A big thank you to Susanne Schantz and Matthew Van Rooijen for coming along and teaching us through creative examples just how effective video and animation can be compared with the old school communication methods.

They demonstrated some interesting and differing styles that explainer video professionals are using in what’s clearly a trendy and growing industry.

It was great to see so many fresh faces keen to connect with other like minded entrepreneurial types in a casual b2b (beer 2 beer) environment.

Stay posted for more similar events soon that will help you explore your passion for business startups!

Startup Tas will now host guest speakers, Susanne Schantz and Matthew van Rooijen from Small Island Studio, at our next ‘Shots’ meet up next Thursday the 7th of March at Preachers instead of this Thursday at The Typewriter Factory.

Come, network with startup entrepreneurs, have a tasty beverage and get a free insight into how video and animation can be very effective marketing tools to convert consumers. What a night!

The video pitch experts will show you some clips, explain what works, what doesn’t as well as give you an idea into production costs and more. Bring along any questions you have, I’m sure they’ll be happy to help.

So what are you waiting for, rsvp today at meetup.com/StartupTasmania, get amongst the Tassie startup scene and be inspired to get off your butt and create the next big thing!

On Monday February 4th, Dr Robin Fieldhouse will be speaking to us on turning intellectual property (IP) into business opportunities at The Typewriter Factory Loft.

This talk will give you down-to-earth practical guidance on the relevance (or not) of IP, whether a start-up is the appropriate vehicle to exploit it, as well as highlighting the various financial support available to assist early-stage (high-risk) enterprises in Tasmania.

The world of IP is full of conflicting perceptions and fear around cost and enforce-ability and therefore value. This talk will cut through the misconceptions, highlight the pitfalls to be avoided and the opportunities to be gained.

IP is just a tool for your business – this talk aims to help you to sharpen the tool and to use it wisely.

You’ll walk away with:
- A better understanding of the importance and value of IP in startups
- A simple framework for implementing an IP strategy to create and realise value
- Sources of free money for your startup
- Confidence in an improved understanding of whether IP matters for your business.

About the Speaker:
(Dr) Robin Fieldhouse is a manufacturing- and product-focused technology developer who is passionate about creating and supporting new business enterprises (and thus jobs). A co-inventor on at least three commercially successful patent families (and many more unsuccessful ones), Robin now both a commercialisation practitioner and teacher of others. He is particularly keen to see the wealth of current opportunities realised and not missed. He is NOT a lawyer.

Event Details:

Date: Monday, 4th of February
Time: 5:30pm for 6:00pm start (estimated end time 7:30pm)
Tickets: $20 for Startup Tas members, $30 for non-members (Please pay via PayPal on Meetup)
Catering: Provided (finger food and soft drinks)
Venue: The Typewriter Factory Loft (Level 3, 13-17 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point)

Please note:
Because all payments must be processed via PayPal on Meetup which is limited to one pricing option (Startup Tasmania member pricing), for non-members, you can either:

a) Join Startup Tasmania for $20 per month and receive $10 discounts to all our events including any paid weekly and forthnightly events, OR

b) Pay at Member rate and we will collect $10 from you on the day of the event

About the Author: Tim Polmear is the Marketing and Event Manager for Startup Tasmania. He has a keen interest in everything about entrepreneurial web-based Startups. In 2012, Tim co-founded NomadChoice, a concept for an online platform much like airbnb for campervans. Prior to that, Tim worked as an Executive Manager and Property Investment Acquisitions Manager for Rock Property Tasmania where he was responsible for identifying, analysing and negotiating property investments and strategic business management. There, he also designed and implemented systems and procedures for property management, and played a significant role in team recruitment as well as driving sales. For further information about the event, you can contact him via tim@startuptasmania.com.

In 2013, we’re going to be building up a Startup Tasmania events calendar for our members in the north of the state.  To start with, we’re going to be running Startup Tasmania Shots sessions in Launceston every month.

These sessions will be a casual networking event for local entrepreneurs, innovators and anyone else to have a few drinks in good company.  The sessions in Hobart have been really successful and we’re looking forward to growing a similarly vibrant and active community in the north.

The first session will be on the 10th of January, 5pm, at The Manhattan Wine Bar (81 York Street).  Subsequent meet ups will be at the same time and place, on the first Thursday of every month.

The events calendar will be the same in Hobart and Launceston.  So, if you find yourself at the opposite end of the state on the first Thursday, you can drop in on the local event and meet the community.

All of our events will continue to be announced through the Startup Tasmania Meet Up Page.  That’s the best place to keep up to date with what’s coming up in your part of the state.

This is all put of a bigger emphasis on the north for the Startup Tasmania crew this year.  If you want to give us any feedback on how we’re doing in the north, events you would like to attend, services you would like to see or anything else with a northern focus, you can now contact the northern crew directly on north@startuptasmania.com.  We would love to hear from you.

That’s it from the northern team for now.  We’ll be looking forward to seeing some new faces at the on the 10th.  See you there!

About the Author: James Riggall is a Board Member of Startup Tasmania. He is an experienced technology consultant. He has worked at the Human Interface Technology Laboratory (HITLab) for a number of years, as well as running his own IT support, development and consulting company, Bitlink. James is on Twitter! You can follow him via @jamesriggall

About 20 people raised their glasses and gathered for a drink and a chat last Thursday evening at the Quarry. For some it was their first StartUp Tas Shots, while others were regulars.

It was fantastic to see members mingling and networking with the new faces, sharing ideas and discussing business opportunities. The crowd was made up of a diverse age range, professional backgrounds and business ventures.

It seems it has been a busy year for start up companies around Tasmania, many seeing great success despite the economic downturn.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support this year. Have a safe and happy Christmas, hopefully you can take some time off work and relax.

2013 is looking like being an action-packed year for StartUp Tasmania as memberships grow and programs develop. Already new ventures are in the planning process, we look forward to sharing them with you.

The next StartUp Tas Shots is on Thursday January 3 at Preachers from 5pm, hope to see you all there.

So once again, we’ll be having our casual afterwork networking session at the Preachers Quarry Salamanca. They always look after us so we thought we should share some love back.

Do come along and join us for some beers, wines, softies, and more importantly, meet other startup entrepreneurs, and plan world domination! (Click  here to RSVP and for more details about time as well as venue)

Whatever it is, we can all drink to your successes and workshop those opportunities over a few cold ones.

On top of all that, there’s also lots to update about Startup Tasmania’s exciting future, developments and budding relationships with exciting entrepreneur movements in our wonderful Island State!

Besides, we might also run some short 30 second pitch practice sessions depending if there’s enough people putting their hands up for it on the day.

Either way, we would love to see you this Thursday, and it would be great if you could RSVP yourself and your +1(s) so we could effectively plan activities and space reservations accordingly.

Alrighty then… that’s all from me for now. Cheerio and we sure look forward to see you at Preachers the Quarry Salamanca around 5pm this Thursday!

About the Author: Byron Teu is one of the co-founders of Startup Tasmania. He is a serial entrepreneur and is addicted to building Startups. Byron is on Twitter! You can follow him via @byronteu