Red Lizard Software Wins ANZA’s Tech23 Prize: Company Most Ready for US

by Viki Forrest, CEO ANZA Technology Network

It’s my pleasure to announce that Red Lizard Software has been chosen to receive ANZA’s Tech23 prize, which is awarded to the company we saw at Tech23 last month who demonstrates great potential for the US market.

Red Lizard Software’s Goanna product cleans up software bugs for developers, reducing the time programmers spend testing and debugging. Red Lizard estimates that software bugs are a $100 billion (USD) problem. And, they have a solution that can remedy this expense within minutes. The upshot is that higher quality software gets to market faster.

Read more about Goanna here.

Our prize for Red Lizard Software is a slot in our 2010 Gateway to the US program. Valued at $3,995 (USD), Red Lizard will have the option of taking part in a US market analysis workshop next year in Sydney, then working with a US-based coach who will get them ready to pitch in Silicon Valley to potential US investors, partners and others from the tech community who can further facilitate US market exploration and entry.

Congratulations to Red Lizard Software. We look forward to working with you!

Tradeslot Wins ANZA Technology Network’s Gateway to US Guy Manson Award

The winner of the Guy Manson Award for Hottest Company at ANZA Gateway to US, Tradeslot. From left to right: John Dyson, Starfish Ventures; Jesco d'Alquen, CEO Tradeslot, Mark B. Johnson, Tradeslot' s Gateway coach and Viki Forrest, CEO ANZA. Photo by KazzaDrask Media.

Victorian-based B2B Auction Technology Company Takes Top Honors among Australian Companies at Silicon Valley Summit

Tradeslot was named the “Hottest Company” tonight at the conclusion of the 2009 ANZA Gateway to the US Summit at the Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pitching alongside 9 other Australian-founded companies taking part in an intensive three-day immersion in Silicon Valley, Tradeslot, from Melbourne, Victoria captured the Guy Manson Award for its real-time combinatorial auction platform that dramatically improves the efficiency and profitability of B2B transactions for both buyers and sellers. The award is given to the Australian or New Zealand company deemed “most ready” to do business in the US marketplace.

“Tradeslot was the clear winner among our judging panel,” said Viki Forrest, ANZA CEO. “The companies were rated on market opportunity, their solution to an existing problem or market need and their readiness to do business in the US. This company is ready to be here.”

The Guy Manson Award includes a 25 percent discount to the ANZA Fast Track to the US program. The mentoring program works with Australian and New Zealand entrepreneurs to significantly accelerate their company’s expansion into the US market.

Tradeslot CEO Jesco d’Alquen accepted the award from ANZA and Starfish Ventures. Starfish Ventures investment principal John Dyson took part in a Q&A judging panel session during the pitches along with Eliane Fiolet of Ubergizmo and Simon Anderson of Pictage.com.

“When you have a start-up there are as many reasons to believe as there are doubts,” said d’Alquen. “The Guy Manson Award definitely helps me know that I am on the right path.”

This year’s line-up of Gateway companies was particularly impressive in that it represented innovation at every level: technology, business models and customer acquisition.

Other presenting companies included: Earth Utility, iPOWOW!, myCaRMS, myownpad, Software Shortlist and Spinergy. Company bios are available at: http://www.anzatechnet.com/page-3/parent-1/section-1.html

Past winners of ANZA’s Guy Manson Award include Neuro Vision Technology, Buzka, Silenceair, cineSync, Digislide and In the Chair (now StarPlayit).

Great Expectations for our 2009 Gateway to the US Summit

by Viki Forrest, CEO ANZA Technology Network

It’s at this point in the lead-up to our annual Summit that I can relax. Our companies are prepared and on their way to Silicon Valley, ready to meet their coaches in person and put the finishing touches on their presentation. Our speakers and business panelists are confirmed and excited. Our judges are looking forward to their first look at some of Australia’s most innovative technologies. And – thanks to my operations manager, Jennifer everything from the registrations to the arrangements with our host, the Plug and Play Tech Center to the printing of our handbooks is under control. On top of that, there’s good news from our marketing manager Kathy – a buzz is building for this year’s show in the Valley.

And to add to that buzz, I’ve got some exciting late announcements to make. We’ve added another company to our presenting line-up – Spinergy. Spinergy is a clean tech company from Adelaide led by entrepreneur Luceille Outhred. You might recognize her name. She’s the CEO at Digislide, which also made its debut at the ANZA Gateway in 2005. Digislide was a Guy Manson Award Winner at that year’s show and went on to list on the ASX.

The Hon. Nigel Warren, Consul-General and Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade will welcome our companies and audience on Tuesday morning.

Our Funding Your Business discussion, that starts the day on Wednesday at 9 am, has just taken on a brilliant dimension we have never tried before. Australian entrepreneur, Ben Keighran, who brought his company Bluepulse to Silicon Valley in 2006, and raised a cool $6.5M from VantagePoint will sit down with our panel of VCs, angels and bankers – Warren Hogarth (Sequoia), John Dyson (Starfish Ventures), Jean Kovacs (Harvard Angels), Ed Lambert (Bridge Bank) and Tom Cervantez (moderator) – to offer an entrepreneur’s view on what it takes to raise venture capital. Expect the unexpected from this discussion and be sure to stay afterward for some informal networking.

Do you need a ticket? They’re just $55, and you can get yours to the Wednesday Business Forum session (good for all sessions all day) right here.

Gateway to the US 2009 Companies Demonstrate Innovation at Every Level

ANZA TechNet is pleased to announce this year’s Gateway to the US companies, who will be pitching their companies and demo’ing their products next Tuesday, October 6, at 9 am at the Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale.

The companies are:

• Earth Utility, a sustainable utility company that makes sustainability simple and affordable.
• iPOWOW!, an integrated platform and tools for online video, which collects attitude and opinion from any video in real-time, and allows for sophisticated reporting on responses.
• myCaRMS, enterprise software that addresses the dual requirements of regulatory compliance and risk assessment for financial institutions.
• Myownpad, social networking and social gaming integration into a unique virtual world platform that provides an immersive, interactive and social 3D experience.
• Software Shortlist, a proprietary method to help businesses identify software that is most appropriate for their business.
• Tradeslot, combination optimization technology and auction technology that creates transparent and efficient primary markets for scarce resources such as carbon, timber, grain, iron ore, water and more.

They will be joined on stage by a select group of Australian-founded companies already up and running in Silicon Valley: Aruspex, 5th Finger and Embedster.

“Australia is known for its world class innovation,” said Viki Forrest, ANZA CEO. “This is our chance for a great group of companies to show Silicon Valley some Down Under innovation at every level — technology, business models and customer acquisition.”

The companies will pitch before a panel of judges including VC John Dyson (Starfish Ventures), tech guru Eliane Fiolet (Ubergizmo.com) and serial entrepreneur Simon Anderson (Pictage.com). Tickets are just $55 can be purchased at this link.

2009 Gateway to the US Summit

Registration is open for attendees to the 2009 Gateway to the US Summit. This year’s companies are shaping up to be one of our best mixes yet — ANZA CEO Viki Forrest says, “This year’s companies demonstrate innovation at every level — technology, business models and customer acquisition.”

We formally begin announcing which companies have been included in the 2009 Gateway to the US lineup later this week. But trust us — you don’t want to miss out on a chance to hear their 5-minute pitches in front of a select panel of judges and to see the product demos on October 6th at the Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale. We’ve already filled half of the 100 available seats. A ticket to this event is just $55. Register here.

On October 7th, the Gateway switches gears and offers one of the most complete all-day sessions designed for any international startup launching in the US. The Gateway Business Forums address funding options, legal and tax concerns, marketing and PR in the world’s largest marketplace and what it takes for effective CEO leadership. You do not have to be an ANZA TechNet member to attend. The price is $55 — and you can register here.

Finally, ANZA TechNet is known for its Gateway Closing Night BBQ at the Plug and Play Tech Center. This is one of the most engaging networking events in Silicon Valley, and the most fun. Come mix and mingle with our 2009 Gateway companies, ANZA and Advance members and other Aussies, Kiwis and Americans, too. During the course of the evening we announce the winner of the Guy Manson Hottest Technology Award for the best in show Gateway company. You can buy your ticket to this popular event now for just $55. Click here to register.