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It’s time to rally the troops

5:20AM | Friday, 24 May

This article first appeared October 26th, 2012. As much as it pains me to type this, it’s time to call a meeting. A big one. Invite everyone at your company. Don’t make it just a short 10 minute meeting either – go the full hour. Let everyone at your company have their say. Yes, Old Taskmaster still believes meetings should be cut in half, screens should be completely banned during meetings – especially the screens of anyone playing Solitaire – and there are always more productive things to do than hold a meeting. Good meetings are still like life in Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan: Nasty, brutish and short. However, there’s a good reason to make a big exception: It’s less than two months until Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick returns on the sleigh. For most businesses, that means the busiest two months of the year. The major product announcements over the past couple of weeks by Apple and Microsoft show that the big end of town is already ready for the Christmas rush. If you don’t prepare now, you’ll be left in their dust. That makes now the perfect time to deliver a big picture motivational speech to all your staff. Remind everyone about the DNA of your company’s products and what makes your company unique. Produce the type of oratory that wins American presidential debates and get everyone motivated to work their hardest during the busy months ahead. Then throw the meeting over to the floor. If there are any major company-wide issues that will prevent your company doing its absolute best this Christmas season, make sure your staff either speak now or, until the New Year, hold their peace. Obviously, small issues can and should be resolved during team meetings. But it’s better to get any issues out in the open and resolved now than to have them kill your productivity and sales in the week before Christmas. Now is the time to rally your troops. Get it done – today!

Four essential Windows 8 gestures

5:50AM | Thursday, 9 May

This article first appeared on October 26th, 2012. Microsoft has now introduced Windows 8 and its Surface tablets. Instead of having menus constantly cluttering up your screen, many of the menus in Windows 8 are hidden and appear after you swipe your fingers across the screen in a particular way. Here are four key gestures you’ll need to remember: Swiping your finger from the right edge of the screen to the middle will reveal a menu that has search, share, devices, settings and a shortcut to your Start screen. Swiping your finger from the left edge to middle of the screen will bring up a list of all the apps you have open at the moment, allowing you to switch between them. Swiping your finger from the top edge to the middle will bring up a number of options for the app you’re running – sort of like the menu bar at the top of a window in Windows 7. Finally, swiping your finger from the top edge to the bottom of your screen will close the app that’s currently open.

THE NEWS WRAP: The Chaser boys and the ABC sued by Swisse over The Checkout

5:17PM | Thursday, 2 May

The father of Swisse chief executive Radek Sali has launched a defamation action following claims on ABC’s consumer affairs program The Checkout, claiming a recent episode ‘‘severely injured his reputation and standing’’. Presenters Craig Reucassel and Julian Morrow along with executive producer Nick Murray and the ABC are all named as defendants in the lawsuit. Avni Sali’s lawsuit centres around claims made during the episode broadcast March 21, which alleged the National Institute of Integrative Medicine he founded was not independent in conducting clinical tests of Swisse products. “The program was meant and was understood to mean that the plaintiff performed clinical tests... and then manipulated the published results for the commercial benefit of Swisse,’’ Sali says. Packer lieutenant John Alexander appointed to Seven West Media board Seven West Media has announced it is appointing John Alexander, the former executive deputy chairman of James Packer's Crown Casino empire, to its board of directors. "We are delighted John has accepted the invitation to join the board of Seven West Media," Seven West chairman Kerry Stokes states. “His success in media and business speaks for itself. His appointment adds further depth to the board of our company as it continues to develop its businesses.” Treasury looks at closing tax loopholes for digital services The Treasury has released an issues paper examining the ways in which international online giants, including Google, Apple and Microsoft, minimise their tax bills by shifting profits from online services into low-tax jurisdictions. “The global reach of multinational enterprises, along with the developments in information and communication technology…provides them with a high degree of flexibility in how to structure their affairs,” the paper states. “These developments raise serious concerns about the efficiency, equity and sustainability of the income tax system.” The paper also calls for submissions suggesting possible solutions to the erosion of tax revenues by international tech companies, along with further data that could assist the Australian Tax Office. Overnight The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 0.9% to 14831.6. The Aussie dollar is up to US102.48 cents.

Technology inflation is here: How creativity is caught in the breeze of the cloud

4:29AM | Friday, 26 April

Sir Ken Robinson talks about the idea of academic inflation much like the process of economic inflation. I agree with him 100% here – if you don’t know what I am talking about and have been living under a rock for the past six years, I suggest you watch the following video: {qtube:=iG9CE55wbtY} Now that you’re on track with my train of thought and you’ve had a bit of a laugh, I want to explain why I think cloud technology is also in a state of inflation. After my recent research and general discussions with a creative colleague of mine, Ben Seydel, I have realised quite quickly that cloud technology is indeed inflating. So much so that good ideas are failing simply because someone else got to the next floor by taking the lift rather than the stairs. If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, have a look into Found. This amazing app has recently been acquired by YouSendIt. It is one really impressive piece of software used by millions that allows you to connect to all of your cloud storage centres and sync them into one beautiful interface. “It’s very evident that we’re moving to a more ‘cloud-nostic’ world. Our industry has placed a huge burden on users to manage their cloud data – effectively isolating it across a growing number of proprietary platforms,” said YouSendIt CEO Brad Garlinghouse. “Found enables YouSendIt to realize an exciting vision, where users can access and manage the information they’re looking for, no matter where it's stored.” The ‘cloud-nostic’ future Found is just one example of technology inflation. Other examples include Marketo and PromoJam (dedicated social media tools) that, let’s face it, wouldn’t be around if not for Mark Zuckerberg (he really started this social media boom with Facebook in my opinion). Please don’t let me lead you to believe that I think this is a bad thing by any means. It creates more jobs, more cool products, a more connected community and more creativity. Technology inflation creates creativity – what a beautiful way to put it. All of these tech-inflated products that I’ve been discussing have one thing in common – they are all cloud-based. Now if you have an internet connection and a web browser you’re good to go – if you don’t believe me ask yourself why Google has released the Chromebook. The Chromebook is simply a fast loading computer with a browser. Google has obviously seen their future through a crystal globe and to be honest, I really don’t blame them. Nearly everything that I do on my computer I do through a web browser. I have even recently moved to Office 365 (sorry Google – not discounting you but I just like the Microsoft suite). The next web There’s a website called The Next Web and literally all it’s about is what’s next on the internet. It’s essentially a news site for the internet. Technically, they should be predicting what I am about to, regarding the web/tech/cloud inflation that we are currently seeing. I think the next big thing on the web will fall somewhere between what Windows tried to do, pulling all of your information together, and how Facebook sorts “what you really want to see”. A stream of friends, colleagues, news, emails, texts, and anything you can imagine – simply manipulated in the most effective way for the end user. At the moment there is too much information – automatically sorting and sifting everything cloud, from the important to the unimportant is where I believe the next amazing piece of future tech will lay. Remember, though, I had the idea first. If you would like to discuss the above I can be contacted at john@cloudbasemedia.com.au If you would like to transform your business’ current online profile take CloudBaseMedia’s 100 Day Challenge today. No risk, endless gains!

Five top competitions for Aussie start-ups

4:10AM | Wednesday, 24 April

Dick Smith, who has become as well-known for his outlandish media stunts as he is for his entrepreneurial activities, is offering a $1 million prize for an innovator to tackle a rather complex issue – population. With Australia’s population passing 23 million this week, Smith is increasingly agitating for action to combat our “population and consumption growth-obsessed economy”. However, Dick is keeping his powder dry. After launching his Wilberforce Award – for someone under the age of 30 to come up with a solution to perennial growth – in 2010, Smith has declined to hand out the $1 million in prize money. No one has come up with a good enough idea, according to Smith. Perhaps surprisingly, he feels that teen conservationist Bindi Irwin has come closest to landing the cash. Thankfully, there are plenty of easier competitions for start-ups to enter, rather than Dick’s population bounty. Here are five of the best that are ideal for various types of Australian ventures. 1. Startup Weekend Dubbed the ‘world’s largest start-up competition’, Startup Weekend has spread rapidly across Australia since arriving on our shores in 2011. Events are now regularly held in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, with the latter city becoming the latest to join the party last year. The concept is pleasingly simple. Entrepreneurs turn up to a gathering, are grouped into teams and have 54 hours to devise and create a new business. These hastily-conceived ideas are then pitched to a panel of judges. The winner walks away with $5000 but, more importantly, access to further mentoring and opportunities – such as a spot in a Singapore incubator. As the Startup Weekend website promises, “Whether you launch a successful start-up, find a co-founder, meet someone new or learn a skill far outside your usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave Startup Weekend better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of start-ups.” Story continues on page 2. Please click below. 2. G’Day USA There are a growing number of great conferences, seminars and meet-ups aimed at Australian start-ups. Increasingly, these gatherings are including pitch competitions as part of their format. One of the most notable new competitions is staged by G’Day USA, the annual program designed to showcase Australian business in the US. The first Digital Australia Shootout was held in Los Angeles in January. The pitch competition featured Australian start-ups in the media, entertainment and technology sectors. Various heavy hitters from US venture capital funds judged the competition. More than 200 Australian companies are showcased every year in G’Day USA. If America is a target market, it may well be worth your while to get involved, even if you don’t pitch. Gerard Seeber, Austrade senior trade commissioner in New York, says: “Americans know Australia as a land of big spaces. We want them to know it is also a land of big ideas.” “G’Day USA is an opportunity to show how Australia’s culture of innovation makes it an ideal place to invest and do business.” Story continues on page 3. Please click below. 3. Australian Clean Technologies Competition Rather than compete with start-ups from a range of different industries, why not get sector-specific? There are several competitions for start-ups within a certain industry, with the Australian Clean Technologies Competition being a good example of how a niche product or service can be recognised. Established three years ago, the competition is designed to bolster the chances of success for Australian clean technology innovators through mentoring, business coaching and marketing. More than 100 companies entered last year, with seven named as finalists. They included SkyCool, which has devised a new type of building cooling, Aeratron, a venture with a new energy-efficient fan design, and enLighten Australia, which designs and supplies highly efficient LED lighting for commercial, industrial and residential strata applications. Story continues on page 4. Please click below. 4. Sydney Genesis Entrepreneurship Challenge If you’re at the business plan stage, Australia’s universities provide a bevy of options to showcase your idea for cash. Sadly, the Enterprize challenge, arguably Australia’s leading business plan competition, has been wound down by the University of Queensland, which offered a hefty prize cheque of $100,000 to winners. Thankfully, there are quite a few alternatives, such as the Sydney Genesis Entrepreneurship Challenge. Launched in 2008, the competition offers workshops, mentoring, networking and $10,000 in prizes. Last year, more than 80 teams competed, with the pick including a smartphone app that connects parents with babysitters, technology that raises money for charity as you exercise, and a CBD locker room for bicycle riders. Story continues on page 5. Please click below. 5. Microsoft BizSpark In some start-up competitions, you’ve very much got to play by the sponsor’s rules – to the point that you have to use their product or service to be able to compete. The Microsoft BizSpark program is open to all-comers – as long as you use Microsoft technology. Last year, taxi location app goCatch beat eight other finalists to be named winner of Microsoft’s APAC Startup 2012 Award. GoCatch beat an impressive field of rivals to land the $5000 prize, including customised jewellery maker StyleRocks, New Zealand-based HR tool Avancert and Melbourne start-up Sound Gecko, which converts online articles into audio files. All of the finalists are part of Microsoft’s BizSpark program, which aims to foster start-ups.

ANZ Innovyz START rolls out fresh start-up funding program

4:04AM | Thursday, 4 April

Above: Dr Jana Matthews. Applications are open for the third round of the 13-week ANZ Innovyz START accelerator program, which kicks off in August, as start-ups that previously went through the incubator prepare to pitch to investors. Now in its second year, ANZ Innovyz START helps fast-growth tech entrepreneurs become investor-ready by giving them access to global business experts and mentors who have grown and exited companies. Past program mentors include Microsoft executive Chris Bernard, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Martin Babinec, and DealsDirect co-founder and former chairman Paul Greenberg. Previously, teams received $6,000 per founder. This year, each team will receive $20,000. ANZ will also give each team access to a $20,000 loan facility to help them fund their growth plans. Dr Jana Matthews, managing director of ANZ Innovyz START, told StartupSmart the additional funding is not the only change that has been made to the program. “I’m going to absolutely insist that there be teams of three people. The start-ups that make the most progress… are the ones that have three people,” Matthews says. “The ones that have two people have struggled to keep up. There’s so much to learn and so much to do. We aren’t going to accept you unless you bring at least one other person to the table.” Applications close on June 14 and the program will commence on August 12. Meanwhile, the 10 graduates of the summer 2013 program are preparing for a demo day in Adelaide on April 18, when they will pitch and showcase their product to potential investors. “They’re absolutely fabulous… We already have some that the investors are talking to,” Matthews says. “Four of the companies already have investors, possibly five, and we still have two weeks to go before they stand up in front of everyone.” Matthews says FitUsIn, a booking site for the health and fitness industry, is among the standouts. “FitUsIn was a company we already knew was going to be a winner. It was selected as one of six [participants] worldwide to attend an all-expenses paid trip to New York to pitch to venture capitalists,” Matthews says. The program’s summer 2013 companies, in their current form, are as follows: The Unicoach helps undergraduate students create their own productivity system to achieve stress-free academic success. Kicktone is a platform that helps independent bands engage with their fans and attract a new audience by making it easy for them to share and sell their music. Singa is a localised musical platform. The first version enables kids to sing along to their favourite tunes, a video recording of which can then be shared. Future versions will have gamification and real-time multi-user singing, along with apps and purchases. FitUsIn is a booking site for the health and fitness industry that allows users to quickly compare gym deals and book their visits online. Mobility Unlimited seeks to revolutionise how businesses and consumers interact by enabling instant, tailored and high-precision location-based services and payments. DataMunch is an online service that enables users to easily combine isolated datasets, and gain insights quicker and cheaper than alternatives. Metrixcare (formerly Edgebox) is a healthcare collaborative platform for measurement, management and improvement in patient safety and cost. Memtell captures people’s memories using photography and voice recording, and allows memories to be stored online, in the cloud, making them easily accessible. TowardTheStars is a website full of resources and gifts to inspire young girls. Agent Anything is a website that connects people and companies to cost-effective student labour for almost any kind of task, temporary job or service.

Tech industry not satisfied with answers given by Apple at IT price inquiry

3:14AM | Monday, 25 March

The tech industry has been left disappointed after major companies including Apple and Microsoft at last week’s parliamentary inquiry into pricing in the IT sector didn’t deliver any sufficient explanations as to why local consumers pay so much. The organisation which helped push for the inquiry in the first place, Choice, said the companies involved didn’t necessarily offer appropriate explanations and, in some cases, gave “bizarre” alternatives. “Adobe gave some bizarre comments around the personalised nature of its website, and how that somehow justified charging people $1,200 more for its Creative Suite,” spokesperson Matt Levey told SmartCompany. Choice spokesperson Levey said while the pressure placed on these companies by having to appear at the inquiry is in itself a positive outcome, Choice wants to see a recommendation on geoblocking – a tool used by companies to prevent local users from accessing prices used in other countries. “We’re think there’s a strong case for that to be looked at, and we’d like to see some strong recommendations there,” he said. Three major companies appeared before the inquiry – Microsoft, Adobe and in a rare appearance, Apple. Firstly, Apple local managing director Tony King, who is rarely seen in public, shifted much of the blame from the company onto the local rights holders. As a result, he said, local users pay more for iTunes content than in other countries. “Apple must pay the rights holders to distribute content in each of the territories in which the iTunes store exist,” he said. “The retail pricing of digital content is based on many factors and foreign exchange is not a major factor. The main differentiator is the wholesale price.” Apple has faced scrutiny in the past due to the price disconnect between countries. Users in Australia often pay much higher prices for music than customers in the United States. Levey said while this argument did carry some weight, he likened Apple’s market power to the same kind used by Woolworths and Coles to reduce the price of milk. Microsoft took a much more defensive stance, with local head Pip Marlow saying the current prices were set and if customers were unhappy, they could shop elsewhere. “If they don’t like it, they vote with their wallets,” she said, adding there wasn’t a “silver bullet” for addressing pricing issues. Finally, Adobe game some aggressive answers in which it suggested customers could even fly to the United States and purchase products if the end result was cheaper. Local managing director Paul Robson told the inquiry the company’s policy of geoblocking, in which customers are directed to the local store and cannot access lower prices in other countries, is completely valid. “The personalisation is relevant to the experience you get when online. One of our key interactions is to allow [buyers] to talk among themselves and ask them to contribute to the future of our product,” he said. Levey says the inquiry provided “three different approaches but no real explanation”. This story first appeared on SmartCompany.

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