects have turned the stadium concept on its head with this proposed design for China's new Dalian Shide Stadium.

IP Australia issues security warning – Trademarks Scam

The national IP registrar recently received "numerous calls from trade mark owners who have received an invoice from a company known as TMP, Trademark Publisher".

Women entrepreneurs come out in droves for Cool Company nominations

Last year, we were forced to ask the question, 'Where are the female entrepreneurs?' when, according to the nomination form, only 8% of the nominated companies in 2008 were run by women. Of course, our provocatively titled post had our female Anthillians nominate en masse, getting our female contingent up to a more respectable 28%. This year, only one month into the process, nominated companies run by women represent 35% of the total!

30under30 Awards – Now Open!

That's why we launched the 30under30 Awards in late 2007. And that's why we invite you to nominate yourself or a worthy young entrepreneur. The top 30 will be profiled in the Jul/Aug/Sep edition of Anthill Magazine. To nominate, click here.

Is your role functional or is it vital? Chances are, you’re kidding yourself.

As you can imagine, I get sent books all the time. It's one of the perks of being 'Mr Anthill'. Despite being a prolific reader, only a few ever capture my attention. And an even smaller number capture my imagination. Several weeks ago, I was sent the Australian edition of 'Become a Key Person of Influence' by Daniel Priestly. I read it in an afternoon. And, several weeks on, my imagination is still buzzing.

INNOVIC to be restructured

Sad news this week that INNOVIC, the support organisation for innovative Victorian startups, will be restructured due to lack of government funding.

The only interesting thing you’ll read about the election this week

It's been an election dull enough to bore even the most Machiavellian of political pundits. With nothing much ado on the frontlines, the only option left for those in the commentary box is to... well... comment on the commentators. Fortunately, in the era of digital media, analysis has never been more interesting.

When someone asks, What do you do for a living? Do you tell them...

When I finally screwed up the courage to leave the world of corporate cubicles and launch my own start-up company, it presented me with an interesting problem – what do I say when people ask me what I do? At first, I liked calling myself an entrepreneur. It made me feel dashing and innovative, a heady mix of Zorro and Richard Branson. However, now I am not so sure.

No more subscriptions

Earlier this week, I dispatched a letter to our subscribers explaining that we will no longer be offering Anthill Magazine as a subscription title.

Who is Sebastien International? (Other than some bloke with a comfy couch in Chatswood)

The motivation behind last month's 'casting-call' is now no longer quite so mysterious. It seems that Anthill blogger Sebastien Eckersley-Maslin has been chosen to take part in an online marketing campaign that will see him circuit the globe and follow his plans to create the world's smallest multi-national.

Who are the 100 most influential business people in Australia? No one I'd rate.

It's probably the many hours I've spent over the past week researching (and rabble rousing) in aid of our annual Dumb Report, but I couldn't help reading Fairfax's Top 100 Most Influential People with more than the usual requisite amount of cynicism.

Cloud computing is cool… until you’re caught with your pants down

Just how do you guarantee your security, whatever you deem it to be, when you are “in the cloud”? Well, unlike actually being in a plane and in the clouds, security and safety is up to you. A seat belt, a sick bag and the foetal position won’t help you. If you want it secure, secure it yourself.

Is Telstra bribing its new customers? [Or just awarding ‘Loyalty Bonuses’?]

Recently, I was in the market for a good business plan for my mobile account. I found Telstra the best in terms of network coverage, so I decided to give them a call to see if they could sweeten the deal. Happily, instead of the advertised three months of credit, I was offered six months. "Yes, sign me up!" Then, the salesperson said something very amusing...

No good deed goes unpunished [Anthill’s response to the whinging 30 to 50 year-old...

Since extending the reach of Anthill's 30under30 awards to include 5over50, it feels like we’ve received nothing but criticism. Sure, enthusiastic ‘upstarts’ and ‘restarts’ have entered in droves. But the majority of direct feedback we've received can largely be paraphrased in three words: "What about me?!" So, after a short period of festering, here are my own (and very sincere) 24 responses to these 30 to 50 year-old critics.

Tequila Shots

Quotes, factoids and other curious teasers to get your creative juices flowing.

WANTED: Big thinking entrepreneur for documentary film. Must travel.

Yesterday, we received the following 'pitch' through our editorial ideas submission form: "We are looking for a charismatic solo entrepreneur (or aspiring entrepreneur) to take part in an innovative documentary film project... available to travel overseas for up to two weeks sometime in the next couple of months." Sounds like fun.

Read the most important books of the year in less than 30 seconds each

"Book Rapper was born out of the idea of earning money from doing the things that I love. I love reading books so I asked myself, how can I get paid to read books? I knew I didn't just want to do reviews because I think what a book is about is almost like the booby prize. I want to know what the big ideas are but more importantly I want to know how to apply them."

Another small business social media FAIL. Do you agree?

Our bloggers have been critical of its longevity (Can social media sell anything but itself) and equally dazzled by its potential (How I used social media to put my CEO on the street). Of course, the following example (first published as a 'Discussion' on the Social Media Academy LinkedIn Group) had me from the get-go. Its author is Paul Rickett, Founder and Principal at VARKETING!.

Entrepreneurs: Stop and spare a thought for your oft-overlooked loved ones this Valentine’s Day

Most entrepreneurs, while surrounded with people, walk a lonely road.However, this Valentine’s Day, spare a thought for the wifes/husbands/girlfriends/boyfriends of entrepreneurs, who oftenlive with even greater degrees of isolation and uncertainly than their partners.

If you’re not a cloud business, you’re doomed.

Zach Nelson is CEO of NetSuite. He was named one of the 10 Visionary CEOs of 2008 by InternetNews.com, after guiding the company through its 2007 IPO. He helmed it from startup to one of the world's leading cloud computing companies. So, it's not surprisingly that he should hold this view. Yes, he is biased. But is he wrong?
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