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!

Accepting Expressions of Interest in the ANZA TechNet Gateway to China Pilot Program

We’ve had a number of enquiries into the Gateway to China Pilot program since we sent out an e-blast yesterday, so we have re-posted the link for the Expressions of Interest here.

This Pilot program will be open to Australian entrepreneurs looking to get into the China market. If you are interested (or know someone who is), please follow this link and enter a brief description of your company by 9 November 2009.

We will have more information for those who express their interest shortly after the closing date for registrants given above. The Pilot is still in its planning stages, but as of now ANZA TechNet will tentatively be holding FREE workshops in Australian cities in February 2010, with a 1-week trip to Shanghai in March 2010 to meet with China-based coaches who will help you navigate the complexities of the China business culture, explore business opportunities and learn more about doing business in the China market.

While many companies will be invited to the FREE workshop, only five will be chosen to go to Shanghai.

If you’d like to register your interest, click here. To find out more details about the Pilot, contact ANZA CEO Viki Forrest at viki@anzatechnet.com.

Great Day at Tech23

Dan Bisa (left) and Justin Barrie (right) catch up with ANZA CEO Viki Forrest at Tech23 in Sydney. Photo by KazzaDrask Media.

An impressive lineup of companies today at Tech23 in Sydney. Twenty-three companies gave us a look into Australia’s technology future across consumer web, enterprise, mobile communications, clean/green and in between, digital media and SaaS/cloud computing.

We picked a favorite in each category that we thought has what it takes to make it in the global marketplace. Our choices were:

• Posse (Consumer Web)
• Red Lizard Software (Enterprise)
• QMCodes (Mobile)
• HEARD Systems (Clean/Green/In Between)
• We Are Hunted (Digital Media)
• Simmersion Holdings (SaaS/Cloud)

It was good to see our friends from Perkler, a 2008 Gateway to the US company who did not pitch at Tech23, but was there to lend support to these up-and-coming next wave of Aussie innovators. Kudos to Rachel Slattery and her team at SlatteryIT for putting together an excellent show and well-run event.

 

 

Ten Reminders for Australian Entrepreneurs Looking at the US Market

by Viki Forrest, CEO ANZA Technology Network

Just read Philip Rogers’ highly informative piece in Australian Anthill about Aussie companies thinking about doing business in the US market.

A couple of quick takeaways apply:

1. The US remains the largest developed market in the world and a big influence on other global markets. It remains important for any company with global ambitions.
2. Innovative new models and technology have dramatically changed the cost of entering and developing the US market, you can now do some of the early market development work from Australia
3. That’s right — you no longer need to hire a US-based sales manager to get your business off the ground.
4. But — don’t make the mistake that your products or services are fully developed since they were successful in the home market. Changes will always be required to meet US customer needs.
5. Go back to startup mode — entering the US needs to be seen as comparable to a startup, meaning that founders need to be closely involved. Hiring rainmakers and expecting them to succeed on their own is unlikely to be successful.
6. Most value added resellers (VARs) or other distributors are good at selling mature products in mature categories. They are not very motivated by, or successful at, marketing innovative products and services that require the ability to create or disrupt markets.
7. That’s why you’ll need to adopt some new strategies and techniques. The good news is inbound marketing strategies in particular are extremely affordable. Search engine optimization, web-based content (webinars, white papers, etc.) and social media strategies let you start building your brand well before anyone gets on a plane. Content that demonstrates expertise and innovative thinking is the new currency. Inbound marketing will attract early adopters and innovators who are looking for new ideas.
8. As well, outbound marketing strategies like strategic targeting of prospects based on a defined ideal customer profile is another way to accelerate reach and growth. Outsourced demand generation or inside sales services mean that Australian companies can get access to the same US-based resources used by top US firms without taking on employees.
9. Where I may disagree with this otherwise excellent advice is on the short visits to the US to make an in-person impact. Great idea during the first 6-12 months of your market entry strategy as you work through the top 8 points above, but after that, to quote Markus Weichselbaum, CEO of TheBroth, a successful ANZA Fast Track company, “You have to be here.”
10. And, as always, the focus needs to be on your customers. Find your customers, make them happy and the rest will follow.

Now that I’ve paraphrased Philip’s piece to fall in line with what we talk about all the time at ANZA TechNet, please give his piece the full read it deserves. Click here.

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).