NSW University looks to link students with tech start-ups

The University of New South Wales will host its second Sydney Tech Startup Expo next month, designed to connect the tech start-up community with the university’s students and staff.

The expo, to be held on March 14, is an initiative of UNSW’s School of Computer Science and Engineering.

The main focus of the expo is to connect tech start-ups with the university’s staff and students. The event will also “let start-up people liaise with other start-up people”.

The event is designed to help participants find potential staff, customers and collaborators, as well as network with other start-ups.

“UNSW Computing is committed to supporting the development of ideas generated in the school’s research laboratories into commercially viable products, services or ventures,” it says.

The evening will start with each company making a three-minute presentation, after which they will be invited to mingle with the audience over drinks.

While Sydney entrepreneurs are being encouraged to attend the expo, Melbourne entrepreneurs are being invited to a conference titled Making Melbourne a Global Entrepreneurship Hub.

Organised by not-for-profit group Student Entrepreneurs, the conference will be held over two days, with a focus on the perspectives of Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y.

The conference theme is a continuation of a previous event run by Student Entrepreneurs and the Creative Performance Exchange at Deloitte’s Melbourne offices in August last year.

“From what I’m seeing around the community, 2012 is going to be a big year for the start-up space,” Student Entrepreneurs founder Amir Nissen says.

As part of the conference, held on March 30, Student Entrepreneurs will hold a pitching competition, which will see half a dozen applicants given the chance to present on the main stage.

“Melbourne’s start-up community is small but growing,” Student Entrepreneurs says.

“There are some problems – a cultural fear of failure, a lack of access to early stage funding, little awareness about entrepreneurship, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Melbourne.”

“We want to hear your thoughts and ideas on how these problems can be overcome.”

“We will actively work with [successful applicants] to secure resources, both in terms of financing and people to support it, in order to make your vision come true.”