A blimp is not a standard small business purchase but when payments startup Qpay got a surprise cash prize that’s where the company parked its money. Qpay were the winners of last year’s $50,000 American Express Shop Small grant, offered in partnership with Fairfax Media, and as well as buying a six foot blimp from China … Read more
Category Archives: Funding & Grants Back
Six Figure Crowdfunding : The No Bullshit Guide to Running a Life Changing Campaign (ebook)
Authors: Derek Miller, Noelle Pugh, Dylan Todd In this bold, irreverent, hilarious how-to guide, bestselling Kickstarter campaign manager Derek Miller takes his millions of dollars of supercrowdfunding experience and delivers everything you need to know about being a modern entrepreneur in today’s global marketplace. In other words, this ain’t your parent’s business book. Accompanied by … Read more
Global domination ahead for Mammojo lactivewear entrepreneurs
Designer activewear is all the rage right now, but it’s not exactly designed with the expectant mother in mind. After returning to exercise following the birth of her first of three kids, Melita Shirley, co-founder of lactivewear brand Mammojo, found it impossible to source nursing friendly activewear. “Traditional activewear was completely impractical for a nursing … Read more
StartupSmart explainer: What’s the deal with equity crowdfunding, and should I do it?
Last week, the Australian government passed new legislation extending equity crowdfunding to private businesses and therefore considerably more startups. But what has actually changed, and should startups be taking advantage? Equity crowdfunding allows investors to pledge relatively small amounts of investment into a company in exchange for equity in the business. Initial equity crowdfunding legislation passed in March … Read more
All about the nose: wine startup raises $2 million
Banjo Harris Plane’s palate and nose are highly sought after. The former sommelier at top restaurant Attica and owner of Bar Liberty knows what he’s talking about when it comes to wine and on Tuesday he secured $2 million in funding for his startup, The Wine Gallery. The Wine Gallery hopes to take Harris Plane’s … Read more
NSW startups secured twice as much funding as any other state in the last financial year, Techboard report finds
Startups and tech companies in New South Wales scooped up more than twice as much funding as those in Victoria and Queensland in the last financial year, according to Techboard’s first country-wide funding report — and Australia’s other states are trailing even further behind. The Techboard Australian Startup and Young Technology Company Funding Report 2017/18 … Read more
‘Huge advantage’: Senate extends equity crowdfunding legislation
Small businesses across the country can fast-track fundraising after the Senate extended equity crowdfunding to proprietary companies. The passing of the Corporations Amendment (Crowd-sourced funding for proprietary companies) Bill on Wednesday builds on the government’s 2017 equity crowdfunding legislation, allowing businesses to do this without converting to unlisted public company status. Christophe Hoppe is excited … Read more
Brutal honesty and collaboration: Life after an equity crowdfund raise
Manrags co-founder Michael Elias has spent the past week preparing to welcome 177 investors on board his business. The Melbourne-based underwear subscription business, which Elias founded with his wife Tina, successfully raised $363,000 two weeks ago through an equity crowdfunding campaign. The raise elevates Manrags into a small cohort of businesses that have successfully closed … Read more
Meet Manrags, the startup that has seen 100% revenue growth by taking silly socks seriously
It started with zany socks in the office, but now subscription-for-essentials startup Manrags is reporting 100% year-on-year revenue growth and inviting its dedicated community to invest through its Equitise equity crowdfunding campaign. Manrags was founded two-and-a-half years ago by husband and wife team Michael and Tina Elias, who styled the service as a community-led essentials club. Subscribers … Read more
Co-create : how your business will profit from innovative and strategic collaboration (book)
Authors: David Nour; illustrations by Lin Wilson What if your customers had a vested interest in guiding your company toward greater success? What if your employees had a personal as well as professional commitment to elevating your organization? Imagine how different your results would be if investors, vendors, and even analysts treasured the relationship they … Read more