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by bootload 6579 days 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
2 comments
pm 6579 days ago
Agreed. Melbourne is the Australian archetype of the cosmopolitan city, but in terms of startup production on a global scale, I doubt it rates much farther ahead of other Australian capital cities.

I reside in Adelaide and the business environment is barren. I could count on my hand the number of angels who have real insight into the technology sector. We have access to Government grants schemes - COMET for emerging startups and Commercial Ready for SMEs - but they rarely consider ventures without a traditional business model.

There are startups to be found - I'm the programming half of one that's gaining major traction in the education market - and successful businesses have originated from Adelaide (such as News Corporation). On the whole though, Australia currently doesn't have the mentorship, the networking, or the intellectual and financial capital to sustain a vibrant startup community.

Given time, however, I believe the situation can change, with sufficient exposure.

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greendestiny 6579 days ago
I'm also from Adelaide, and I agree it's not likely to be a startup hub anytime soon. I think a large part of the problem is a lack of startup culture - as an example I was involved in a startup company after finishing my undergrad degree, and the founder was absolutely against giving up any control and his idea of giving equity to the first employees was a %0.0001 profit sharing arrangement. He was offered something like $50k to get a prototype together but wouldnt relinquish any equity.

I think the history of News Corp is a little more complicated, the Advertiser was just the first paper Rupert was given control over, hence its importance to him.

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pm 6579 days ago
I can relate to the lack of startup culture, specifically founders who, as you've experienced, refuse to give up any equity in return for committed co-founders. Brash independence is an Australian cultural cornerstone, often to a fault. I've encountered it more often than I care to remember, and been guilty of it just as much.

A lack of resources is a major concern, but it's the lack of co-operation which really holds us back. I hold hope that a couple of successful and generous founders will arise, sell out and establish a YC-like venture to foster the kind of thinking and giving that's needed.

(According to Wikipedia, Sir Keith Murdoch left his son Rupert the Adelaide News, from which he started News Corporation).

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menloparkbum 6579 days ago
are there any good web resources regarding the melbourne "scene?" I have my own weird solo gig going, but I'm always contemplating a way to spend at least a year in the melbourne area. (i have family who moved there about 5 years ago, and would like to spend time there)
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bootload 6579 days ago
"... are there any good web resources regarding the melbourne "scene?" ..."

Hey menlo try here:

- http://melbourne.twitterusergroup.com (Melbourne Twitter Underground Brigade: less technical but more entrepreneurial types)

- http://www.luv.asn.au (Linux Users of Victoria: more engineers)

- http://www.osdc.com.au/osdclub (Open Source Developers' Club: hackers)

Let us know if your in Melb ~ http://twitter.com/bootload

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