Episode Summary:
John Allsopp is an author, web developer and conference organiser who’s been working in Australia’s startup ecosystem for nearly three decades. In 2006 he co-founded Web Directions, a conference series for people creating tools for the internet, at a time when the field was still relatively new. In his conversation with Adam, he discusses the very first Web Directions conference, which he sees as being “like the Woodstock of the Australian web industry”, as well as his perspective that over the last few decades the Australian startup ecosystem has evolved from a small “community” into a fully established “industry”.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Day One Podcast
00:29 Meet John Allsopp
01:00 John's Early Involvement in the Web
02:09 The Influence of Cameron Adams
03:30 The Origins of Web Directions
04:41 The Early Days of Computing in Australia
05:57 Transitioning to the Web and Software Distribution
07:30 The Growth of Web Development in Australia
09:15 The First Web Directions Conference
10:27 The Emergence of Australian Web Startups
12:01 The Evolution of the Conference Landscape
13:12 The Community Aspect of Early Web Development
15:17 The Shift from Community to Industry
16:36 The Role of Conferences in Professional Development
18:47 The Impact of COVID-19 on Conferences
20:02 Transitioning to Online Conferences
22:25 The Importance of Adaptation and Innovation
24:40 Future Directions for Web Directions
26:57 Key Takeaways for the Australian Startup Ecosystem
28:15 John's Advice for Founders and Investors
30:40 The Importance of Unique Strengths in Australia
32:50 Closing Remarks
