annual report 30 june 2001 - mentre€¦ · 01 annual report | 30 june 2001 contents ... •...
TRANSCRIPT
Annual R
eport |30 June 2001
Annual Report | 30 June 200101
ContentsA Message from Senator Alston 02Our Vision and Mission 03Melbourne and Ballarat Launches 04Achievements and Networking 05Network Companies 07Media Headlines 09
From left to right:
Ian SmartSue BellRobert CromptonMichael GranekBelinda HaydonKerrie BurzacottEnio LancubaJim LandauAbsent: Doug Sarah
The Information City Team
Annual Report SponsorsInformation City gratefully acknowledges the support of the following sponsors who have contributed to the cost of our Annual Report production:
02
Information City Victoria (ICV), together with Information City Ballarat and Information City Redcentre, have beenoperating with the support from a Building on IT Strengths Incubator grant provided in 2000.
The aims of the Commonwealth Government’s BITS incubator program are to:• improve the strength and competitiveness of Australian information industries sector;• enhance opportunities for commercialisation of Australian ideas and R&D;• foster linkages between key players leading to increased innovation; and• promote development of IT&C business clusters
In their first year of operation ICV has established purpose-built facilities in Melbourne, Ballarat and Heidelberg,providing a range of physical infrastructure services to IT start-ups across Victoria.
I am pleased that this report from ICV illustrates that significant progress has been made during the year;investment in 10 start-up companies and occupancy of ICV Melbourne nearing full capacity.
This report also shows that a number of strategic relationships have been made with venture capital groups whocan provide valuable assistance to companies passing through the ICV facilities. Linkages have also been formedwith major players in the ICT industries who can assist incubatees with technology advice and market guidance.Such relationships are essential for getting smart start-up companies firmly on the path to growth.
I was particularly pleased to be in Ballarat recently to open the refurbished facility jointly sponsored by theUniversity of Ballarat at the Greenhill Enterprise Centre. I am confident that the opportunities will continue to beprovided to Victorians in regional areas as part of this innovative venture.
I commend to you this report and the ongoing work of Information City Victoria.
This first year of operation of Information City Victoria has been one of considerable achievement. InformationCity's vision to foster and accelerate the growth of new information technology and communications companiesgoes to the heart of our future in the Knowledge and Global Economy. Information City is a focal point for theactivities of three diverse incubators all directed towards that objective and is rapidly implementing strategies toconsolidate its position of leadership and innovation in the ICT sector.
Our Executive Director, Robert Crompton has attracted a talented and experienced management team which under his leadership has quickly defined individual and corporate goals and built an environment that fosters co-operation and networking between all key stakeholders. It has been an outstanding achievement.
The Commonwealth Government, through the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Artsis a key partner in Information City. Its funding and support is gratefully acknowledged.The Board and Managementhave worked closely with the Department in an effective example of public and private sector partnership.
The overall environment for investment and growth in the IT sector this year has been difficult. The work of buildinglinks with the investment community, developing effective seed funding strategies and reviewing performance andproposals from network companies was led by Leon Kempler through the Board’s Investment Sub-Committee.
The Board is committed to working with management to continue the development of Information City as a hubfor new businesses in the ICT sector through new strategic partnerships, professional services and rapidlyincreasing information flows with comparable international initiatives.
Message from the Federal Government
Building our IT Community
Senator The Hon Richard Alston
Minister for Communications,Information Technology andthe Arts
Judith King
Chairman,Information City VictoriaManagement Pty Ltd
Annual Report | 30 June 200103
The 2000-2001 financial year represents Information City Victoria’s (ICV) first full year of operation as anInformation and Communications Technologies incubator. The first $2 million tranche of Federal Governmentfunding in late June 2000, of total committed support of $8 million over four years, marked the beginning of thedesign and fit-out of the central 700 square metre incubator facility at 257 Collins Street, Melbourne. The fit-outwas funded by the Melbourne City Council and ICV shareholders, and the ICV network which includesInformation City Ballarat (adjacent to Ballarat University) and Information City Redcentre (a photonics incubatorat Heidelberg), opened for business in early December 2000. In the seven-month period since then, we haveaccepted 10 start-up Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies into the incubator program.These companies, which we refer to as Network Companies, have diverse industry sector backgrounds and areat different stages of the development of their business concepts.
Our services to the Network Companies are provided and co-ordinated by an experienced incubator managementteam centred at 257 Collins Street. The team has been built up progressively since July 2000, and is now at fullstrength, with; Jim Landau, who co-ordinates our services providers, mentors and training; Kerrie Burzacott, ourBusiness Services Manager; Sue Bell, the Melbourne Incubator Manager; Michael Granek our Finance Manger,assisted by Enio Lancuba; Belinda Hayden who provides Team support; Doug Sarah who manages the GreenhillEnterprise incubator at Ballarat University and finally Dr Ian Smart, an original Director of Information City whohas re-joined us as Incubator Development Manager. It has only been through outstanding team support thatInformation City has been able to achieve the key performance milestones it committed to, despite thechallenging market conditions that have prevailed since the April 2000 stock-market downturn.
The establishment of effective critical mass in our network facilities and the growing number of NetworkCompanies in the program now provides a sound base for future growth and development.
Our VisionWe create commercially tradable businesses from good technology ideas.
Our Mission StatementTo be the Australian incubator of choice for ICT entrepreneurs, providing accessto customers, capital, and a world class network of facilities and services.
Did You KnowSince the launch of our website mid October there have been:
121 Expressions of interest registered
30 1st stage applications received
17 Applications progressed to Due Diligence
10 Applications accepted into the program
1 Exit
There are 9 Network companies currently in the program (refer to Network Companies pages 7 & 8 ) who have atotal of 13 full-time employees and 6 part-time. Two of these companies are Commercial-in-Confidence.
Our First Year
Robert Crompton
Executive Director,Information City Victoria
04
Snapshots of the Melbourne and Ballarat Launches 2001
Annual Report | 30 June 200105
Achievements and NetworkingJune 2000
• Signed Deed of Agreement with Department of Communications,Information Technology and the Arts
June to December 2000Formulation and completion of:• Applicant selection process• Policies and Procedures Manual• Operations Manual
July 2000First Mentor information function held
August 2000• Moved into temporary accommodation within the De Bono Centre
incubation facility• Kerrie Burzacott, Business Services Manager, joins the team
September 2000• Michael Granek, Finance Manager, joins the team
October 2000• Website launched• Senator Richard Alston opens Redlab
November 2000• Sue Bell, Melbourne Incubator Manager, joins the team• Participated in Tinshed conference
December 2000• Moved into current offices at Level 4, 257 Collins Street Melbourne• Accepted first two Network Companies
January 2001• Signed MOU with ES Group Ventures• Belinda Haydon, Team Assistant, joins the team
February 2001• First commercial tenant accepted• Executive Director attends BITS Round Table in Canberra• First joint ADI/ICV Investor Pitch session• Two day Team Familiarisation Program held
*
*
06
March 2001• Executive Director takes part in European Study Tour of the UK (Cambridge
University), Scotland, Ireland, Finland and Hungary. Discussions with Government,corporate and academic representatives focussed on effective Research and Development commercialisation approaches. This has resulted in the identification of Australian universities and research organisations as a strategic priority in sourcing future ICV deal flow
• Launch of Information City Victoria by Senator Richard Alston• New Corporate Identity launched• Commencement of Information City Networking and Seminar Series• ICV supports National MOOT Competition• Visit to ICV by Invest.UK• Hosted networking function for senior women in IT• Hosted networking event for Government and industry representatives
April 2001• Visit to ICV by The Hon. Pramod Mahajan, Indian Minister for Information
Technology and Parliamentary Affairs• ICV holds first media roundtable• Hosted Fast Companies meeting• Participated in B2Bcafe• Hosted networking event for Government and industry representatives
May 2001• ICV Board and senior staff take part in strategic planning day• First information evening for Information City applicants• First information session at the University of Ballarat• Pet Pack launch website www.petpack.com.au• Hosted RMIT Network Insight Advisors’ meeting• Hosted networking event for Government and industry representatives• Visit to ICV by AusAid Chinese delegation• Participated in Business and Higher Education Roundtable• Attended Backing Australia's Entrepreneurs Awards Dinner
June 2001• Senator Richard Alston opens Information City Ballarat• Launch of ‘new look’ website• Enio Lancuba, Assistant Accountant, joins the team• LandmarkIT complete their first fully wireless residential network• Visit to ICV by APEC Study Tour• Hosted Silver Fox launch• Hosted networking event for Government and industry representatives
* Office designed by geyer
*
*
Annual Report | 30 June 200107
Network CompaniesFUSE
Fuse’s value proposition is simple: Turning consumer responses into robust information for themarket research industry.
Fuse’s promise is to gather responses faster and more accurately than current methods andintegrate with processing, analysis and reporting techniques. To deliver on that promise Fusehas developed a suite of visual tools, based on its own software applications.
Contact: David Flynn [email protected] Website: www.fused.com.au
Golden Mark Photonics
Golden Mark’s China-based parent company seeks to establish a similar operation inMelbourne to manufacture Yttrium Orthovanadate Crystals required by companies in theexpanding and demanding photonics telecommunications sectors.
Contact: Dr Ian Smart [email protected]
Insight Finance Pty Ltd
Insight Finance has developed a new client management system aimed at accountants,financial planners and related finance professionals. This system offers a comprehensivedatabase package that is capable of maintaining and analysing the different elements of theirclients’ financial information.
Contact: David McCleery [email protected] Website: www.insightfinance.com.au
Landmark I.T.
Landmark I.T. offers users rental access to leading communication and software applicationsover Landmark I.T.’s own high-speed Internet network. The applications are available any time,anywhere, on any enabled device and are accessible through standard phone lines, wirelesslinks or cable connections.
Contact: Edoardo Zambruno [email protected]
insight.
08
Logistinet
Logistinet offers a private network to integrate key supply chain service partners and computerdata into a collaborative supply chain.
Using this network Logistinet will also target the Textile Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Industryand offer tailored supply chain applications to resolve many of the time and cost wastingissues in moving the product from supplier to store.
Contact: Paul Edwards [email protected]
PetPack
PetPack is a business providing marketing services to the veterinary profession. The servicescombine CRM practices, e-business technology, existing Practice Information Systems andpersonalised content to enhance the relationship between Veterinarians and Pet Owners.
Contact: Dr James Ramsden [email protected]: www.petpack.com.au
Silent Partner Software
This web-based software product builds on top of conventional email-based systems toenhance processes such as Tendering & Procurement, Project & Document Management andSales Lead Generation. The product is applicable across virtually all industries.
Contact: Patrick Scrimizzi [email protected]
09 Annual Report | 30 June 2001
• When rivers of cash... The Age, Tuesday 8 May 2001 • High tech help... The Courier Ballarat, Thursday 13 June 2001 • Serious businesses...
Media Headlines
10
The Canberra Times, Monday 4 June 2001 • Cut-price IT... The Age, Tuesday 5 June 2001 • Venture capitalists... The Age, Monday 20 May 2001
Information City VictoriaABN 24 091 196 164
PO Box 80 Flinders Lane POLevel 4, 257 Collins StreetMelbourne Victoria 8009AustraliaTelephone: 1300 132 [email protected]
Information Cityis proudly supported by...
DO
D • 0281