Episode Summary:
Craig Swann is the Event Director for SouthStart, Australia’s first innovation impact festival which brings together entrepreneurs, technologists, creatives, and founders from around Australia. Craig has a long history in startups, including as co-founder of Sqribbles and Looplabs, and currently acting as Senior Advisor in Australia for the Global Entrepreneurship Network. In his conversation with Adam, Craig discusses how he first got involved with SouthStart, and his concern that a degree of complacency in Australia can result in a slower pace of innovation.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:21 Meet Craig Swann
00:36 Craig's Background and Arrival in Australia
01:33 The Evolution of Southstart
02:18 The Startup Community in South Australia
03:32 Changes in the Ecosystem Over the Years
04:39 Differences Between the U.S. and South Australian Startup Cultures
05:56 Strengths and Opportunities in South Australia
09:30 Overview of Southstart Festival
11:30 Advice for New Founders
15:27 Unpopular Opinions on Ecosystem Development
17:05 The Role of Government in Startups
18:25 The Importance of Community Support
19:10 Final Thoughts on Entrepreneurship and Community
