Seeking our best digital entrepreneurs in the US
I'm halfway through compiling a feature on Australia's best digital entrepreneurs who have made it big in the US. Think about guys like Larry Marshall, Ben Keighran and Steven Goh. I'm throwing it open to anyone in the software, internet, or hardware technology sector ... if you have any suggestions, please let me know ASAP.
This request for information expires on Thursday, April 17.
Hi Brad,
Gotta love those Google Alerts!
The #1 export surely has to be Mr Murdoch, failing that a great article in Anthill with the Funky Sexy Cool guys. http://www.anthillonline.com/article_detail.php?id=622
“I’ve worked in France for five years, the UK for five or six years and in America for more,” says O’Connor. “I will hire Australians over anyone else because they’ve got that bite. You can see it in their eyes. It just pisses me off that we have so much ability in Australia but so many of us don’t believe we’re worthy of global success. So we end up getting squeezed by investors and venture capitalists with an idea that we think is worth $1 million but is actually worth $100 million.”
O’Connor believes Australian companies relocate to California and elsewhere in America mainly because venture capitalists are more likely to throw $2-5m at them. ”They’ll take 80 percent of the company, but they will throw that sort of cash…. You can only bootstrap a company for so long before you need a significant cash injection, or you’ll miss your opportunity. The tech sector doesn’t wait for you to get your house in order.”
Hits the spot. I've heard many people will be leaving Aus, especially as the mobile industry starts hitting the growth we've been waiting for - for so long.
Bring on the gold-rush - just make sure you're the one selling the pans.
CK
Posted by:Chris K | April 16, 2008 at 10:38 PM