Is an Aussie answer to Y Combinator just around the corner?

http://www.technation.com.au/2008/06/05/is-an-aussie-answer-to-y-combinator-just-around-the-corner/

by bootload • 18 years ago

14 17 18 years ago

technation.com.au

missenlinx• 18 years ago

Can only hope so. Australia needs more traction.

dhotson• 18 years ago

Indeed.

I'm from Melbourne and all the business here seems to be around finance and consulting.

With some really great universities (RMIT and Melb Uni) and computer science programs, I can see a lot of potential.

bootload4• 18 years ago

"... With some really great universities (RMIT and Melb Uni) and computer science programs, I can see a lot of potential ..."

The bottleneck in my view is the ultra conservative business environment. It's not for the lack of hackers, entrepreneurs. While Boston may be the sister city of Melbourne the overwhelming message I get is not "be smarter" ~ http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=201373

timcederman2• 18 years ago

Wow, just want to say, so great to see other Aussies on here. Anyone else in the Valley?

ryan2• 18 years ago

Omnisio (YC startup) is founded by Aussies and based here in the valley.

bootload4• 18 years ago

"... Which begs the question “do ‘aussie’ startups really need them?” Could the continual scarcity of capital and local entrepreneurial mentoring, be a breeding ground for a new form of Startup? ... and you said:`I think this is exactly the type of startup YC breeds` ..." ~

I added this comment before I posted here and while I didn't have Omnisio specifically in mind you pretty much confirm what I suspected.

timcederman2• 18 years ago

It's funny - 100,000 ex-pat Aussies in California, and I only ever run into people I went to uni with and are now working for Google.

hugh• 18 years ago

Not quite, but I'm in Sacramento (ex-Sydney).

JacobAldridge• 18 years ago

I'd be curious how much of a Y Combinator model could be replicated down under (Brisbane boy talking here).

I reckon small investments to kick-start tech-based businesses would fly. I also think we have enough of the right people to properly guide those businesses.

I'm not sure where would you have them base themselves? Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne each seem viable; none are Cambridge or the Valley.

And the big question - for how long could you seriously expect to fund multiple quality ideas twice a year? If Big Brother ran out of talent in 3 seasons, I'd be surprised for a tech-start-up-focussed company to still be finding suitable applicants 3-4 years down the track.

davidw• 18 years ago

Linuxcare Australia, which had a seriously impressive list of hackers, was based in Canberra, perhaps due to the proximity to the university? It didn't sound like a very exciting place, but then again, neither is silicon valley.

bootload4• 18 years ago

"... And the big question - for how long could you seriously expect to fund multiple quality ideas twice a year? If Big Brother ran out of talent in 3 seasons, I'd be surprised for a tech-start-up-focussed company to still be finding suitable applicants 3-4 years down the track. ..."

I don't know. There's a lot of software, engineering and hackers in the major capitals (Bris, Syd, Mel, Adl, Per) but not many startup "product" companies (sans enterprisy software companies). So it tends to limit the opportunity for people who want to work for Startups who might just think I could do better than this rather than work for consultancies, design and marketing companies or the multi-nationals.

There is no lack of talent and risk takers. There is definitely a lack of Angels, mentors and the other fuzzy bits that provide the stepping stones from taking an idea to Startup to exit ~ http://benbarren.blogspot.com/2008/05/why-is-it-so.html

Is an Aussie answer to Y Combinator just around the corner?

Related Stories