Sydney High Teck Startup Group sets launch date

The Sydney High Teck Startup Group, which calls itself “a social network with a more formal structure” for budding entrepreneurs, is set to launch, with plans to expand into other Australian cities.

The Sydney High Teck Startup Group, or SHTSG, was formed by Sydney-based entrepreneurs Stephen Grant and Paul Page, both of whom have attended other start-up meet-ups in the city.

“These meet-ups, by and large, are informal gatherings… The meetings themselves generally have no structure, and participants come and go through the duration of the session,” Grant says.

“By forming SHTSG, we anticipate creating a social network with a more formal structure that services embryonic entrepreneurs.”

“SHTSG is a meet-up group promoting the formation of a bi-monthly meeting whereby attendees… meet, liaise and exchange dialogue with other entrepreneurs in the high-tech space.”

“[Attendees can also] further collaborate with like-minded individuals who have either gone through, or are going through, the process of starting up a technology-centric business.”

According to Grant, SHTSG has signed up 37 attendees, although it has the capacity to accommodate up to 200. The prospect of expanding into other cities has also been discussed.

“What does SHTSG hope to achieve?  Simply put, the exchange of ideas and cross-pollination of people in an environment designed to promote collaboration,” Grant says.

SHTSG will hold its inaugural meeting on February 2, and plans to provide “more than just a mixing pot for budding entrepreneurs”.

“We have already had discussions with persons interested in providing keynote speeches in areas such as corporate governance, commercial law, seed capital financing, and the mechanics of going from zero to sixty employees in twelve months,” Grant says.

“It is our goal to eventually offer a 15-minute lecture from these keynote speakers, once per month.”

Grant says the event is aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to share ideas and discuss the process of starting up tech-based businesses.

“Whether it be a web-based solution or other technology-centered business – come join us,” Grant says.

“Some of us are seasoned IT managers, others are barristers and yet others have been the CEO of NASAQ-listed companies during the dotcom explosion.”

According to Grant, Australia has “enormous potential” in the tech industry, with local start-ups continuing to produce “many amazing and great technologies”.

“However, for every one success story, there are 1,000 other great ideas that never get off the ground – and for many reasons,” he says.

“Hopefully, our group can help facilitate one or two of those ideas to become reality.”