‘No-nonsense’ Web Directions South event to launch start-up workshop

Entrepreneurs can now register their interest in Web Directions South, a conference aimed at new tech companies, while Startup Weekend is to return to Adelaide for a second time.

Founded in Australia in 2004 by Maxine Sherrin and John Allsopp, Web Directions conferences bring together web industry experts from around the world to educate and inspire attendees.

This includes Web Directions South, which, for the first time this year, features a “start-up-focused track”. It will take place in Sydney on October 16-18.

In addition to a conference, the event will feature a workshop of two “intense, no bullshit, pitch and demo-free days”, focusing on the issues facing the prospective founders of tech companies.

“Too often, these questions are only faced once far too much effort has gone into a labour of passion. And as the cliche goes, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” Allsopp said in a blog post.

According to Allsopp, the start-up track will address the following issues:

• How do you turn an idea into a business?

• Financing models

• Business models

• Incubators – are they the right model for you? What are the pros and cons?

• Social responsibility at the heart of successful start-ups

In attendance will be Derek Powazek, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Leni Mayo, Kate Kendall, Rebekah Campbell, Chris Lloyd, Kim Heras, Marcus Schappi, Anson Parker, Mick Liubinskas and Ben Duncan.

“There’ll be no waffling, talking heads and usual suspects here, but solid experience, war stories, and learnings from successful Australian and international start-ups and entrepreneurs,” Allsopp said.

Allsopp said this will be “all rounded off nicely” with “networking opportunities galore”.

While Sydney prepares for Web Directions South, Adelaide is preparing for its second Startup Weekend, which will take place on November 16-17.

According to event organiser David Truong, there was huge demand for another event following the success of the first Startup Weekend Adelaide.

“We’ve been seeing a critical mass of entrepreneurial activity in South Australia since our previous event in March,” Truong says.

Encyclopaedia of Magic, winner of the inaugural Startup Weekend Adelaide, described the weekend as “a launch pad for those wanting to present innovative ideas with a range of resources and support at their fingertips”.

“We feel Adelaide is becoming the innovation hub of Australia, with several entrepreneurial meet-ups popping up everywhere,” the start-up said in a statement.

“The second Startup Weekend cannot come soon enough.”

To celebrate the start of Adelaide’s second Startup Weekend, BDO Australia will host a launch party at the Adelaide BDO Centre on September 20 for anyone to attend.

According to event organiser Orren Prunckun, the night will give attendees “a taste of what’s to come in November”.