Startup & Entrepreneurship

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.

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.

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.

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.

The idea of locking a bunch of creative people in a room until they have hammered out a plan for a new business is not new. In fact, it's been done at Mixer events around the world for a number of years. But the concepts - which tends to engender a form of Stockholm Syndrome in entrepreneurs held hostage by market problems - always seems to churn out interesting formative business. They might not always go on to become the next Google, but the process illustrates the power of focused collaboration.

When attempting to understand 'how to write a business plan' it is often better to first ask, 'What is a business plan anyway?' You...

When two people decide to start a business together, it's hard for them to see how this promising relationship might one day turn sour. Managing the end-game is something to get right at the beginning with a stakeholders agreement. Russell Wheeler explains why.

After seven years and 500 interviews, analyst Richard St. John isolated the eight things that lead to success. In this video, he shares them in three minutes.

Having one's head crammed full of digital passwords is a fairly recent phenomenon. So it's no surprise that almost no one has considered the...

Focusing all your energy on conjuring the perfect idea for a business is just plain lazy, argues Kevin Garber.

I've been watching a lot of great video lectures on entrepreneurship lately. Gorging myself, really. After all, this was a resource that was difficult...

John Eales has applied the lessons he learnt in the scrums to a life in business. Here, Eales shares what he has learnt (the hard way).

Forget about Australia's 'Tall Poppy Syndrome'. What we really need is a 'Small Poppy Syndrome'.

Anthill Magazine teamed up with market research firm Colmar Brunton and 1,600 'mavens' to identify 100 of Australia's most promising product innovations. Introducing... the inaugural Smart 100.

Mashable recently posted a terrific summary of the Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs. Some of these you will have heard of - perhaps you even use one or two regularly (LinkedIn is the obvious example). But it's worth exploring all ten, if only to peruse the voluminous amount of business tips and links to further useful resources and people.