Research by PwCin 2013 found that the Australian tech-startup sector has the potential to contribute $109 billion, or four per cent, of GDP to the Australian economy and 540,000 jobs by 2033. Startups and entrepreneurs are a key of the NSW government’s plan to create new jobs and its Jobs for NSW program report released in 2016 centres on attracting large international companies to NSW, providing funding for local and regional SMEs and accelerating the growth of startups. There are a range of State and Federal government grants and initiatives that providefinancial support for small businesses and startups, as

Desk Space Case Study: HealthBank has already been coined a disruptor before it’s even launched     Healthcare has traditionally been a face-to-face service, but telehealth alternative HealthBank is providing an online platform that’s beneficial to both patients and practitioners. HealthBank has already been coined a disruptor in the health industry and recognised by Westpac as a Business of Tomorrow. We spoke to Desk Space member Robbie Clark about the development of the telehealth venture.  Robbie has workedin private practice as a dietitian for 10 years and is passionate about preventative treatment. Based on his own experiences and by

Design thinking and lean start-up are human-centric methods to create successful products using systematic, low-risk pathways designed to meet customer needs. Two Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty members: Stefanos Zenios, Investment Group of Santa Barbara Professor of Entrepreneurship and Matthew Glickman, lecturer in management and founder of BabyCenter and Merced Systems offer insights about where design thinking and lean start-up intersect and how to get the best out of both. “Every start-up is a series of hypotheses,” says Zenios. “Lean start-up provides a rigorous framework that you use to prove or disprove as many of these hypotheses as possible at

Do you work better in a co-working space compared to a traditional office? Here’s why. If you’re a member of a co-working space chances are you are more productive, find greater meaning and purpose in your work and feel like you are part of a community, compared with those who do their jobs in traditional offices. In fact, research has foundthat people thrive (experience a sense of vitality and learning) in co-working spaces at higher levels than those in regular offices. So, what makes co-working spaces so effective in helping people thrive? Co-working aids productivity Co-workers have greater autonomy

Design and social media are key components of establishing a retail brand. We spoke to Desk Space member Alex Lawson about the importance of branding and the power of social media in establishing her business, ARLO BLAK.   Alex established ARLO BLAK in November 2016. ARLO BLAK Activated Charcoal Powderis a chemical-free ultra-fine black powder that can be used for a multitude of purposes, including teeth whitener, face mask and detox drink. “In an age of toxin overload, I realised there was a gap in the Australian market for a versatile, all-natural alternative product and decided to launch my

The start-up process is about learning, both firsthand and vicariously. Reading is one of the best ways to learn from others’ experiences and allows us to become better entrepreneurs. We spoke to Steven Arthur, founder of Desk Space, about the top three books every emerging and established entrepreneur should read. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses Eric Ries 2011 The Lean Startup is based on Eric Ries’ premise that start-ups should treat their product and business like an experiment, continuously testing, adapting and adjusting their vision before it’s too late. Ries developed

Insights from Joe Gerber: How to prototype a business Prototypes are one of the most important steps in the design process. Can prototyping also be applied to the business design process? A prototype is a first or preliminary version of a design from which other forms are developed. The goal of a prototype is to test products and ideas before investing too much time and money into the final product. We use prototypes in creating and refining products and services. Can we also use them to create and refine businesses? Prototyping helps you quickly and cheaply explore possible alternatives

Start-ups often fail because they don’t understand their target market’s motivations. They have fine- tuned their offering but lost sight of why. However, ‘why’ is critical to start-up success. ‘Why’ is understanding your customers’ needs and it brings clarity and gives your venture purpose. Branding is communicating the ‘why’ and it closes the gap between your product and audience. Branding is more than a company name, logo and colour palette. It’s about how you communicate with consumers, how you convey why your product matters, how you tell them you understand their needs. Branding should be a cornerstone of your

Five top tips when starting your business because the devil, as they say, is in the detail. When it comes to starting a business you’ll spend time speaking to lawyers, accountants, contractors, suppliers, designers and many others. You’ll be constantly creating, testing and refining your product or service. You’ll be scrutinising budgets, signing contracts and putting processes in place. But alongside this big-picture activity, make sure you pay attention to the finer details. Don’t forget to do these five tasks because the devil, as they say, is in the detail. 1. Make a name for yourself:Choose a company name

Test the waters with design thinking to increase your chances for success. “No market need” is the main reason that start-ups often fail within their first 18 months. An offering may look good on paper but how will it perform in the real world? How will customers take to it? Is there even a need for it? Start-ups take too much time, money and energy to create something nobody wants. If nobody wants your product, there’s a high chance you’ll fail before you even get off the ground. Test the waters and take a design thinking approach to your