Thanks to Colin, Pete, Simran & UV Blue First step to democracy - participate! Contribute to the survey sent by Coin: *this form*<https://docs.google.com/a/startupaus.org/forms/d/1lzy7RsrZ984S4YqjmOMtyEYXRyRWPOtsoo8d_Zyqy2o/viewform?usp=send_form>
I think the successful launch of Startup Victoria last week is a great example of how an organisation needs direct, intentional leadership to establish and set a vision, but then democratise the organisation around that vision. To get something off the ground, it needs that clear leadership (analogy to founders). It can't be opened up until people have something to join and believe in. There is no reason why StartupAus can't have the same journey. If StartupAus wants to hold itself out as representing "us" then give it a chance to do so. The leadership is worthy, the intention is honourable. There are critical issues in the startup industry at present that need clear advocacy - there are a lot of very smart and successful people that are leading the conversation, but all those people have some bias (which is not bad at all) but it means that anyone can point out a bias and detract from the arguments. This is no time for "playing the man" as Pete said. Nothing will show that the startup industry is an actual industry like unification, and until then, there is only "a" voice - we need "our" voice. So, to StartupAus - as a lawyer, I'm happy to pro-bono the establishment of a public company limited by guarantee, and prepare a charter, so that you can open up this democratisation process. This doesn't happen overnight, but it should be possible to do so to launch on July 1. Who else is in? Kurt Falkenstein On Tuesday, May 6, 2014 12:57:55 PM UTC+10, @pc0 wrote: > > Thanks Simran. > > It is worth noting that around 5,000 (80% startups and angel investors and > some students/suppliers) will have attended SydStart events by September. > Microsoft startup programs have 2,400 active members in AU. > > On other metrics it is not usual these days for startup > pitching/competitions to get hundreds of applicants. Being a judge on three > of the largest nationally I can say this is great news and further ads the > the reasonableness test that the StartupAus report saying there are '1,000 > startups in AU' is low balling it. > > To 'UVBlue' who replied above... thanks for your comments. I think being > anonymous undermines credibility a bit in this forum though, who are you? I > googled you and found a vodka brand :-) > > This might also be of interest to those who missed it first time around > Google’s > Alan Noble Interview On StartupAus <http://youtu.be/Fg78PM2ELWs> is a > great exampleof the wonderful PR progress that has been made. Conversely if > one vendor dominates, there is a risk other majors won't play and I have > heard this critic from them first hand recently which is a non-trivial > concern. > > I have a lot of respect for the current directors of Startup Aus - Alan, > Pete B, Jana, Steve (the last two being very recent joiners who have > already had world class impact in their careers pre-StartupAus) so please > lets stick to the issues of the report and meaningful representation for > the industry. Play the ball not the man here people, I have already had > emotional calls this morning making personal critiques from senior > StartupAus reps. Four calls and multiple texts. I note that I have had > three of the four above as speakers at SydStart prior to StartupAus even > being formed and was trying to get the fourth, so for the record this is > not about the individuals. > > This is about a fair go for every startup. Not just those with privileged > positions. > > What I think is ultimately just one opinion, if the industry is happy to > be represented this way (and are making an informed choice) then so be it. > I'd really like to hear those other 2,000 to 5,000 or more opinions in a > more systematic manner. > > Cheers, Pete. > > On Tuesday, 6 May 2014 12:08:07 UTC+10, simran wrote: >> >> Hi Colin, et al. >> >> The motive and effort behind the report is something no doubt everyone >> applauds. >> >> I suspect i am not unique in my appreciation for what we DO HAVE - this >> does not mean things cannot improve even vastly or that we should not point >> out what needs improvement, but looking at this infographic on the >> startupaus site ( >> http://startupaus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/startupaus_infographic_final.pdf) >> makes one, unfortunately, dismissive of many parts that would have >> otherwise been taken seriously. This along with numbers like 1000 tech >> startups (such a fundamental number we have to hypothesise well) does raise >> some questions. >> >> 155 is the number i heard yesterday for the number of startups (probably >> stalls) that are exhibiting at CeBIT - even go purely by that number (which >> sounds right walking around there) - saying that 15% of all Australian >> startup had stalls at CeBIT in Homebush doesn't sound right - it gives the >> "wrong gut feel" (15% that is) and as we all know, "gut feel / instinct" is >> something we must trust if we are to be successful at all. Unless someone >> can give a robust number around the number of startups in Australia, it's >> not a number we can take at face value. >> >> Some estimates of tech startups around Australia are an order of >> magnitude out (Murray, you did a survey recently, want to chime in with >> what you think the number is?)... that would throw almost every meaningful >> number in the report out and perhaps place us as one of the best place in >> the world. I am not claiming that i know what the number is, but only that >> 1000 startups seems awkwardly conservative. >> >> For whatever it's worth, can i please request for an infographic (and >> perhaps a tweaking of the report) to reflect what we do have and what we >> can improve WITHOUT having to put down Australia on every point. Having a >> huge "BUT" with graphics with large crosses on them... i don't even know >> what to say (i suspect the the graphic is meant to be alarming, but comes >> across as alarmist!)... other than, perhaps if you really want to do that >> (rule by points of fear and exclusion) then perhaps at least also include >> things like we have some of the best engineers in the world, the fact that >> we build substance and not vapourware or just landing pages, the fact that >> we recognise that marketing is important but not when you don't even have a >> product, the fact that Australia has a balanced culture, the fact that we >> don't think that money is "everything" - we don't just claim this - we mean >> it! - many want to build businesses that really do have an impact - not >> just "make a quick buck"; the fact that we have such a beautiful country >> and over 85%(?) of us live within 50km's of a beach, the fact that we are a >> peaceful nation, the fact that our education system is fantastic (no you >> don't have to pay a gazillion dollars to get a uni degree), wasn't google >> maps built here as well(?) amongst many other things... why don't we call >> out such facts - why not encourage what we DO HAVE and try to achieve the >> same result. >> >> I know some of the people on the startupaus board, and i know they are >> doing amazing things for startup, and i think it's wonderful this body >> exists - even though it's a substantially top-down approach - it's needed; >> but on the approach, i also applaud Pete's mention that we need a more >> grassroots and bottom-up approach and i think there is definitely room >> enough to collaboratively have multiple representations for different >> aspects (no one entity can represent every aspect; top-down or bottom-up or >> side-to-side; or ...). >> >> What Pete is doing with SydStart, his grassroots efforts in working with >> PushStart companies and many others is commendable and one could say was >> part of some pivotal moments to bring the ecosystem to where it is; lets >> not bash where we are; after all, we as Australian's believe in giving >> everyone a Fair Go! We are the lucky country... the reason is because the >> people of this "lucky country" work bloody hard, but also know how to play >> bloody hard. >> >> A good read to get another perspective is the GEDI report - it looks as >> if substantial work has gone into the production of that as well, and >> *Australia >> gets ranked globally 2nd by the Global Entrepreneurship and Development >> Institute* - http://www.thegedi.org/countries/australia >> >> kind regards, >> >> simran. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, May 5, 2014 at 3:10 PM, Colin Kinner <colin....@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi all >>> >>> StartupAUS recently released the Crossroads >>> report<http://www.startupaus.org/crossroads/>, >>> an action plan for growth of the Australian startup ecosystem. The >>> federal budget is due to be released on 13 May, and last week the >>> government's Commission of Audit >>> recommended<http://www.startupsmart.com.au/planning/short-sighted-startup-community-blasts-commission-of-audits-funding-findings/2014050212208.html> >>> winding >>> up two of the government's most significant programs that support startups >>> - Commercialisation Australia and the Innovation Investment Fund. >>> >>> There has never been a more critical time to ensure that the government >>> gets a clear message about the importance of not just preserving existing >>> programs, but investing in growing and supporting the startup ecosystem in >>> the medium and long term. >>> >>> StartupAUS is seeking quotable feedback from Australian entrepreneurs to >>> show that the startup community cares about what decisions the government >>> makes, and supports the findings and recommendations in the Crossroads >>> report. >>> >>> Please take five minutes to provide a short quote / testimonial using *this >>> form*<https://docs.google.com/a/startupaus.org/forms/d/1lzy7RsrZ984S4YqjmOMtyEYXRyRWPOtsoo8d_Zyqy2o/viewform?usp=send_form> >>> . >>> >>> Responses will be collated and uploaded to the StartupAUS web site >>> alongside the Crossroads report, as well as sent directly to relevant folks >>> in government. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Colin >>> >>> -- >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon >>> Beach Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for >>> more >>> >>> Forum rules >>> 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. >>> 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs >>> >>> >>> To post to this group, send email to >>> silicon-bea...@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 Google >>> Groups "Silicon Beach Australia" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Simran Gambhir >> Program Manager (Sydney), Hacker-in-Residence >> ANZ Innovyz START >> Phone: +61 422 543 742 >> Email: sim...@innovyzstart.com >> Internet: www.innovyzstart.com >> LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/simrang >> > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more Forum rules 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs 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 Google Groups "Silicon Beach Australia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
