Australia: Where the bloody hell were you?
Australian businesses constantly bemoan the brain drain and loss of talent overseas, but Mumbrella editor Alex Hayes asks what are we doing about promoting the country as a destination for the best creative and digital minds in the world to come and live?
The town of Denton in Texas has 125,000 souls, two universities, and its main employer at the moment is truck builder Peterbilt. However, it is desperately trying to bolster the contribution of creative and digital types to its economy as it looks to the future.
I learned all of this whilst enjoying a coffee with the city’s mayor, as could any of the 32,000 plus digital and creative and digital entrepreneurs that passed the stall at SXSW Interactive’s trade show.
Inspired I went wondering the enormous trade hall for Australia’s version – but there wasn’t one to be found.
Good point Alex, although when I logged into SXSW social I could see nearly 500 Aussies were attending, which explains why all the flights were full and I had to go via Minneapolis.
I think France deserve a mention for their huge billboard of “Le French Tech” covered in brand names that no one has ever heard of.
Aussie startups are focused on the valley and since the SXSW focus has moved to more creative attractions as the festival has grown, it’s truly unfeasible for a cash strapped startup to justify attending this.
Plus, it’s pretty passé now in tech entrepreneur minds.
Alex, when the CSIRO has to cut staff from the $millions stripped back in funding, along with an approach to technology and science from our government as if the first fleet just landed here, of course you can expect that we don’t have a big presence as a country.
Vote Labor next time.
@ Good Moron, Le French Tech promotes French start-ups, which probably explains why you’ve never heard of the brands on the board.
@Spinyard -*oops* indeed c’est la scène des startups tech françaises et de tous ceux qui contribuent et s’engagent pour sa croissance et son rayonnement!
Russ Crowe’s available and bitching about his non-citizenhip.
I go to SXSW every year. And I’m glad there was little Australian presence this year. IN previous years, the people who recevied funding to set up stands seemed to be out for a junket. I know one startup that pretty much went bust within weeks after SXSW. They did little for their stand and seem to just want a paid holiday. The Australian music stand was a disaster and embarrassment with rubbish piled high and no one interested in manning it.
I dunno, but isn’t it a bit odd to have this on a site run by a brit?
I couldn’t make it along, but I saw a presentation by a brilliant young Melbourne kid by the name of Murray Galbrathe, building the Australian version of SXSW. I sent a few of my team along, amazing lineup and good vibes from what I hear. I’ll be watching him, not Texas