Small Business Grants program

Transcription

1 Small Business Grants program Recipient directory 2010

2 Introduction The City of Melbourne s Small Business Grants program has been in existence since It is the city s main initiative to support the establishment and growth of Melbourne s small business community, which makes up 83 per cent of all businesses in the City of Melbourne. Since 1996, 267 small businesses have been the beneficiaries of almost $5.8 million in financial support to assist those organisations to start up, expand and, in some cases, export their valuable goods and services into new overseas markets. The development of an innovative and creative City of Melbourne underpins council s strategic framework and is the cornerstone of the Small Business Grants program. This program is not about supporting businesses that exist in highly competitive environments and end up taking the price of the market leader this is about supporting businesses with unique business models. While many of the products and services created by these organisations have been imitated, acquired by other organisations or simply have become mainstream over time, the fact remains that they were new and fresh and enhanced Melbourne s reputation as a start-up city. And we were there to help when those businesses and the passionate, creative individuals who took the risks to leave safe comfortable jobs to pursue ideas and turn them into reality, needed it most. KPMG reviewed the program in 2009 and confirmed what we knew that the City of Melbourne is still the only local government authority that provides direct financial assistance to small businesses. We never cease to be amazed at the creativity and resourcefulness of the small business community in the City of Melbourne. This directory demonstrates the level of those unique qualities of our Small Business Grants alumni. We hope you take the opportunity to read about their stories and interact with them. Robert Doyle Lord Mayor Councillor Carl Jetter Future Melbourne (Economic Development and Knowledge City) Committee Chair 1

3 p4 p13 p22 p26 p28 Start-up Business expansion Export entry Business support services Contact details 3

4 Start-up Start-up grants are designed to assist with the establishment of new and innovative businesses that will increase the diversity of the city s business community. For more information about Start-up grants visit the website: grantsandsponsorship Advanced Composite Structures Australia 2009 Advanced Composite Structures is a spin-off from the long running Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures. Its mission is to be a world leader in providing research and innovation services in the field of composite materials, structures and related technologies for application to manufactured structures. to equip the new entity with the sophisticated information technology hardware and software required to fulfil its mission. During the start-up phase the company went from zero to 26 employees and the business continues to grow and develop. Austhink Software Pty Ltd 2006 Austhink Software is a thinking skills group engaging in research, education and software development. Austhink has created Rationale, the first high-quality software for argument mapping, the creation of diagrams of complex reasoning and argument. Rationale assists students in learning the fundamentals of good reasoning, critical thinking and argumentative essay writing. It also helps professionals (executives, lawyers, analysts, policy makers) handle complex reasoning more effectively. in the development of its website and also to update and improve office furnishings and computer equipment and software. Binary Labs Pty Ltd 2007 Computer forensics and litigation readiness represents a new frontier and a challenge for the modern business world and Binary Labs has emerged as a forerunner in this field. The systems that it has developed are intended to revolutionise the way forensic labs, government bodies and corporations control their records. to establish key infrastructure and a professional website. The website is an essential part of the unique offering from Binary Labs and forms part of the delivery and application platform. Brandon Capital Partners 2008 Brandon is focused solely on investment in the biotechnology / life sciences industry. Brandon, a venture capital team, is the manager of (among other funds) the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) possibly the only one of its kind. The MRCF has 21 member medical research institutes and was established to provide early stage funding to commercialise promising technologies. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant enabled Brandon to move into a central city location and fitout the office space to not only service Brandon s requirements but also to provide office space for its investee biotechnology companies, creating an incubatorlike environment. Kimono House 2008 Small Business Grant recipient (Business expansion category) Dynasource Pty Ltd / GPA for Coins Pty Ltd 2006 GPA for Coins is an Internet-based subscription service that provides reporting and analysis on the sales of rare certified coins not unlike stock exchange trading reports from United States auction houses. What GPA offers is significantly different from alternative services with market data provided based on actual sales results. GPA is a real-time service that takes sales results as soon as they are realised and merges the information into the overall database shortly after the auction. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant enabled GPA for Coins to establish its business structure in the early set-up days before the subscription service was launched. e.g.etal 1998 e.g.etal is one of Australia s leading contemporary jewellery and object galleries, representing more than 50 Australian and New Zealand artists making exquisite and individual jewellery pieces. Each piece displayed at e.g.etal is carefully considered. The company nurtures emerging talent directly from art school and mentors artists throughout their careers. The exhibition program showcases innovative and thought-provoking contemporary jewellery work. When e.g.etal received the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant 12 years ago, it enabled the company to provide a space where Australian and New Zealand contemporary jewellers could showcase their work in an accessible inner city location. Flexicar 2005 Flexicar is a membership based car sharing service, with cars parked on the streets in inner-city Melbourne and Sydney. It s the answer for anyone who wants the freedom of a car, without the costs and hassles of owning one. People become members and receive their own Flexicard. Bookings are made online or over the phone on an hourly or daily basis. Petrol, registration and insurance are all included. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant was instrumental in the early days of starting this innovative business that has gone on to extend its services beyond the bounds of the municipality. French Pink 2006 The philosophy at French Pink is on promoting natural nail care while customers enjoy the ultimate pampering experience in its stylish and relaxing nail boutique free from toxic fumes. There is an extensive range of manicure and pedicure treatments available as well as a large range of high quality hand, foot and skin care products in its product boutique. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped French Pink establish its first salon in the Galleria shopping centre in the heart of Melbourne. Start-up e.g.etal s reinvigorated exhibition program is giving our artists the opportunity to push the boundaries of contemporary jewellery making and display. e.g.etal 1998 Small Business Grant recipient (Start-up category) 5

5 Gewürzhaus 2010 Gewürzhaus is a Melbourne retailer of more than 300 premium herbs, spices, sugars and salts, available for self-service into bags for home storage convenience. A selection of home and gift wares are sold alongside the spices. The company grinds and blends everything freshly in the shop, something not common in Australia as most spices are milled offshore. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped Gewürzhaus purchase necessary equipment of the highest calibre. Aside from the financial aid, the City of Melbourne was also extremely helpful in promoting the business, providing leads and contacts that would not otherwise have been available. Global (SE Asia) Pty Ltd / SmartTrash 2009 SmartTrash is an environmental management system including hardware and software that lowers transportrelated carbon emissions. A monitoring device is attached to stationary compactors waste and recycling that changes clearance rates from a fixed schedule to as requested. The improved efficiency delivers a reduction in clearance by up to 90 per cent. There are currently more than a hundred units now operating Australia-wide following Melbourne s lead. to purchase an initial batch of SmartTrash units as well as for the purchase of specialised information technology equipment to enable the system to run efficiently. Going Solar 2003 Established in 1978, Going Solar is a sustainability business specialising in the design and supply of both domestic and commercial solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. Going Solar also provides a consulting service covering renewable energy systems, sustainable buildings, sustainable offices, sustainable urban design, sustainable transport, international development and international business. to equip Going Solar with the necessary computers and other electronics during the initial stages of set-up within the municipality. Hidden Secrets Tours 2004 Hidden Secrets Tours operates small group walking tours in Melbourne s central city, focusing on local design enterprises. It works to promote small business with integrity and attention to detail, with the aim of informing both visitors and locals alike of the unique city experience that Melbourne has to offer. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant was influential in the initial stages of forming this unique and interesting business concept. Ink & Spindle 2008 Ink & Spindle designs and screen-prints its own textiles, focusing on sustainable and ethical processes. These boutique, hand screenprinted designer textiles use 100 per cent hemp canvas basecloth. The operators of Ink & Spindle came into the textiles market from unconventional backgrounds one from multimedia and graphic design, the other from fine arts and teaching and quickly identified a niche market for locally, ethically and sustainably produced textiles. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant permitted the company to streamline its processes, allowing the company to focus on developing and refining its range and products. With its strong online presence and a supportive creative community, Ink & Spindle was confidently launched to a great response. Start-up Indigenous Careers & Employment 2010 The founder of Indigenous Careers, Kylie Kinsela (descendant of the Jawoyn and Wiradjuri tribes), has more than 20 years experience as a highly motivated organisational development professional working in Indigenous affairs. The range of services offered includes: online advertising; recruitment; organisational consultancy. What makes the organisation different is that the people are Indigenous and have been through similar situations to clients. Thanks to the City of Melbourne s Small Business Grant, Indigenous Careers was able to redevelop its website, adding some really exciting new capabilities. The grant also enabled the company to provide the infrastructure to grow the business. The wonderful new Gewürzhaus concept store is sure to attract locals and tourists alike. Indigenous Careers creates a meeting place for employers and Indigenous jobseekers. Inference Communications Pty Ltd 2004 Inference Communications is a specialist speech recognition technology and services company. The company designs, develops, implements and supports everything from simple to very sophisticated automated speech recognition solutions that deliver significant value to businesses. The company supplies a range of customisable pre-built modules that are designed to be plugged together to address each customer s specific needs. Inference Communications used the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant for the sophisticated and extensive information technology equipment needed at start-up. Ink & Spindle 2008 Small Business Grant recipient (Start-up category) 7

6 These improvements have enabled Profectus to generate stronger results for our clients, which strengthens our position as a leading provider in our industry. Koko Black Pty Ltd 2003 Privately-owned Melbourne-based chocolate company, Koko Black opened its first salon in December 2003 in the Royal Arcade and since then has expanded to include salons in Collins Street, Carlton, Queen Victoria Market, Camberwell, Chadstone and Doncaster even opening one in Canberra. Born of a vision to deliver both unrivalled service and a world-class chocolate experience, Koko Black is committed to uncompromising quality. The receipt of the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant was instrumental in opening the first Koko Black store in the Royal Arcade. Melbourne CityBikes 2005 Melbourne CityBikes offers a sustainable transport and tourism alternative using 3-wheeled pedal electric vehicles manufactured from recycled steel and milk bottles. Vehicles can be hired for all sorts of occasions from weddings to expos to corporate functions. The company also offers an outdoor media and promotions service the eye-catching vehicle design offers a wonderful canvas. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped Melbourne CityBikes with the initial office fit-out and with the purchase of vehicles and essential computer equipment. Nanocycle Pty Ltd 2010 Nanocycle designs and manufactures a patented electric bicycle conversion system. Its patented product offers great improvement over existing electric bike technology in terms of weight, reliability and ease of use. Nanocycle is in the process of manufacturing its first 100 pre-release kits, and plans to make them available to early adopters by the end of The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant allowed Nanocycle to improve its professionalism by funding practical improvements to its facility and creating a professional website. OnefreeBike 2007 OnefreeBike is an innovative marketing medium that encourages a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. On behalf of customers, OnefreeBike provides free brand bikes to members of the public. To be eligible for a bicycle, an individual simply has to agree to ride it around! OnefreeBike provides an opportunity for Australian companies to engage staff on the topic of climate change and demonstrate best practice leadership in reducing direct and indirect carbon footprints. for general office set-up during the business s early phase. OptoTech Pty Ltd 2006 OptoTech s laser products are researched, designed and manufactured in-house. OptoTech conducts its business in specialised facilities that include specifically designed areas for research and development in the laser field, design, system integration, test and evaluation. to establish its highly specialised laser lab, which contains all the latest technology. It s wonderful to receive the grant it made Pluscreate feel that it was acknowledged as a business, for contributing to the richness of the City of Melbourne. Pluscreate 2007 Pluscreate engage in hair and make-up styling, building and designing props, creating portable buildings for photography and shows in the areas of fashion, music, art and advertising. If you have noticed billboards, fashion shows, design and fashion magazines or interesting objects, you have probably seen Pluscreate s work. Its multidisciplinary business has created everything from make-up and hair for fashion and advertising, to props, styling, photo and comedy booths and transportable offices. The City of Melbourne s Small Business Grant enabled Pluscreate to build its website and set up its office. Profectus Australia Pty Ltd 2001 Profectus, a leading specialist analysis firm, offers financial transaction analysis services (accounts payable audit) and preventative software solutions. It specialises in detection, recovery and prevention of financial leakage to improve an organisation s performance. Profectus recently developed web-based rebate and deal management and contract compliance solutions. These interface existing financial systems to automate transactions and provide performance reporting. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant allowed the company to enhance functionality of its preventative solutions to provide greater value for clients. The company was also able to boost funding into its recovery auditing software to further its data mining capabilities. Start-up Koko Black is a love of beauty, detail and the magic quality of chocolate; a place for venturing beyond the everyday. The encouragement provided to Nanocycle by the grant was considerable. We Are Hunter / Rooftop Cinema 2006 Small Business Grant recipient (Start-up category) 9

7 In 2006, under the ownership of business partners Joe Carbone and Shane Hills, Suga was awarded the Melbourne Award in the category of business contributing to the profile of the City of Melbourne. SIRIS has continued to grow and develop the export of its research. Recently, it signed several New York-based investment groups as clients. RedTribe 2003 RedTribe is Australia s fastest growing game development studio. The studio brings together some of the biggest names in game development from around the world creating Australia s most experienced and talented team. The studio is a developer of triple A quality games focusing on the highest production values and entertainment experiences. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant was influential in the initial stages of developing this state-of-the-art business concept and helped with fit-out of its first premises. Rogers and Price Pty Ltd / Glitzern 2007 Glitzern is a curated retail space and concept store, specialising in accessories for the home and body. Products include a highly distinctive selection of jewellery and homewares from local and international markets currently unavailable in Melbourne. Time is taken to seek out the unusual and the beautiful works are lovingly chosen for their aesthetics and quality. to convert what was originally an old laundry in a heritage listed building unoccupied for more than 30 years into a beautiful space in the reinvigorated Crossley Street. Shine shoe shine 2006 Shine shoe shine is the leather care expert and shoe restoration artisan for busy professionals who live and work in the city. It provides excellence in craftsmanship, focusing on luxury leather footwear. The shoe shine concept was re-introduced to Melbourne by Shine shoe shine in 2005 prior to that the art of shoe shining had disappeared. The business is the only leather care boutique in Australia. Shine Leather Care Consulting was established in It provides expert advice, training and guidance in the area of leather care for the retail industry. The City of Melbourne s Small Business Grant provided the foundation for many aspects of the business. SIRIS (Sustainable Investment Research Institute Pty Ltd) 2001 SIRIS is an environmental, social and governance research group that undertakes and provides environmental, social and governance research on ASX and MSCI World Asia and NZSX50 companies. It has assisted a wide range of institutional investors and financial institutions in the development and implementation of environmental, social and governance research and investment processes. SIRIS has continued to grow and develop the export of its research. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant enabled SIRIS to develop its research database. This enabled the company to provide flexible, client-driven solutions as an independent research provider. Six Degrees Pty Ltd 1997 Six Degrees is an architectural firm known for designing high use spaces that understand how people interact, creating familiar, ambient places. It recently completed a first class airport lounge for Air India in New Delhi and is working on two specialist supermarkets in Melbourne along with a broad collection of other works. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped Six Degrees establish the Public Office in West Melbourne. It was one of the first office share enterprises in Melbourne. The Public Office helped establish Six Degrees name as an inventive design practice exploring new ideas about accommodating people in shared spaces. Pluscreate 2007 Small Business Grant recipient (Start-up category) Suga 1997 The Suga Royal Arcade store operates very successfully today, some 12 years after its first opening. It attracts the keen attention of many international, interstate and local visitors every day to view the making of rock candy in open display. The Royal Arcade store quickly became an iconic attraction in the city, drawing large crowds. to establish this very first Suga store in Melbourne at the Royal Arcade. The grant was applied to purchase specialised rock candy-making equipment as well as towards the original fit-out of the store. Thread Den 2008 Thread Den is a sewing lounge combined with a retail store specialising in local established and emerging designer clothing. There is drop-in workspace for hire as well as workshops for those who want to learn the basics or improve their existing skills. Classes range from the basics of how to thread a machine through to the complex tasks of creating unique designs or altering vintage clothing and everything in between. With the aid of a City of Melbourne Small Business Grant Thread Den has been able to expand to provide a second room equipped with top-quality industrial sewing machines and to offer more classes. Volume New Media 2000 Volume is a full service interactive agency specialising in the design, development and ongoing management of websites. Volume was one of the first boutique full service interactive agencies, offering the same depth in ability and experience as a large advertising agency. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant assisted in the initial set-up of Volume s offices. It provided the funds to establish its network infrastructure and improve the general fit-out of the studio. Good first impressions are paramount and the grant allowed Volume to have an office that it felt confident in inviting clients to visit. Von Haus 2007 Von Haus occupies an 1850s building in Crossley Street that was at one time home to the well-known artist Eugene von Guerard. The building was in decay when a plan to convert the space into a creative hub was proposed. A French-style wine bar and jeweller occupy the two ground floor retail spaces. On the first floor there are four studio / shops and a showroom used by tenants, among others, to display their products. in the refurbishment of the historic building, renovating the staircase and windows and for the installation of street signage. We Are Hunter Pty Ltd / Rooftop Cinema 2006 Rooftop Cinema screens art house and cult films throughout summer at the top of Curtin House. Located seven floors above Swanston Street the Rooftop Cinema features catering by the award-winning Cookie, 185 French Riviera style deck chairs and a large Astroturf lawn. In its first season, Rooftop Cinema generated more than $1.2 million in publicity and sold out the large proportion of its nights there were 12,000 patrons in the first season. to enable website development and for other information technology-related activities that have helped this venture sustain its momentum. Rooftop Cinema was voted third coolest entertainment experience in the world by the prestigious Wallpaper* magazine. Volume is now twice the size! Our solid growth continues after winning contracts to redesign the Yarra Valley Water and AGL websites and extending our involvement in Sustainability Victoria s Interactive Green Light Report. Start-up 11

8 Business expansion Business expansion grants are targeted to assist with the expansion of existing innovative businesses. For more information about Business expansion grants visit the website: grantsandsponsorship Accuteque Pty Ltd 2008 Accuteque offers a suite of solutions to its clients including organisational change management, program and project management, business process re-engineering, professional testing teams and services, quality assurance methods and organisational and information technology health checks process improvements. Accuteque is a leader in helping its customers be sustainable in their practices, processes and structure. Receiving the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant has enabled Accuteque to grow. The key contributing factor for Accuteque s growth is the ability to have a robust infrastructure and office facilities, with which this grant has assisted. Aerostaff Australia Pty Ltd 2009 Aerostaff Australia is a manufacturer of close tolerance sheet metal products and assemblies for the aerospace and defence industries. The company is one of the only dedicated aerospace sheet metal manufacturing company s in Australia. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant was beneficial in enabling the company to be greener with its waste by implementing a new waterjet sludge removal filter system, reducing manual handling and producing a non-toxic recyclable waste product. It was also used to upgrade the MasterCam CAD / CAM software. AGTC Consulting Pty Ltd 2009 AGTC has developed an in-house software application for biometrics. The two key areas of biometrics that AGTC is persuing are access control and time and attendance. AGTC offers a model where the software application, licensed by the company, is deployed to customers for use on demand. The software is hosted by AGTC and charged on a monthly basis. The company also offers a 3G wireless function for its biometrics software. to enable AGTC to build the infrastructure so that it could provide this service. Auspicious Arts Incubator 2008 Auspicious Arts Incubator undertakes coaching and mentorship of artists and arts organisations, as well as marketing and financial consulting for creative industries and conducting national arts industry training seminars. Designed and developed specifically for artists and independent arts organisations Auspicious Arts Incubator is helping artists and arts organisations achieve sustainability through direct, long term coaching. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped the organisation to fit-out the original incubator, creating a space for artists to continue to develop work under close proximity to their business. Business expansion Mahindra Group (India) recently purchased approximately 75 per cent of Aerostaff Australia. This will provide Mahindra with aerospace manufacturing expertise and it will also secure the future for the Melbourne facility. 13

9 Anakie Australian Bush Heritage Fund / Bush Heritage Australia 2004 Bush Heritage Australia is a national, independent, nonprofit organisation committed to preserving Australia s biodiversity. It is Australia s most widely supported organisation dedicated to protecting threatened species and habitats through the creation of reserves. Bush Heritage acquires and manages land of outstanding natural significance to protect Australia s unique biodiversity. Started in 1991 by Dr Bob Brown, who is now patron of the organisation, its headquarters are located in Melbourne. to help the organisation in its move to new headquarters in Melbourne Small Business Grant recipient (Export entry category) Australian Centre for Effective Partnerships 2005 The Australian Centre for Effective Partnerships (ACEP) designs and delivers professional learning programs and assists in capacity building within organisations, particularly in the areas of human resources development, processes for effective functioning of teams, and mentoring and coaching programs. ACEP works with clients from the government, corporate and not-forprofit sectors bringing a partnership approach to the way projects are planned and implemented. for information technology systems to support projects and for a server for effective and safe storage. Bennetts Lane Jazz Club 1999 Bennetts Lane is well-known as a jazz venue for both local and international luminaries of the jazz world. First opened in the early 1990s, Bennetts Lane could now be called the veteran venue of the Melbourne jazz music scene. However, in 1999 it needed to expand to provide a high quality medium-sized flexible venue in response to musicians, audiences, arts administrators and tour promoters. by the club as it went through a major refurbishment and extension on the cusp of the new century. Büro North 2009 Established in 2004, Büro North is a multidisciplinary design practice. Büro North s diverse team works across the disciplines of graphic design, industrial design and wayfinding. Büro North s approach is to discover the absolute potential of a project and to resolve clients design and communication issues with mature rigour and youthful creativity. Since being awarded the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant, Büro North has been able to upgrade equipment and increase staffing levels to accommodate strong growth during the last 18 months. The company has also benefited from the experience of the mentoring program. Business for Millennium Development 2010 Established in 2007, Business for Millennium Development is a not-for-profit partnership forum that focuses on the Asia Pacific region. It connects Australian businesses with profitable and innovative opportunities that deliver poverty-reduction outcomes in support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant enabled Business for Millennium Development to move into larger premises in Docklands. It also facilitated the redesign and refurbishment of its website in line with the organisation s expansion from awareness raising to project generation and management. Buttonmania 2007 The primary services available at Buttonmania are fabric covered buttons / buckles and belts along with a huge range of fashion buttons and buckles. There is also a buttonhole and eyeleting service. Buttonmania is a one stop shop offering both manufactured and covered buttons from the same supplier is quite rare. A button museum is planned. It will focus on the rich history of Melbourne s rag trade. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant has enabled Buttonmania to reach a much broader client base via the Internet and has also provided the funds for a purposedeveloped program to monitor stock. Channel Channel 31 (C31) is Melbourne s own free-to-air community television station. Established in 1994, C31 broadcasts more than 90 new locally made programs every week including entertainment, education and information. Programs cater to a broad range of community interests C31 provides access and representation to many diverse communities. Viewers will find faces, voices and issues that are not present in mainstream television. for a new studio fit-out, for special cabling, control rooms and sound proofing all vital in the operation of Melbourne s free-to-air community television station. Chill On Ice Lounge 2007 Chill On is a unique bar made out of ice chilled to sub zero temperatures. Guests are provided with clothing and other gear so they can keep warm. Operating seven days a week it is the only ice lounge in Melbourne and the only attraction that allows guests to fully immerse themselves in a winter wonderland deep in the heart of the city. This unusual and creative concept is completely made out of ice, which is replaced every six months or so by ice artists. in the development of the company s website. Clarinox Technologies Pty Ltd 2008 Clarinox assists companies to build wireless electronic products through a mix of engineering products and services. Clarinox provides a cost-effective and innovative approach to wireless-embedded systems design. The Clarinox team leveraged on its experience with embedded systems design to develop leading edge solutions to design cycle problems and continuously invests in research and development, which has produced outcomes that have been recognised through multiple industry awards. Thanks to the City of Melbourne s Small Business Grants program, Clarinox obtained inner city premises, built the company image and brand, and had access to research and development equipment and tools. Complete Childcare Solutions 2005 Complete Childcare Solutions provides organisations with consulting and risk management services for the assessment, design, implementation and management of employer-sponsored childcare strategies. It helps organisations looking for innovative and cost effective means to attract and retain staff. The company specialises in all aspects of organisational management and governance to help it determine the most effective means to provide an innovative, effective and quality strategy. Expertise includes risk management, ongoing quality assurance, childcare compliance, corporate governance, finance, project management and contract administration. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant funding was used to establish a professional and functional head office in Melbourne. Business expansion 15

10 Harbinger Consulting 2008 Harbinger Group Pty Ltd comprises two parts: first, Harbinger Consulting comprises like minded, highly skilled and highly dedicated professionals in online project management, analysis and strategy. The second part, Harbinger Escrow Services, designed, built and now operates an online intellectual property lodgement and safe keeping system that includes contract compliance management tools. The company uses this system to provide the next generation of source code escrow services to the Australian software marketplace. to develop the company s website including a feature that allows customers to monitor their compliance with escrow agreements. Compoundia Australia Pty Ltd 2008 Compoundia is a pharmacy that specialises in personalised medicine formulated to a doctor s prescription. Compoundia works with medical practitioners to help formulate innovative pharmaceutical products in the fields of dermatology, human hormonal imbalance and nutrition. There is also a veterinary compounding pharmacy. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped Compoundia expand into new compounding markets and to gain a business edge over its competition. As a result, staff retention and satisfaction have improved. Increased visibility in the marketplace also caused United Statesbased MedQuest to look to Compoundia as the best option for its expansion into the Australian market. E2E IT Solutions Pty Ltd 2005 E2E IT Solutions designs and provides automated temperature monitoring solutions for the medical and health industries. TEMP Track temperature monitoring systems fully automate temperature monitoring and recording 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide auditable records for effective cold chain management. to enable hospital trials of the specialised equipment. These were conducted at the Royal Children s Hospital and after the trial the equipment was donated to the hospital. Green Collect 2003 Green Collect is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works together with businesses to achieve positive environmental change. Through delivering innovative recycling and waste minimisation services, Green Collect also creates new opportunities for employment and community building. As a social enterprise, Green Collect offers work and training opportunities to people who face barriers to employment. The City of Melbourne s Small Business Grant added to the foundation and was used to enhance many aspects of the business. InCharge Investments Pty Ltd / hranywhere 2008 hranywhere is a boutique human resource management organisation that provides practical solutions for startup businesses. The organisation provides a business incubator for small businesses employing between four and five staff. The services offered cover infrastructure, human resources and business support: accommodation, board and meeting rooms, amenities (lighting, heating, information technology etc). Added to this hranywhere provides human resource support including payroll, superannuation, workers compensation, public liability and invoicing. in the re-fit of new premises and also the development of a website to promote hranywhere services. KeepCup had the distinction of being a top 10 finalist in this year s Premier s Design Awards. KeepCup 2008 Small Business Grant recipient (Business expansion category) Invarion Pty Ltd 2004 Invarion is the developer and global supplier of RapidPlan traffic control plan software. RapidPlan was purpose-designed to make professional traffic control plans quickly and easily, using basic computer skills. The company s head office is in Melbourne, but it also has offices in Boston and Dallas in the United States. to enable two new offices and a boardroom to be built within its existing office space and for the purchase of new electronic equipment including telephones. IR Gurus Interactive Pty Ltd 2006 Established in 1996, IR Gurus was an interactive entertainment software developer in the global interactive entertainment games industry. Its software functioned on well-known brand dedicated game platforms. IR Gurus primarily developed interactive entertainment software on a distribution contract basis to international game publishers. It also self-published its own branded game software and affiliate publisher software titles in the Asia Pacific region. IR Gurus became Transmission Games in to enable IR Gurus to relocate to larger premises and to purchase computer hardware for new employees as part of the expansion of business. Jasongrech Pty Ltd 2007 A 2006 Lord Mayor s Innovation award winner, Jasongrech is a leading designer and manufacturer of ladies clothing producing exclusive and unique fashion. Not long after setting up the style office (the company s headquarters) in North Melbourne, Jasongrech began to offer its customers a VIP service: customers can meet and greet and see that everything is Melbourne made. The company also branched out into bridal couture. for manufacturing and showroom fit-out at the new premises as well as contributing to the building of an interactive website that allows the company to sell online. jtribe Holdings Pty Ltd / The OpenHub 2007 The OpenHub is a studio for creative professionals who wish to work alongside other small business people while establishing themselves. It is located in the centre of Melbourne. The idea for The OpenHub is to provide affordable, flexible and diverse office space for likeminded small businesses. The open plan space provides private meeting rooms and balances the need to foster community with the need to protect intellectual property. in the initial fit-out of The OpenHub space, providing meeting facilities and office space including information technology needs and an all-important kitchen. KeepCup 2008 KeepCup is the world s first barista standard, reusable coffee cup. It is designed and manufactured in Australia from polypropylene, is dishwasher and microwave safe, and recyclable. The owners of the central city Bluebag chain of cafés were determined to address the waste generated by disposable coffee cups and, finding nothing suitable on the market, embarked on developing KeepCup. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped with the extensive start-up costs. The company now has an office in the United Kingdom, a sales agent in the United States and ships KeepCup to distributors worldwide. Business expansion 17

11 Kimono House 2008 Kimono House is the only small business in the City of Melbourne offering the unique mix of authentic Japanese products for retail with hands-on Japanese craft and cultural experiences. The introduction of housebranded craft kits for Japanese language students has been very successful for the company. Since receiving the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant Kimono House has been able to offer hands-on Japanese cultural experiences to students from Victorian and interstate schools teaching Japanese language. The grant was also used to upgrade the website and develop the company s online shop. These upgrades have resulted in increased awareness of Kimono House products and services. Mag Nation Pty Ltd 2007 Mag Nation is a magazine lover s Mecca. With the widest range of magazines in Australia, Mag Nation has changed the way magazines are retailed. The store has a chilled out atmosphere with cool art deco lighting and edgy stencil art adorning the walls. With great coffee, free wireless and comfy seating upstairs, Mag Nation is the place to hang when in central Melbourne. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped with the development of the company s website to include e-commerce functionality. The presence of Kimono House workshop sample images online has attracted workshop bookings from local and interstate schools teaching textiles. MComms Design Pty Ltd 2007 MComms Design is a software solutions company that specialises in live Mobile TV monitoring, among other things, for the telecommunications industry. Its products are used by network operators and content providers globally. MComms has developed a new product to monitor the quality of ringback tones there was nothing on the global market designed to monitor and test the quality of ringback tones. by MComms to facilitate a move into a central city location and to help it set up extra office space and the required equipment to engage two new full time software developers. Medicines Development 2008 Medicines Development is a not-for-profit company that integrates specialist development expertise for biotechnology companies to provide effective project management and drive the development process. The model used by Medicines Development is unique. The company provides specialist drug development expertise and integrates that expertise with the biotechnology client. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant allowed the company to set up its office environment to be ready for expansion and to enhance that environment to be more professional for its team and its clients. The grant has helped Medicines Development to present itself with the same rigour that it approaches its core skills. Melbourne Weight Loss 2007 Melbourne Weight Loss has been created by Dr Marlene Tham under the framework of general practice. It is a subsidiary of the Town Medical Centre. The Melbourne Weight Loss Redefine Program combines diet, exercise, mind, psychology and medicine into an individualised program that involves doctors, dieticians, exercise physiologists and psychologists to tackle weight gain and any associated medical conditions. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped in the set-up of the innovative e-health platform that brings patients to clinicians, 24 hours a day, anywhere around the world through an online interactive website that allows access to results, progress and feedback. MessageMedia 2002 Established in 2000 and based in Melbourne, MessageMedia is Australia s leading supplier of business SMS software and related services. The company designs, builds and customises information technology solutions that harness the power of SMS. It has more than 8000 business and government clients, from BHP and ANZ to local hairdressers. The small, close knit group at MessageMedia works hard to understand the needs of its clients, and harder still to generate solutions. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant was instrumental in the early days of expansion of this innovative business that has gone on from strength to strength. Money for Life Pty Ltd / Money Money 101 is a proven service provider of workplace financial literacy education and communications strategies that enables employees to gain vital skills and knowledge of financial planning, wealth management and superannuation. Money 101 uses a flexible approach to building customised workplace communications and education programs for financial services organisations. MessageMedia is growing rapidly. It has been recognised in the Deloitte Fast 50 Tech Awards for five years in a row now, but it s still committed to maintaining a small business culture. As an independent and highly focused provider Money 101 can take the long view and ensure that it also delivers the best results for its clients. to expand the organisation s office space. Murray White Room 2007 Murray White Room is a contemporary art gallery, established in The gallery is a cutting edge / innovative next generation gallery space with a growing stable of predominantly Melbourne artists and a generation X approach to marketing large social event openings with links to local bar culture and young urban professionals located in one of Melbourne s famous laneways. to expand and equip the gallery space to take advantage of its location and design as a venue for cultural events and a space suitable for hire. Particular attention was paid to acoustics, sound, screens and hire set-up equipment. MYN Diversities / Marekai Events 2010 Marekai Events finds the most unusual and unique venues in and around Melbourne in which to provide interesting dining experiences. It is always on the lookout for the best venues, and is constantly updating its offering. Marekai Events is known throughout Melbourne for being the best at matching the ideal venue for an event. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant is intended to be used to upgrade and enhance Marekai Events website to offer a series of unique dining experiences at the Old Melbourne Gaol. Open Channel Co-operative Ltd 2007 Open Channel is a membership-based, not-for-profit business and Victoria s screen resource organisation. Its role is to assist in growing the film, television and multimedia industries by offering a wide variety of support to aspiring and emerging filmmakers. It creates opportunities for people to realise their films and develop screen production skills. to help Open Channel develop Shed 4 creative precinct with new state-of-the art computer technology and specialised software. Business expansion Medicines Development applies all its profits towards its objective of developing new medicines for those most in need. 19

12 3Floorsup 2008 Specialist software developed right here in the City of Melbourne is challenging the urban myth that all information communications technology (ICT) has moved offshore. In fact, 3Floorsup is supplying its wind turbine maintenance management software WTGservice.com to clients in Australia, China, United States and Brazil. Europe is expected to follow soon. 3Floorsup applied for a Small Business Grant from the City of Melbourne so that it could polish and refine its next generation web-based software and make it compatible with almost any language in the world. The end result is the only product of its kind in the worldwide wind energy industry. Skin and Threads 2004 Skin and Threads produces women s singlets, T-shirts, dresses, cardigans and tunics made from 100 per cent natural and organic fabrics. The company is committed to integrity as an eco-friendly fashion label, one that is Australian made. An online inventory management system and website have built the company s brand awareness, especially as a first reference point for retailers and consumers. The online catalogue allows retailers to see garments and how they are worn before purchasing. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant assisted with the initial set-up of the company s online inventory management system. SpellBox the World Pty Ltd 2006 SpellBox is a unique business specialising in the realms of witchcraft, myth and magical symbolism. There are two SpellBox outlets in Melbourne. The Royal Arcade shop has a beautiful range of ready-to-go spell kits, books, talismans, candles, incense and exotic objects to inspire the imagination. The SpellBox Witch s House has a huge array of herbs and resins to blend as incenses and charms, potion-making ingredients and beautiful magical wares. by SpellBox for capital improvements to its premises in Little Bourke Street and for theatrical furnishings, signage and a redesign of the website. Step-Up Pty Ltd 2000 Specialising in MYOB and LEAP accounting, Step-Up provides bookkeeping, payroll and business activity statement (BAS) services. The company also provides consulting, training and accounting system set-ups. Step- Up registered as a BAS agent in March 2010, embracing the new legislation, providing further services to its clients. It also partnered with VECCI, providing its clients with a more comprehensive payroll service. Step-Up used the City of Melbourne Small Business Grant to purchase vital computer hardware and improve its office fit-out. These improvements enabled it to grow its business, providing employment opportunities and attracting more clients with its improved professional facilities. Studio Cirq Pty Ltd 2009 Studio Cirq offers daily classes, courses and workshops in yoga, Pilates and related techniques. Classes are open to all on a drop-in basis no membership is required to participate in classes. Studio Cirq was the first to teach in this format, offering a wide range of classes at an affordable rate with some of Melbourne s best teachers. Shiatsu treatments are also available and corporate classes in the workplace can be organised. The City of Melbourne s Small Business Grant provided Studio Cirq with the funds to improve facilities. Those facilities are still a key part of Studio Cirq s beautiful studio. Studio Periscope 2009 Studio Periscope is a boutique Melbourne design studio focused on industrial and graphic design that has developed the Traveller a customisable packaging solution for sending a bottle of wine through the post. Previously, wine bottles were typically packaged with two or more parts constructed of corrugated cardboard or non-environmentally friendly polystyrene. The Traveller forms a distinctive hexagon package from one flat piece of corrugated cardboard, resulting in easy construction. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped Studio Periscope to commercialise the Traveller. Receiving the grant has enabled Studio Periscope to protect the intellectual property of its innovation and to begin production. Teleport Corp Pty Ltd / Handset Detection 2007 There are thousands of mobile phones out there, all slightly different, which makes working with mobile technologies tricky and time consuming. So, the people at Teleport created Handset Detection to make working with mobiles easier. Teleport is seeing more than 1000 new handsets and variations each month. Keeping up is hard, future proofing is impossible. However, Handset Detection can help. Handset Detection is a real-time self updating database of mobile device properties. Becoming a City of Melbourne Small Business Grant recipient really helped get Teleport s Handset Detection idea off the ground. The company also found the mentoring beneficial. Tiffins is a business and service model designed around good health, sustainability and environmental conservation. Studio Periscope has also launched a whimsical non-cringe-worthy Australian tablemat range: FromWoopWoop. WTGservice.com showcases Melbourne s innovative ICT sector to the world. Tiffins Pty Ltd 2008 Tiffins is Australia s first Indian hot food lunch delivery system using innovative heatpreserving containers. Using sustainable business practices to deliver lunches on tricycles, Tiffins provides hot food that does not require reheating with the added bonus that the containers are reusable. Because food is cooked based on an advance ordering system, waste is reduced to zero. to introduce personal digital assistants (PDAs). These provide accurate and up-to-date information relating to each order and delivery destination, eliminating many of the errors that creep into manual based ordering systems. Traction International Pty Ltd 2007 Traction designs and manufactures products and systems to store sports and outdoor equipment such as kayaks, canoes, surfboards, paddles and more, offering a new concept creating more than a storage system or merchandising tool. Traction specialises in creating space with form and function in today s home and commercial environments. Through excellence in design and innovation Traction revolutionises the way products are displayed and stored. to help with office set-up in Melbourne and also for the development of a new website. Turtle Corporation Pty Ltd / Turtle House 2008 Turtle House has developed a digital vending kiosk that can deliver digital pre-paid services directly to mobile devices without the use of vouchers, cards or pin numbers. This development is particularly exciting for the university market telecommunications companies can now offer students easy recharge facilities without additional call charges. The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant helped Turtle House purchase new vending kiosks that were installed at Melbourne University and RMIT University. Melbourne was the testing ground for this new technology, which it is intended will be rolled out to Asia, the United States and Europe, where vending culture is more developed. Web and Flo Pty Ltd 2009 Web and Flo is a web-based workflow software provider. It delivers solutions using its flagship workflow management suite Kontinuum as the foundation of every solution. Web and Flo has grown substantially during the past 12 months and has secured several new customers and implementation partners. Part of the City of Melbourne s Small Business Grant provided Web and Flo s expanding development team with tools to deliver higher quality software. Web and Flo s sales effort has been enhanced with the use of additional sales tools provided through the grant. It is now possible to host demonstrations in-house using the new demonstration tools. Business expansion 21