No Australian tech startup will get big unless it plans to go overseas one day. Any success we've had had looked beyond Australia. The market's just not big enough. Just look at Atlassian's international focus or the fact 95% of Tjoos.com revenue came from the US (and it wouldn't surprise me if that was the same case as retailmenot.com)
Multi-nationals bring experienced employees from other markets, capital injections, and generate talent demand in the local market. Looks at what Google's HQ in Sydney has done: it acquired a startup (now known as Google Maps), it's brought some kick-arse people from Silicon Valley who are part of the local scene now (like Pamela Fox), and it's driven demand up for talent giving them solid experience. Product managers do not nearly command the same salary in Australia for the mere fact there isn't enough demand for them -- so how are we meant to develop a world-class industry when we don't have the people with the skills? Of all the Aussies in the Valley, almost all of us are committed to coming back one day. Let people go overseas and get experience and they'll come back -- we don't need to lock them to Australia. Thats a very short-term view of building the industry as yes it hurts us now, but benefits accrue in the long term. Some of the Aussies have already had success here and will bring that money back to Australia as angels, along with the experience they've developed. Elias Bizannes http://eliasbizannes.com On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 4:54 PM, Dylan Jay <d...@pretaweb.com> wrote: > > On 03/12/2010, at 9:10 AM, Elias Bizannes wrote: > >> The government needs to focus on increasing incentives for >> entrepreneurs and angels through tax policy. Reduce taxes so that it >> attracts multinationals, whose workforce build the industry (Google >> now, Facebook tomorrow) and provide an exit market for a developing >> angel industry and early stage market. > > I'm no expert but that seemed to have worked out badly for Ireland. > > maybe keeping successful startups from leaving is better than transplanting > multinationals here since they are more likely to be committed + become > angel investor/mentors? > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach > Australia mailing list. > > Guidelines on discussion: > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den > > No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. > > To post to this group, send email to > silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Guidelines on discussion: http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en
