A Taste of Entrepreneurship, 14 March 2009

"Why I started my own business"

2moro mobile specialises in developing mobile solutions including SMS, mobile websites and rich mobile applications. 2moro mobile has worked with many large organizations including The Adelaide Football Club and Cadbury Schweppes.

Before setting up 2moro mobile, Peter was the Chief Technology Officer of Auswine Direct Pty Ltd, an online wine retailing business. Peter was responsible for both the hardware and software solutions and developed the technology infrastructure from the ground up. Auswine Direct has become a very successful retail business and services many large organizations including Channel 9 and The Sydney Cricket Ground.

Kristine launched KPPM Organisational Strategists in 1994 to provide evidence-based strategic advice. Now with six staff, this consultancy focuses on social and market research, community consultation, strategic planning and business development. Kristine's work includes the establishment of local business associations to support economic development, red tape reduction projects, operational systems, and employee climate and customer satisfaction reviews. She specialises in working with organisations that are on the cusp of change, assisting them to identify clear directions and effective strategies for achieving their goals.

Kristine's previous career included management positions in retail, community projects, computer training, and consumer finance, underpinned by her early work as a primary school teacher.

Kristine is Chair of the North West Business Development Centre and Todd Street Business Chambers and she is undertaking a PhD to examine the role of knowledge transfer in successful organisational change. She is a popular facilitator and conference presenter.

"How I identified my target customer and how I promoted my new business"

Roberto Cardone, www.ciboespresso.com.au/

Roberto Cardone is driven and passionate, more than anyone else in Adelaide setting the style for people to eat, drink and relax over some of the best coffee in town. With three partners he opened Cibo Ristorante in 1996 which, took off like a Ferrari and has since spawned a tribe of "cibolini" - the bright red Cibo Espresso licensed coffee bars that have picked off almost every desirable location in Adelaide and now in Brisbane. Somewhere in the midst of this, with two new partners he opened the multi-level Apothecary 1878, Adelaide's most serious wine bar, built around 126-year-old chemist's counters. Still only 42, Cardone has packed a lot into 24 years of restaurant life. The son of Italian deli owners, he started out as a baby-faced waiter at the famed Rigoni's bistro in the mid-80s and then partnered in Caons Restaurant and then Grimaldis in the early nineties. He then shocked everyone when he quit the group after 10 years and later set up his own business, Scoozi in Rundle Street, "because I wanted greater control and to stretch for other horizons." In 1995 he asked his wife, Genevieve, over a coffee of course if she liked the former La Piazza Pasticceria in North Adelaide. She did. "Good, because I bought it today," he said. He then transformed it into Cibo, "it was all the things I hadn't done so far, a contemporary Italian trattoria with everything made on the premises; I wanted to make it the best, a beautiful place."  Through all his experience he has now become the self taught marketing director of Cibo Espresso.

"How I got the money to set up and build my business"

Jonathan worked for ten years as an engineer and manager in the UK space and communications industries before emigrating to Australia in 1994.  In Adelaide he founded DSpace, a developer of modem technology for mobile satellite communications.  As founding CEO he led the growth of the company through contract engineering work and in 2000 DSpace started to develop proprietary modem technology for its own products.  In 2002 Jonathan and his business partners attracted a multi-million dollar Venture Capital investment and a trade sale exit was achieved in 2007.  Jonathan continues to work at DSpace as Program Director. 

Mark completed his entrepreneurial studies in 2007 forming part of his Masters Degree in Management at UniSA.

Entrepreneurial drive led Mark to the creation of 'Manufacturing Focus Pty Ltd', a process engineering company for the manufacturing industry in 2005.  This business has been highly successful servicing both local and interstate clients, growing during this time to a staff of seven.  Seeing new opportunities, Mark is currently in the process of launching a new division called 'Process Innovation' to service the government, medical and financial markets to improve transactional processes within these complex service industries.

Adam has been involved in entrepreneurial businesses in a wide range of industries. He has started, or been involved from the start, in several businesses including a record label and a national Motorsport team in Australia. He has helped small businesses in marketing, particularly in website development and promotion, and business development. Adam is undertaking his post graduate course focusing on Entrepreneurial business activities. He is currently developing his own business and is working as a Business Development Manager for a large multi-national company. Adam advocates that corporate entrepreneurialism is a vital part of successful management in any large organisation.

Tai is currently working as a warehouse manager for a medium sized importer/wholesaler of automotive products and accessories.  He is currently completing a Masters of Management (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) with the University of South Australia. He graduated with UniSA's Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement), and aims to use these two degrees to help him pursue a business venture in those fields.

After 15 years in the Commonwealth Public Service, Dawn set up her own venture (Urban Providore) to provide services of Organisational Scientists to industry and government. In 2006 the company commenced trading as IGOR specialising in technical and professional human science to support the delivery of R&D services in Australia. IGOR has developed a strong client base in SA in the Defence and National Security sectors and has expanded into the national market. This year IGOR has started to export its services to overseas clients.

Dawn has also set up the INK Business Group to work directly with industry translating scientific knowledge into organisational improvements. INK has developed a strong SA business offering coaching, employee surveys and organisational development focusing on a niche R&D workforce.