Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Start-ups and venture capital: a roundtable discussion

How great of a challenge do Australian entrepreneurs face in trying to set up their own businesses? Successful start-ups depend on venture capital to grow and thrive, yet many innovative idea-smiths fail to impress investors with an inadequate understanding of the commercial side of their businesses. In this new year, is there a disconnect growing between business founders and funds?

You won’t want to miss this special edition podcast, featuring eight (count ‘em, eight!) influential investors and start-up specialists and their insights on promoting a healthy venture capital industry in Australia.

The featured guests are:

• Vern Bowles, founder of Hatchtech
• Darren Kelly, CFO of Fibre-Tech
• Grant McLachlan, CEO of Neuprotect
• Chris Nave, co-founder of Brandon Capital Partners
• Michael Panaccio, Investment Principal at Starfish Ventures
• Brigitte Smith, Managing Director of GBS Venture Partners
• Stuart Snell, Communications Manager of AVCAL
• Katherine Woodthorpe, CEO of AVCAL

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: Rick Hooper

This podcast features a chat with Rick Hooper, CEO of Barefoot Power, a highly lauded company that distributes clean and renewable energy products, including solar panels and LEDs, in underdeveloped communities in Africa and Asia. Here, Hooper talks about the business model that defines Barefoot Power and his efforts to expand the company’s outreach.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: PayPal Australia’s Adrian Christie

In this podcast, Adrian Christie of PayPal Australia talks to Leon and Garry about the exponential rise of online shopping in Australia. With growth rates as high as 400% in the past year, Christie presents his analysis of how thousands of businesses, large and small, are adjusting their retail operations to meet this growing trend.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: Antonette Golikidis

Antonette Golikidis is the founder of Little Innoscents, which manufactures baby skin care products (including lotions, oils and creams) that are made from wholly natural and organic ingredients. In this interview, she shares some background on Little Innoscents: how her experience as a mum has informed her business and how she strives to keep her brand sustaining the baby market.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: Gabby Leibovich

Gabby Leibovich has established himself at the forefront of the online deals industry in Australia with two very popular sites, CatchOfTheDay and Scoopon. In particular, CatchOfTheDay has grown exponentially since Leibovich started the business five years ago, when he began selling excess merchandise out of his garage.

In this podcast, Leibovich explains the business model that he believes has allowed him to weather the GFC and pinpoints the challenges that traditional, physical department stores must now face.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

In an interview with Anthill’s Cynthia Karena, the duo says entrepreneurship should be all about building value, not selling out. Early in Spreets’ life, McEvoy realised the importance of this when a friend declined to put a deal opportunity on his Facebook page. That is when the penny dropped, he says, and Spreets began to focus on quality deals and the user experience, rather than focusing only on discounts.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: Jason Wyatt

Australia’s top biking retail website, BikeExchange.com.au has rolled out some impressive numbers: 535,000 visitors every month, 85,000 database users and over 50,000 bicycles and cycling accessories sold since the site’s inception in 2007. Bike Exchange has emerged as the go-to site for both local retailers and individuals Australia-wide looking to buy or sell their bikes or bike parts.

In this podcast, Leon and Garry have a chat with Bike Exchange CEO Jason Wyatt about his company’s accomplishments and aspirations.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: Barry Westhorpe

Barry Westhorpe is Chief Executive of The CEO Institute – Victoria, a leading networking group for senior executives. In this podcast, Westhorpe explains the results of a recent report released by the institute on CEO confidence levels in Australia. While news has been good for the financial and service sectors, business sentiment is turning pessimistic due to uncertainty in overseas markets and in Government policy on SMEs.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview: Branding expert Michel Hogan

Qantas has stuffed up its once iconic brand by commoditising itself out of business, according to Brandology’s Michel Hogan.

In this Talking Business interview, Hogan pulls no punches in her blunt assessment of the airline’s “race to the bottom” and its loss of consumer confidence.

Can the Flying Kangaroo sell itself once again as Australia’s premium airline? Have a listen to the podcast to hear Hogan pinpoint Qantas’s brand weaknesses and the lessons the company should have learned from Apple.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Image by wheredidgogogo

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview

A growing concern that Australia may be falling behind in the field of innovation led three guys to found Curve Tomorrow. Treating innovation as a science, the team is shaping a platform that crosses disciplines and makes it easier for enterprises to collaborate with university and government research programs.

The three in charge — Vikash Rugoobur, Avinash Rugoobur and Mohinder Jaimangal — all come from decorated business and technology backgrounds. Of late, the Curve Tomorrow team has joined forces with EDay Life in its development of an electric car; Vikash recently explained to Leon and Garry the tablet he has been designing that will control the car’s operations.

This podcast features an extended interview with the trio, in which we hear about Curve Tomorrow’s prescription for boosting innovation at home — in particular, how they measure old and established trends and pinpoint possible new ones (what they call “tends”) to produce the Next Big Thing.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Mark Koronczyk, Lord of the Fries

Garry and Leon talk with Mark Koronczyk, founder and CEO of successful food outlet Lord Of The Fries. Originating in a van, the Lord has grown into five store locations in the Melbourne area. The chain emphasizes fresh ingredients with an all-vegetarian menu that includes soy protein hamburgers and, of course, its signature European-style hot chips.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Interview

Abigail Forsyth is the founder of KeepCup, a company that sells reusable plastic coffee mugs as eco-friendly alternatives to paper cups. In this podcast, she talks to Garry and Leon about winning the endorsements of baristas, selling to corporates around the world, and how to sell the message behind the product itself.

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Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Telstra is challenging all Australian researchers and innovators to come up with breakthrough ideas that could minimise the impact of disastrous situations to communities.

Telstra Innovation Challenge, now in its third year of operation, dubbed the category as “Communications in assisting disasters”. Standard categories for the Telstra Innovation Challenge are still open for all entries.

Dr. Hugh Bradlow, Telstra’s Chief Technology Officer, hopes that with the company’s support, people and communities will not be too vulnerable to the damaging effects of natural occurrences such as earthquakes, floods, or cyclones.

“Australia has been the birthplace of some exceptional inventions over the years, and it’s this sense of ingenuity that we’re searching for to devise a new technology that can assist Australia in disaster situations,” Dr Bradlow said.

He hopes that the aftermath of floods and cyclones in the country as well as earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan will move entrants and make them more eager to submit projects that will significantly minimize the loss of lives and properties.

“We hope to collaborate with innovators so that their breakthrough ideas or laboratory projects will find its way to the market. They are encouraged to share what they are working on and how Telstra can help in bringing it to success”, Dr. Bradlow said.

“The Australian public will choose the winners in this category, making it the first people’s choice award in the Telstra Innovation Challenge,” Dr Bradlow said.

“Telstra will give the winners access to a range of Telstra networks and products, facilitated meetings with suppliers, as well as access to a range of expertise within Telstra across a wide range of disciplines.”

He further said that the company is looking for other exemplary work in the fields of health, entertainment, education, and environmental benefits. As Telstra widens its gaze, a new door will be opened to anyone out there willing to make this world a safer place to live in.

“Previous winners of the Telstra Innovation Challenge come from a wide range of fields. For example, professionals at Neural Diagnostics are looking at new ways to diagnose different health issues; Taggle specialists offer long-range technology solutions currently used to track livestock location; and, Seecue, a firm that is developing a tool that will allow video to be searched as easily as text.”

Senior Telstra executives will serve as the panel judges for the presentation of shortlisted entrants. Voting for the ‘People’s Choice’ disaster category opens on 1 September.

Further details on entry requirements and Terms and Conditions are available from www.telstra.com.au/innovation. Entries close 1 August 2011.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Giam Swiegers, Interview

This podcast features an interview full of insights from Giam Swiegers, CEO of Deloitte Australia. Advising that a company should always seek opportunity in times of crisis, Swiegers has stayed true to form: Deloitte continues to take on new staff and maintain an aggressive acquisitions strategy. Swiegers also talks about innovative people and his firm’s welcoming of social media as a tool to increase accountability.

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.

Talking Business is a podcast review of the Australian economy, presented by seasoned business journalists Leon Gettler and Garry Barker, produced in association with the RMIT College of Business. It features interviews with prominent business leaders and expert analysis from RMIT academics.

Analysis

RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson talks about what’s been described as Australia’s “bipolar economy” with the mining sector booming but other sectors like retail and manufacturing struggling.

Press play to listen.

Talking Business Podcasts on iTunes

Garry Barker and Leon Gettler both have established careers with The Age newspaper, where Garry Barker is its Technology Editor, and Leon Gettler is a Senior Business Journalist. Gettler also works freelance on a number of other publications.