Wotnews, the Australian news aggregation and analysis service is launching a US version of their site today.

The new site can be found at http://wotnews.com

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The announcement highlights the continued growth of the company, formerly known as Plugger.

As regular readers will know, we think the world of wotnews and use it as a key research tool.

We’re sure the Americans will love the service as much as we do.

Keep an eye on this one.

Welcome to the February ‘09 installment of the Aussie Startup index.

Congratulations to all the startups that are appearing for the first time and to those who have imporved their ranking.

Sites from startup-australia.org are ranked and listed below. Sites are ranked based on an average of Alexa and Compete traffic data. Only sites that are ranked by both Alexa & Compete and that have an average ranking of < 1 million will be listed. This month 104 sites listed on the startup-australia wiki made the list. To get yourself included just add your site to the wiki.

In addition to the Alexa and Compete traffic data are the following fields which, while they aren’t included in the actual rank calculations, add deeper insight into the startups on the list

• Quantcast -  data from Quantcast.
• Hitwise - Hitwise Australian traffic rank.
• Change - Change in the startup’s ranking between Nov and Dec.
• NB: All columns are sortable, just click on the heading

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NEWS - THE TOP 100 AUSSIE WEB STARTUP INDEX

This month’s list has pushed us over 100 startups. As such, next month this list will be rebranded as the “Top 100 Aussie Web Startups Index”. As you’ve probably guessed, that means that we’ll be limiting the list to 100 web startups from now on.

It’s makes me a little sad to think that we can’t include everyone anymore. On the other hand, it’s great that so many startups are now announcing themselves and being considered.

As always, a big thankyou to Geoff Evason of Momentville (No.22 on this month’s list) who came up with the idea of the list and still sends through the bulk of the data every month.

Now onto the list…

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You heard it here first - Travellr is now in PRIVATE BETA!

Yes! If you want to try them out just go to their SIGN-UP PAGE and enter the beta key: TECHNATION

Here’s some initial screenshots:

Think of  Travellr as stackoverflow meets thorn-tree - the whole system is question-centric and at the moment has about 50,000 locations in their database. I even was able to find Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan in the drop-down. If your location is not there at the moment you can easily add it via the feedback link and indicate “Missing/Incorrect location”.

Here’s the Media Brief via Scribd:

Travellr goes into Private Beta Media Brief

posted by Paul “The Pageman” Pajo

Great to see the Adelaide tech startup scene getting together for a BarCamp.

If you’re going to be around Adelaide on the weekend ofthe 21st, it’ll definitely be worth checking out.

Details Below

• WHEN: Saturday Feb 21st, 9:30am - 5pm
• WHERE: Xentech Web CBD Office, Rundle Mall
• COST: Only $15/ticket (includes food & lanyard!)
• SIZE: Strictly limited to 45 tickets, so act now!
• WHO: Beginners & advanced technology lovers
• HOW: Tickets MUST be bought via the BarCamp site
• WHY: Have fun, make friends, share & learn
• KUDOS: Monique Kleine, Geoffrey Kwitko + more

I spoke to serial entrepreneur Kwitko about the event and this is what he had to say:

It’s quite a buzz to be running the first BarCamp Adelaide (in a very long time) with Monnie. We are set to run an absolutely rocking event.

It was a very shakey start (as is normal when you get a gaggle of volunteers together to run something new) but it’s certainly been a fun ride and I’ve met some amazing people. It was great to have 10 or so highly enthusiastic to take on large organisational responsibilities at the first meeting (a great sign that what we are doing means something to the community). But in the end over the following months, as people’s abilities and commitments started to drop out, Monnie and I were are happy to run BarCamp Adelaide together in a small but fully capable team.

I’ve been running events and businesses since I was 16 (just sold my fourth recently)…. and Monnie knows the tech community inside out so we are a good team. We look forward to many more BarCamps with even more impact on the community.

 Kleine also added some background information on the event

The idea for having BarCamp Adelaide came after I got frustrated that we keep missing out on the “cool” tech events. Sydney is naturally blessed with conferences supported by big companies where we tend to miss out. BarCamp also bridges the divide between keen contributors and those who work/live/breathe the internet, games, programming/networking etc.

There has been one in the past, though not widely advertised and not many people on board. It was also held very far out of the city - almost a 90 minute drive from the CBD - and in Adelaide that is a pretty big deal!

We are expecting 50 people at this BarCamp. It is our starter event; we have already started planning forward for the next one that we hope to have in July or August.

I believe after this one there should be an increased amount of interest as we are trying to appeal to a wide market of people instead of just leaving it covering one field, ie programming. We’d love to have everyone involved and learning, as well as reporting back to the wider tech community and their friends.

And what, according to Kleine, would make a succesful event?

A successful BarCamp for me would be one that people walk away from having learnt something they can share and talk about with others. I want to bridge the technology gap and have people of all skill levels attend something like this, as it gives keen people the opportunity to be involved without a degree.

With BarCamp being a proven format for building local tech communties and Kleine and Kwitko organising the event - I’d put money on the event being a success in the organisers’, and the community’s, eyes.

Here’s an interview to start off 2009 - Troy Kippen co-founder of Editeam.com.au, a copywriting and editing service startup, gives us the goods on his company.

What is Editeam.com.au’s founder doing when he’s not working?

Any time I get off from Editeam is spent far away from any computer screen. I usually take time out on the mountain bike or on the water.

Being self-employed is great because I can be a bit flexible, but there is a tendency to overwork with a self-imposed work structure. It is sometimes a real struggle to balance the time, but I always try and spend a certain amount of time each week away from the computer. If nothing else it reminds me why I developed this start-up in the first place.

What are Editeam.com.au’s big plans for 2009?

The first half of the year will be spent developing a presence in new markets, particularly New Zealand and the UK. The UK is one of the biggest freelance marketplaces in the world and Editeam’s structure is a comfortable option for businesses that regular use freelancers. Also with the current exchange rates, it is a good time to enter the UK.

I plan to also increasing organic growth by refining Editeam’s service to better meet the needs of customers here in Australia. Any new opportunities in 2009 will only be taken up if it fits our current strategy.

How did you get the idea of starting Editeam.com.au?

While I was working as a full-time journalist, I had some work doing web and sales copy for a few clients. These clients were web developers/designers who mentioned that it was difficult to get decent copy from their clients.

While I was working as a full-time journalist, I had some work doing web and sales copy for a few clients.”

These clients were web developers/designers who mentioned that it was difficult to get decent copy from their clients.

I saw an opportunity to start a company that delivered quality web copy, where and when it was needed.

What is Editeam.com.au in one sentence?

Editeam provides content strategies for clients of web developers/designers.

What’s a typical Editeam.com.au user like?

A typical user of Editeam is a web designer/developer or online marketing company with small to medium sized companies as clients. Most clients need the services of a copywriter, but do not have the capacity to justify a copywriter in-house.

How people are using Editeam.com.au’s services?

There are two ways the majority of clients use Editeam. Some companies refer clients to Editeam directly, while other companies offer copywriting/editing services to clients under their own name. Editeam’s business model accommodates both options.

How did you build Editeam.com.au? Are any of the Editeam.com.au co-founders programmers?

Editeam’s website was born from consultation with my freelance clients. Through talking with the web developers I was able to create a website plan that met the needs of web developers/designers.

An example of our customer focus is our project management software. The software is Basecamp, which is software that is commonly used, or well known, by my target customers.

We have no developer in-house.

We have no developer in-house”

Who do you consider to be competing with Editeam.com.au ?

Although there are many companies offering copywriting services, our biggest competitors are in-house copywriters and the end user themselves. Editeam spends a great deal of time promoting the need for a professional communicator to get involved in the development process.

Many end users underestimate the importance of a content strategy, and see a professional copywriter as an unnecessary expense. Overcoming that way of thinking is Editeam’s greatest challenge in the marketplace.

What is entrepreneurship for you?

Think big, but pay attention to detail. If you see an opportunity you should chase it for all it is worth, but be sure to pay attention to new opportunity, potential problems, and listen to your customers/clients.

When you are starting out an opportunity may present itself. Be open, but remember you will only succeed if it stays focused on your outcomes.

What lessons did you learn along the way as you were building up Editeam.com.au ?

I learnt to make sure processes were in place. All processes should be considered, from handing client communication to billing. Without processes you are driving blind, which will often reflect badly on any company.

Also a company should be built up slowly, so it’s better prepared than one that hits the ground running. I spent six months researching the business environment before launching Editeam.

Any tips for upcoming Aussie startuppers? Is Australia a favorable place for a startup? Why?

There is plenty of help out there for someone with an idea, but be sure anyone your go to for help can see the merit in your idea. Preferably you want people onboard who share your passion for success.

Australia is a good market for startups, because there are a lot of organisations out there to help you develop a new business. When you are starting a business it is important to get the right advice because there are so many parts to starting a new successful business.”

Australia is a good market for startups, because there are a lot of organisations out there to help you develop a new business. When you are starting a business it is important to get the right advice because there are so many parts to starting a new successful business.

Here’s something I, and many people, have been waiting a few months for - TurnTubeList - the youtube video mixer/playlist creator which we reported had won WebJam 8 in September last year, was publicly released last night!

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Earle Castledine, AKA  “Mr Speaker” and one of the TurnTubeList Crew, explained why they’d created the site:

Do you remember the good-old days? 2002, and the rise of the Superstar DJ - when once-lowly DJs were elevated to unprecedented highs as festival gods: more revered than actors, musicians, and really good baristas. They could take us on musical journey and drop us off home with a twinkle in our eye…

…Alas, like arcade games in the 80’s, the DJ has been superseded by the home-market: a sea of bedroom producers take over, and the superstar DJs pack up their vinyl and head home for a well deserved rest.

It doesn’t end there, of course - Mix Masters would never give up that easily. The spirit and passion of the DJ stays alight - we still want to dance all night, and party like it’s 1999 (to 2004).
That’s why we needed to make Turntubelist. For everyone who’s ever dreamed of working some You-Tube Powered Wheels of Steel.

I’ve had a play with the site and it’s seriously easy to use. Searching for and adding tracks to either your playlist 1 or 2 (you need 2 separate playlists so you can mix videos) is dead simple. The actual cross-fading/mixing is easy as well once you get the hang of it.

In no time at all I was mixing my favourite Teddy Riley New Jack Swing songs (thought I’d start with music that I knew had exactly the same beats) and looking for more songs to add in.

The only thing I think is missing that would send this over the top is the ability to somehow record your mixes and play them back as a whole.

Then again, it’s probably a good thing that I couldn’t do that or else I would have spent even more hours reliving my greatest DJ’ing moments of the 90’s and 00’s.

Now, back to the site…

As I mentioned in the original wrap-up story I posted on Startup Camp Sydney 2 - all of the weekend’s startups have now been put up for auction on SitePoint’s marketplace

You can find the individual auctions at these addresses:

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ThreeFeeds (Search aggregation and sharing site)
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/57654

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GiveDo (support charities via search):
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/57655

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EpicTweet (epic tweet aggregator):
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/57658

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MyPetNeedsLove (pet dating site):
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/57656

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iTrafficApp (Road traffic iPhone app):
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/57651

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ActivityHorizon (location-based activities):
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/auctions/57649

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The details are as follows:

• Auctions run for 14 days.
• Minimum Bid is $100, reserve price is $250.
• There will be no Buy It Now price.
• Transactions are not handled by sitepoint, but direct between buyer and seller, so sitepoint doesn’t charge a fee.

I spoke to Bart about the decision to auction and this is what he had to say:

The experience from previous camps is that after the camp different team members have different ideas on what their startup is worth and some will want to put more time/effort into it than others. In most cases this has led to inactivity and deadlock. This time we will auction the startups to the highest bidder. This way there can’t be any doubt about the market value of the startup. And since all team members have contributed fairly equal (about 1 weekend), everyone will get their fair share.

Which do you think will sell for the highest price and what will that price be?

There are plenty of activity sites out there, sites that tell you what’s going on in your neck of the woods, but I just came across Tomorrow’s Date and i think it might be one of the best I’ve seen.

The difference with Sydney-based Tomorrow’s date is that the site doesn’t try to be an activity site for everyone. Instead, they focus specifically on cool stuff for you, and someone you know, to do. Whether that’s a first date, a night out with the missus or just a day out for you and your friend doing something different, the site is still relevant.

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Now sometimes you might not have the Internet handy, or you might want to give friends a present that’s slightly more than a URL. No Problem, Tomorrow’s date has come up with the “Tomorrow’s Date Deck” to make sure you can always have a cool date handy.

Tomorrow’s Date Deck is a standard deck of 52 playing cards, each promoting an interesting local date activity with clever text, images and other relevant information.

Tomorrow’s Date’s Annie Todd had the idea for the date deck after years of being her friends ‘go to girl’ when it came to local date activities.

My friends, especially guys, were always calling to get advice on where to take girls out on dates.  They wanted to be impressive and do something more interesting than just going to dinner, but they didn’t want to seem over the top.  It wasn’t until my own boyfriend asked me to plan our 4th date that I realized, it can actually be a pretty nerve racking experience!

The deck includes a twilight helicopter ride, a flying trapeze session, extreme scuba diving, a scenic photography class, theatre nights and more.  The activities are divided by suit; hearts=romantic dates, clubs=clever dates, diamonds=adventure dates and spades=sporty dates.

But wait! It doesn’t stop there.

Beyond just giving interesting date ideas, each card has a buy-one-get-one-free offer for the described activity. Todd says that the offers are worth “over $1000″ which is massive considering the deck costs only 25 bucks. Oh yeah, and 10% of proceeds are donated directly to the Heart Foundation.

Good concept, good differentiation & good execution - should be interesting to see if Tomorrow’s Date can turn these strong foundations into success.

You may remember Chris Carpenter from previous stories we’ve run on his online doc / forms sites Widgely and Australian Business Forms.

Well Chris is back with Doculicious, a kind of updated version of Widgely.

As before there’s a really simple PDF creator however the main difference is that Doculicious lets people embed the templates/forms onto their own websites. With Widgely the templates can only be used from the widgely site. In addition to that are many other changes including multiple styles for templates/forms, tracking of form usage and export of form data.

I’m really feeling the whole online form thing - particularly when you need to make it an exact replica of an offline form e.g. with official forms. Outside of that though, there are lots of reasons why there’s a need for something like doculicious.

According to Chris, the benefits of using Doculicious over a normal PDF download include:

• Get notifications when someone completes a form.
• Set the notification email to attach the form data as a CSV and/or PDF file.
• Easily track, manage and process form entries.
• Unique tracking codes to match faxed or mailed forms to data entries.
• Form data can be downloaded as PDF or CSV.
• Removes the need to re-type or read messy, handwritten forms.
• Increases compliance by removing error-prone steps from a business workflow.
• Makes it easy for people to do business with you. Increase sales and client happiness.
• No need to change business processes.
• Create styles for a templates web form. Match them to existing site designs and branding.

Doculicious uses a freemium based subscription model (with 6 levels ranging from free to US$197) so  you can pop onto the site and try it for free if you like

As a side note - it’s good to see more and more document/form/info management solutions being created by Aussie startups. Another couple that come to mind are  Documentlabs and Puttoo. I also have a couple of emails from other related sites sitting in my inbox.

Could be an nice little cluster forming.