All I want for startups: What Naomi Simson, Scott Farquhar, Mikaela Jade and other leaders hope to see in 2017

Aside from kicking bigger and bolder goals in your business this year, what’s one thing you’d love to see happen in Australia’s startup sector?

StartupSmart asked some prominent Australian entrepreneurs what’s on their wish-list.

Red Balloon founder and Shark Tank investor Naomi Simson

“The biggest change that I would like to see with the startup community is that there is a clear runway for growth.

“I believe that we need leadership skills, great work places and the ability to put processes and systems behind an idea to make it fly … there is much work to be done.”

Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar

“In order for Australia’s tech ecosystem to grow at a faster pace, we need to give it a physical location.

“We need to build a tech hub to create density and connect everyone and everything in it—similar to what you see in Silicon Valley and London’s Shoreditch.

“Talent attracts talent and cities become centres of gravity. To be a global leader in tech, we need an epicentre to draw the world’s top talent.”

InDigital founder Mikaela Jade

“I’d like to see this by now of course, but by the end of 2017, I would like to see the startup community embrace Indigenous entrepreneurs by giving us a go.

“If you need services for your business, check out platforms like Supply Nation to see if there is an Indigenous service provider for what you need.

“We are smart, good hearted people who are drawing on at least 80,000 years of science to develop our businesses.

“Even though many of us have a social benefit, we aren’t all charities, with many successful Indigenous businesses emerging each year.”

Pozible co-founder Alan Crabbe

Far left: Alan Crabbe

“I hope more startups, small businesses and creative companies scale and get the support and advice to scale quicker internationally.”

Startup Muster co-founder Monica Wulff

“By the end of 2017, I want to see greater connectivity between local startup communities across the country.

“We need to engage and share learnings so that as a whole our startup ecosystem is developing and growing.”

What’s your #StartupausWish for 2017? Tell us in the comments or on social media.

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