Is there anything like a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia? Love to hear if there is as I have one start-up in motion, and a lot more ideas in mind that could use small funding and advice to thrive (but yes know I need to concentrate on one thing at a time to get results!)
Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
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Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#2"... Is there anything like a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia? ..."
The closest I can identify is at Mick Liubinskas at Pollinizer ~ http://www.pollenizer.com/pollenizer-investing-in-web-startu... & http://twitter.com/pollenizer
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#3There's the government neis program. http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/services/...
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#4I guess they're still working on http://www.seedaccelerator.com/ which looks like YC. In terms of YC-like quality (mentorship and alumni + VC networks/connections) I don't think there's anything close in Australia.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#5Even if a YC-like firm starts up in Australia (and I know of a few people who think it's a good idea) it won't be of the calibre of YC, if the track record of emulators even in the US is anything to go by. Like Silicon Valley itself, the further ahead YC gets, the more it attracts the best startups and investors, and the further ahead it gets.
The most determined Australian founders are leaving Australia to try and make it on the world stage, so any Australian-based version would be limited to startups that are less determined, or whose ideas are Australia-focused, which by definition would be smaller in scale and ambition.
@Bootload is right to point out Pollenizer - Mick and the crew are doing great things to help develop Australia-focused startups, though the type of investment and support they provide is quite different to YC.
Your best bet is to find the startup community in your city and start interacting with them and sharing your ideas and experiences. The Silicon Beach mailing list and weekly meetups in Sydney and Melbourne are the best way to find fellow founders. The Hive events are also great, though less tech-focused. They started in Melbourne and now happen in Brisbane and Sydney, each month. We also run Hackernews meetups in Melbourne a couple of times a year. Follow @ycmelb on Twitter or stay tuned to HN for announcements.
Ultimately, rather than hoping for a YC-copy in your local area, your best bet is to develop yourself to a point where you can get funded by the real YC.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#6I never saw anything even approaching YC while I was in Syd. Two questions:
1) What's stopping you from moving to the US?
If you wanted to, you could be here on an effectively permanent basis in a matter of weeks (we have an unfair advantage in the form of the E3 visa, a version of the H1B for Australians). Get in touch if you'd like to chat about this.
2) Are you making the most of a community which isn't formalised/mature enough to support a YC equivalent?
There are some real kickass entrepreneurs in Sydney, who I'd say are more approachable and helpful than their equivalents in cities with a more mature startup community. Get in touch for some names, or just show up to Silicon Beach drinks and talk to as many people as you can.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#7Even if a YC-like firm starts up in Australia (and I know of a few people who think it's a good idea) it won't be of the calibre of YC, if the track record of emulators even in the US is anything to go by. Like Silicon Valley itself, the further ahead YC gets, the more it attracts the best startups and investors, and the further ahead it gets. The most determined Australian founders are leaving Australia to try and m…
Or TechStars. They've been rolling out a lot of good companies with serious business plans as of late. People are taking notice.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#8Unrelated question: if we only consider tax laws, what's the best place in the world for startups to be? (The answer might be useful for startups that plan to bootstrap and don't mind hiring employees who telecommute.)
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#9Even if a YC-like firm starts up in Australia (and I know of a few people who think it's a good idea) it won't be of the calibre of YC, if the track record of emulators even in the US is anything to go by. Like Silicon Valley itself, the further ahead YC gets, the more it attracts the best startups and investors, and the further ahead it gets. The most determined Australian founders are leaving Australia to try and m…
"... Ultimately, rather than hoping for a YC-copy in your local area, your best bet is to develop yourself to a point where you can get funded by the real YC ..."
I agree there really is only 1 YC. Having to travel 23hrs by Jet to get there redefines determination.
The Hive ~ http://thehive.org.au/ & (podcasts) http://thehive.org.au/?feed=podcast you can hear Tom & Finn back in '09 at the Hive where I saw them present this talk ~ http://thehive.org.au/tom-howard-and-fenn-bailey-from-adioso... & http://thehive.org.au/podpress_trac/feed/68/0/tom-howard-fen...
Re: Ask HN: Is there a Y Combinator equivalent in Australia?
#10There's the government neis program. http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/services/...
"... There's the government neis program ..."
Aus Government anything (insert current gov inititive) is the "kiss of Startup death".