Here’s a link to the ReadWriteWeb article covering what’s gone down (it’s been a long day and Marshall Kirkpatrick is a kick-ass writer - so I think straight linking is acceptable in this case…)
Just 10 days ago I wrote a post asking whether Web Equity could save the Aussie Tech Startup Industry. One key aspect of that was whether or not there would be support for the equity rather than cash model.
Well founder Paul Middleton has released a first report and it looks like the support might just be there.
“We’re heading towards 100 members already”, said Middleton, “which I’m really pleased about after only 10 days. I really had no pre-conceptions as to how the startup community was going to react to the service, but it appears to support the idea”.
It’s still early days, and, as Middleton acknowledges, the site will need a success or two if it’s going to be able to keep building the user base, but at least things are quickly heading in the right direction.
Last week I gave a brief introduction to the Commonwealth Government’s new Climate Ready grants scheme. This week I’ll talk about getting started in the application process.
Before even thinking about applying for a Climate Ready grant the best thing to do is have a look at the sample application form, customer information guide and eligible expenditure guidelines which can be downloaded from the AusIndustry’s Climate Ready site. If reading those documents doesn’t scare you off then the first step in the application process is to submit a “customer enquiry form” available from the same site. I found the form relatively easy to fill out and submitted it on 31st July. A few days later I was sent a CD containing an application form. Then an AusIndustry customer service manager (CSM) contacted me to discuss the project and to inform me that if I want to get into the first round which closes on 4th September I’ll need to submit a detailed draft application by the beginning of next week. The pressure’s on.
Because I was already in the system from previous contacts with AusIndustry I didn’t have to provide too much extra information to the CSM but an applicant new to the system might be required to have a face-to-face meeting with AusIndustry people before they are given the application form. They seem to be keen on ensuring only applications which are competitive are submitted.
Even though the application process is a cut down version of the old Commercial Ready scheme it is still a lot of work. Because I’m new to marketing and commercialisation I’d estimate I’ve spent about two months work gathering and refining the information needed for a grant application. I’m doing all the work myself although some applicants will use a consultant to help them draft the application and to act as middle-man between the applicant and AusIndustry. Total consultant fees vary widely from about 5% to 20% of the grant amount so thoroughly check what exactly it is they do, i.e. how much work do they put in and how much will they require the applicant to do. One disadvantage of a consultant is the extra layer of communications which can slow down the whole process. An experienced mentor could be just as good as a consultant.
Another source of good advice is AusIndustry itself as the CSM will usually return the draft application with feedback about how it can be improved. Only after AusIndustry officially accepts the application can the project spending be counted as being eligible expenditure. Although there’s still no guarantee the grant will be successful so the applicant needs to take that into account when budgeting for the project. I’ll be applying for a grant in the lower end of the scale, around $80,000. I don’t know what someone does if they can’t scrape up the minimum amount for matching a grant ($50,000), I suppose they get nothing as punishment for being poor.
Atlassian has released version 2.9 of their Enterprise wiki software, Confluence, and it’s come with some pretty cool new features.
Coolest of all is Office Connector, which allows users to edit the wiki using Microsoft Office apps. I see how important this could be in the enterprise as execs attempt to move towards better forms of collaboration while users struggle to understand WYSIWG editors, let alone wiki markup.
In addition, the team has released SharePoint Connector into production after releasing it in beta last year.
The new version confirms Confluence’s place as a leader in the Enterprise wiki space and further strengthens the ties between Microsoft and Atlassian.
With SharePoint being one of the fastest selling server products in the history of Microsoft, Office needing to find new points of differentiation to compete with the Google threat and wikis and other web 2.0 style technologies becoming more and more popular in the enterprise, I wonder if Redmond has ever considered making an offer for the Confluence division or even all of Atlassian.
It would make sense from a technology perspective and the teams worked together to bring SharePoint connector to market, so there’s already a good relationship.
hmmm…should i call it so I can say I got in first?
Anyway, you can check out all the new features including demo videos on the Atlassian blog
The very important Data Portability Working Group has elected Steering Group officers and Australia is well represented.
Just 10 days ago I 
