Tag: australia

Ignition Labs, an ATP Innovations-backed clean technology accelerator, is giving a much-needed jumpstart to some of Australia’s newest, cleanest startups. The five teams chosen will join the 50 companies and over 300 staffers already in the ATP Innovations incubator. Each team accepted to the accelerator will be given three months to build a business plan, validate technology, and produce a working prototype. Did I mention that each startup accepted into the program is given $25,000 in seed capital?

When James Cameron set about making a documentary film at Earth’s deepest point in the ocean, the Marianna Trench, rather than sending in an Avatar, the legendary Canadian filmmaker sent himself. The project was filmed for broadcast on the National Geographic channel in the form of a documentary called DeepSea Challenge. Now, the team has been awarded the top prize at the 2012 Australian International Design Awards.

“You cannot run a business in these volatile conditions without keeping a close eye on all the potential risks that customers pose.” According to the latest figures from ASIC, there were 1,318 insolvency appointments in May 2012 – up 9% on May 2011 and closely following the April 2012 figures which in case you didn’t know, were the worst ever on record.

We’ve all been there. Out-and-about the city with no charge left on our mobile. It’s a sinking feeling, really. It's like living in 1996 all over again. A new company in Sydney called Chargebar is setting up their charging stations at locations across the city, and looking to expand nationally.

The current economic climate has often been the subject of negative opinions. Raise your hand if you have not seen a suited-up doomsayer on TV foretelling the economic Apocalypse... see, no hands! However, the responses and attitudes towards whether, and where, existing businesses are prepared to spend over the next 12 months, paint a rather fascinating picture. These guys are dancing in the rain! With 72% of business owners saying they would be happy to start up a business again, the survey also revealed 53% of owners say their business is their passion.

Do we treat hire cars the same as we treat our own cars? There have long been jokes about the invincibility of rental cars. Like most jokes, they are funny because they are based in reality. In response to this urge, car hire companies hit drivers with insurance excesses. It's fair enough that they do. If the car is damaged, then it has to be fixed. However, this is one industry that is being shaken up by a local start-up. Suffice to say, the hire car companies don't like it one little bit.

“Diners are hungry for restaurants to use the online space to communicate with them and it is those restaurants that make an effort to interact with their customers long before they enter the restaurant that are winning the battle.”

Leading Australian business strategist, commentator and author Kerwin Rae believes the ‘incubator’ craze gathering momentum in Australia could stem the flow of local talent leaving our shores. Meanwhile, the federal government is becoming increasingly aware that they must do something or we face economic collapse within our economy as SMEs make up such a huge portion of GDP. If SMEs fail, we fail.

A small-to-medium sized business can rapidly spend a fortune on supplies like stationary, pens, toner and ink cartridges, staples, shipping boxes, and fuel for its fleet. Now, there’s a new buying group poised to help any of Australia’s more-than two million SMEs source supplies. Founded late last year, SME Savings has already enlisted over 400 members and aims to offer big business buying power to your small or medium sized enterprise.

Ignition Labs, Australia's first clean technology accelerator is looking for cool ideas. Using the model that has proven so successful for Y Combinator, Ignition Labs will help guide five clean technology companies into commercial viability. Have you got an idea that needs ignition?

Australian local food pioneers Food Connect and CERES Fair Food have joined with the National Farmers Federation to call on the ACCC to break up Australia's supermarket duopoly and ensure a more just, equitable and sustainable food future for Australian families.

Founded little over a year ago on the back of a credit card 'investment' Show Pony Fashion has defied the industry trend of sliding sales to post it's first million dollars in revenue. A combination of internationally-inspired, Australian-designed and affordable garments coupled with an intelligent approach to social media and ecommerce seems to have struck a chord with Australia's fashion-conscious women.

Four years after the Global Financial Crisis, global economies continue to suffer from its overhang. In fact, most nations that tried to spend their...

After launches earlier this in the US, Canada, UK and the Netherlands and its recent expansion to other European countries, such as Germany, France and Italy, the Microsoft Advertising Exchange has finally been launched in Australia. About time! But how is it different to Google AdWords?

Digital content organization, MEGA, has announced the winners of their recent Pitch Day competition for smartphone app ideas.

Office365 makes it easy for every business to stay on top of everything through its virtually anywhere-access mode. Easy and secure passageway to all your important documents is what it offers. Its familiar Microsoft Office collaboration and productivity tools are compatible with your office computers or any internet-run device.

Brilliant minds across the country are being summoned to stand up and make a difference. Telstra is challenging all Australian researchers and innovators to come...

The iPhone truly sets us apart. You're an iPhone user or... well... you're just *not*. It is something many of us have known for some...

Since 1996, the Webby Awards has recognised and celebrated the best of the internet. Last week, the awards celebrated their 15th year and five antipodean companies were among the nominees: four from Australia and one from New Zealand.

According to “The Global Information Technology Report 2010-2011” compiled by the World Economic Forum and INSEAD The Business School of the World , New Zealand and Australia are the two most fastest places in the world to start a new business.