Our newly re-elected government is engaging in the most creative innovation ever: doublespeak. On one hand, new Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, is telling us he’s focused on the second and third wave of the National Innovation and Science Agenda. On the … Continue readingTurnbull’s R&D cuts will flatten the ideas boom
Despite both major parties agreeing about the need for Australia to be an innovative country, neither seems seriously committed to a deep-seated and long-term plan for change. Amidst great fanfare in December 2015, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull launched the National Innovation and Science Agenda, a … Continue readingElection campaign shows why Australia won’t be an innovative country
Entrepreneurs should talk to prospective customers – perhaps over coffee – to test their assumptions. You’ve come up with your best idea in a long time. You’re sure it’ll take the world by storm. You just need to build it right? Wrong. One of the … Continue readingHow a cup of coffee (or 20) can massively increase your start-up’s chance of success
Last year, one of the most well-attended events I took part in was a funding workshop. Many entrepreneurs attended. They wanted to understand the funding process and how they could secure investment to further their business. Many entrepreneurs, myself included, feel many of their problems … Continue readingThree ways to test if your start-up is fundable
One of the buzzwords I often hear in start-up communities is ideation. So what does it mean? Ideation comes from the words “idea” and “creation”. It’s the process of not just creating but also evaluating ideas so you can extract the most viable concepts. The … Continue readingA 5-step guide to ‘ideation’ for start-ups
One of the things I’ve learned when running a startup is you cannot do everything on your own. You and your co-founder could be specialists in your field but there will always come a time when you will need help from others. Maybe your marketing … Continue readingThe 1 per cent you won’t regret: why it’s worth giving equity to an advisory board
Make it clear what you’re asking for. It could be expertise, advisors, or capital. Make sure people know why you’re pitching. One of the biggest mistakes a start-up founder can make is bungle a pitch. A pitch is a make-or-break opportunity for any start-up. It … Continue readingFive steps for start-up founders to nail the pitch
Running a start-up is never easy. There are sales calls, product improvements, customer complaints and cash flow to keep on top of. With so many things going on at once, it is easy to lose sight of your three biggest priorities. The best way to … Continue readingThe three things every start-up must focus on
In the early stages, it makes sense to get funding once you have assembled your team, have made traction with your product and confirmed a product-market fit. Product-market fit means that you have a viable product that can satisfy a sizeable market. It is when … Continue readingHow to find the right investors for your startup
Building a startup requires hard work and perseverance. It’s difficult to do it alone and something, I suggest, you shouldn’t do alone. You need a cofounder with whom you can share the ups and downs of starting a business. So what do you look for … Continue readingHow to find the right co-founder