information technology
Latest
Incoming! $1.1 million funding boost for mobile video start-up
5:25AM | Monday, 6 MayMobile video start-up Incoming has highlighted the demand for mobile video content after securing $1.1 million from OneVentures, NICTA and the US-based Citrix Startup Accelerator. Incoming, led by chief executive David McKeague, specialises in mobile content delivery for mobile platforms, delivering high-definition video to mobile devices based on user preferences. It pre-loads content using available WiFi networks, eliminating the need for streaming or buffering, while reducing the cost. Incoming TV is available as a mobile app. Some 600,000 users have already downloaded the beta version and three million videos have been played. Last year, Incoming was selected as one of 23 start-ups for Tech23 2012. Now it has secured $1.1 million in seed financing from a number of investors. The round was led by One Ventures, an Australian venture capital firm that invests in innovative companies in the information technology, life sciences and clean technology sectors. Funding also came from NICTA – Australia’s Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence – and Citrix Startup Accelerator, based in Silicon Valley. Incoming, based at Australian Technology Park in Sydney, is NICTA’s 11th spinout company. Incoming TV has been developed specifically for mobile phones and tablets. Its predictive support for the service draws from information on the user’s device, including contextual data such as time of day, location, usage patterns and interests, and social and physical behaviour. It then applies NICTA’s machine learning techniques to pre-fetch a suitable selection of video material. NICTA research leader Dr Max Ott joins Incoming as its first chief technology officer. Paul Hoff, NICTA's director of technology transfer, told StartupSmart NICTA has invested a total of $400,000 in Incoming. Citrix Startup Accelerator, meanwhile, invests in start-ups creating the next generation of cloud infrastructure services, mobile enterprise solutions and collaboration technologies. In addition to a $250,000 convertible note investment, start-ups have access to an advisory panel and office space in Silicon Valley. According to McKeague, who is currently overseas, Incoming allows mobile networks to be used more proficiently in off-peak periods. “The mobile industry estimates that over 20% of subscribers watch mobile videos on any given day, accounting for over 50% of global mobile data traffic on wireless networks,” he said in a statement. “This is costly for users, carriers and content providers. The Incoming TV service addresses this by pre-loading content using Wi-Fi networks.” Dr Michelle Deaker, managing director of OneVentures and a NICTA board member, said in a statement Incoming has a “significant opportunity” to capture and support video mobile delivery in global markets. “[This means] effectively unlocking 30 to 40% of untapped mobile network capacity, which is likely to be worth up to $20 billion by 2016,” Deaker said in a statement. Michael Harries, chief technology officer of Citrix Startup Accelerator, said in a statement Incoming’s technology is “compelling and complementary” to Citrix offerings. “Citrix Startup Accelerator invests in only the best entrepreneurs and new businesses creating new solutions for today’s problems in cloud infrastructure and mobile,” he said. “We look forward to working with Incoming as they build a world-class business.” According to NICTA chief executive Hugh Durrant-Whyte, Incoming is an “impressive example of NICTA’s research and entrepreneurial capabilities”.
‘Just outraged at the insanity of Julia Gillard’: Tech start-ups hit back in 457 visa row
3:39AM | Friday, 15 MarchKey players in the Australian tech start-up scene have lashed out at Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s suggestion the 457 visa program is being abused by the IT industry.
Five changes that would boost female-led start-ups
5:42AM | Monday, 6 MayWhile research shows Australian women are among the most entrepreneurial in the world, they continue to be underrepresented in major sectors such as finance and information technology.
Entrepreneurialism is AlwaysOn in Australia, says leading US entrepreneur
2:07PM | Wednesday, 20 FebruaryHigh-profile American entrepreneur Tony Perkins has highlighted US investors’ increasing appetite for Australian companies, ahead of Australia’s first-ever AlwaysOn conference.
Which start-ups will attract the big bucks this year?
3:23AM | Thursday, 14 MarchWhat kinds of start-ups are most likely to get funding this year? What are the hot sectors in 2013?
Unpromising job prospects tipped to spark new start-ups
3:15AM | Friday, 15 MarchAlmost a quarter of Australians are planning a career change this year, while hiring intentions are mixed among employers, according to separate pieces of new research, suggesting many people could be looking to go it alone in 2013.
Start-ups often underestimate fundraising process: Starfish Ventures boss
3:38AM | Monday, 11 MarchStart-ups often underestimate the time required to raise capital, says the co-founder of Starfish Ventures, following a $2 million investment in an email and web communication company.
Female entrepreneurs suffering funding shortfall: Report
3:37AM | Tuesday, 12 MarchA lack of risk-taking and a preference for service-based industries has been blamed for a shortfall in start-up investment secured by women, after US research revealed female-created ventures receive 8% less funding than men.
UniQuest start-up TenasiTech scores $1.4 million for its polymer technology
6:33AM | Thursday, 21 JuneMaterials science start-up TenasiTech will ramp up development of its polymer technology after securing $1.4 million in grants and equity capital from the Queensland Government and Uniseed.
OneVentures leads $1.5 million funding round for Paloma Mobile
6:06PM | Thursday, 14 JuneTech start-up Paloma Mobile has raised $1.5 million in a Series A funding round led by local venture capital firm OneVentures, despite launching less than a year ago.
Demand for business degrees falls 15.4%, report reveals
5:05AM | Monday, 7 MayBusiness degrees are becoming less desirable among Australian students, with research showing applications for management and commerce degrees declined 15.4% over the decade to 2011.
Brownie Points
5:07AM | Monday, 7 MayThere are five founders behind the Brownie Points enterprise, who bring a huge level of experience across sales, marketing, information technology, creative design and branding.
Government commits $225,000 to sports technology sector
5:28AM | Tuesday, 1 MayThe Federal Government has spent $225,000 to establish the Australian Sports Technologies Network, which is designed to foster the growth of sports technology start-ups.
Aussie women the world’s most entrepreneurial: Report
2:08AM | Thursday, 23 FebruaryAustralian women are the most entrepreneurial in the world, new research reveals, but an expert says businesswomen are still underrepresented in growth industries such as finance and IT.
Google Apps partner Cloud Sherpas acquires NZ start-up
7:12PM | Wednesday, 27 JulyNew Zealand tech start-up WaveAdept has been acquired by US-based Google Apps partner Cloud Sherpas, which is on the hunt for acquisitions in the Asia-Pacific region as part of an ambitious growth strategy.
Android takes a bite out of Apple’s market share
5:59AM | Wednesday, 18 MayThe number of Android phones sold in Australia in the first three months of the year rose by 45%, according to new figures, suggesting that many entrepreneurs are looking beyond Apple when choosing smartphones.
What are the top jobs of 2010?
4:04AM | Friday, 27 AprilWith IBISWorld predicting 2010 will be a boom year for Australian business, and that the next five years will see significant economic growth, opportunities for university graduates are set to grow as companies seek to invest in talented staff.
