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Craig Swann

Co-Director, Creative & Programming at SOUTHSTART

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Craig Swann

About Craig Swann

Craig Swann is co-director of SOUTHSTART, the Adelaide innovation and impact festival that brings founders, investors, technologists and creatives together each March. He relaunched the festival in Adelaide, and its next edition is set for March 2027.

His background is in digital media and music technology. He founded the internet marketing agency CRASH!MEDIA in 1995 and co-launched FITC, a Canadian design and technology conference. His work includes Looplabs, an early online music creation platform that won a Webby Award in 2000 and was demonstrated by Steve Jobs at an Apple keynote.

On Day One's History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem interview series, he explained why he fears complacency could slow Australian innovation, and he also features in the companion documentary.

In conversation.

3 episodes

Start hereCraig Swann on SouthStart and the Pace of Innovation in AustraliaHis full interview on SOUTHSTART and the risk of complacency.

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 4

With Simon Thomsen, Tim Boyle, David Burt, Rachel Yang, Sarah Pearson, Bruce Tulloch, Cheryl Mack, Lucinda Hartley, Joshua Flannery, Megan Sebben, Alex Scandurra, Phil Ireland, Julie Trell, Peter Devine, Dean McEvoy, Colette Grgic, Pete Horsley, Aaron Birkby, Annie Parker, Paul Bassat, Maxine Sherrin, Malcolm Turnbull, James Alexander, Melissa Widner, Hamish Hawthorn, Lauren Capelin

Documentary: The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem

The History Of The Australian Startup Ecosystem - Part 6

With Leslie Delaforce, Darryl Lyons, Megan Sebben, Wayne Gerard, Nicole O'Brien, Alex Carpenter, Evan Thornley, Baden U'Ren, Tim Fung, Trevor Folsom, Peter Davison, Moira Were, Colette Grgic, Allan O'Connor, Rachael Neumann, Chad Renando, Annie Parker, Brendan Hill, Aaron Birkby, Malcolm Turnbull, Jodie Fox, Susan Oliver, Silvia Pfeiffer, Yolanda Redrup, Andrew Nunn, Melissa Widner, Alfred Lo, Sarah Pearson, Phil Hayes-St Clair, Colin Kinner, Lauren Capelin, Matt Barrie, Kate Cornick, Cheryl Mack, Andrea Gardiner, Niki Scevak

Go straight to the good bits.

Key moments from Craig Swann on SouthStart and the Pace of Innovation in Australia.

  1. 0:21Meet Craig Swann
  2. 0:36Craig's Background and Arrival in Australia
  3. 1:33The Evolution of Southstart
  4. 2:18The Startup Community in South Australia
  5. 3:32Changes in the Ecosystem Over the Years
  6. 4:39Differences Between the U.S. and South Australian Startup Cultures
  7. 5:56Strengths and Opportunities in South Australia
  8. 9:30Overview of Southstart Festival
  9. 11:30Advice for New Founders
  10. 15:27Unpopular Opinions on Ecosystem Development

In their own words.

“We have people that feel like they can own community when you can only serve it.”
Craig Swann — Craig Swann on SouthStart and the Pace of Innovation in AustraliaThe History of the Australian Startup Ecosystem - Interview Series · 26 June 2022

The path so far.

  1. Now

    Co-Director, Creative & Programming · SOUTHSTART

  2. From 2000 · Startup

    Founder, Inventor & Owner · Looplabs

  3. From 1995 · Startup

    Founder · CRASH!MEDIA

  4. Earlier

    Co-launcher (design & technology conference) · FITC

  5. From 2019

    Senior Advisor, Australia · Global Entrepreneurship Network

  6. From 2020

    Director · Music SA

Sources: balancethegrind.co, startupdaily.net

SOUTHSTART on Day One

SOUTHSTART is a festival for startup founders, investors and others in the innovation community, held in Adelaide, South Australia, since 2013.

1 person · 3 episodes
SOUTHSTART

Across the network.

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

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