Kane Black, 2009 Anthill 30under30 winner

What is 30under30?

30under30 is an Anthill initiative that was launched in early 2008 to encourage and promote entrepreneurship among young Australians. Each year, we invite our readers to nominate young Australian entrepreneurs deserving of recognition for their outstanding entrepreneurial endeavours. Anthill’s editorial team then trawls through hundreds of applications and identifies and profiles the top 30 Australian entrepreneurs under the age of 30. The process culminates in an event held in Melbourne where the 30 winners network and celebrate. We’ve been releasing profiles of this year’s Anthill 30under30 winners via our Twitter account – youngest to oldest.

Name: KaneBlack

Age: 30 (b. 1979)
State: QLD
Industry: Construction/Leasing
Company: AuscorCranes

Kane Black has cracked into markets and industries he knew nearly nothing about an amazing three times in his brief life so far. His story is mixed with both dazzling success and catastrophic failure, and each time he has demonstrated the versatility of an agile young entrepreneur.

Once a cherished employee of a Tokyo-based listed company, Black was entrusted with the mission to establish the company’s European business based in London. Starting without prior experience or knowledge, Black successfully grew the business to become one of its market’s leading traders in just three years. At this point Black came to realise that “anything is indeed possible”, and he soon resigned from the job and started his own construction company in Dubai.

Black’s construction company won its first contract to build two high-rise apartment blocks. Part way through the project his client decided to increase the building by a further six floors. Black retained over 40 staff on-site waiting for the engineering redesign that was supposed to be ready in three weeks, yet the delay turned into a nine month cash haemorrhage and Black was forced to pull the plug.

In the face of financial ruin Black’s “never ever give up” attitude encouraged him to consider his predicament differently. Using the two remaining cranes from his construction company, Black relaunched the company as a crane rental business — Auscor Cranes.

Today, Auscor Cranes operates with a fleet of 17 cranes. It has expanded rapidly and became one of the U.A.E’s leading crane rental firms, with revenue exceeding AUD$3.8 million in 2008.

While the economy continues to slow down in the Gulf Region, Black is already looking elsewhere for future business growth. His next plan includes expanding the business to India, with more than 30 cranes to be dispatched by 2010.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCORDING TO KANE

What motivates you as an entrepreneur?

Wealth creation is often the motivation. However this motive normally wanes rapidly and money is nothing more than a commodity — it can come and go.

Focusing on improving oneself, doing the very best you can in whatever it is you do, constant improvement, adapting to the times, pushing the envelope and punching above ones weight is far more satisfying. To see something that you have pulled together with your team and watch it triumph and succeed is my motivation. The wealth then follows through.

MULTIMEDIA