Comments for Web Strategy Micksup

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Mick

Mick — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:27:54 +0000

Some software to help;

Also, we have a space that might work. I’m looking into it.

Anyone interested in buying a desk for 3-6 months?

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Lachlan Hardy

Lachlan Hardy — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:36:56 +0000

I’ve been into researching this stuff for a while. I was considering it as my next project until the Atlassian gig came along. I’ve picked up a few things that’ll bootstrap your starting point a ways. Happy to catch up and spill the beans some time!

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Stephen Collins

Stephen Collins — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:40:42 +0000

And in case you’re not already there, the very active global coworking community on Google Groups - http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en

All the expected suspects from the US are there as well as a rich mix of others including those from the active Melbourne coworking space.

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Tobi

Tobi — Fri, 09 May 2008 22:21:52 +0000

I partially agree with Simon Sharewood. Any setup of a workspace should be handled professionally via a trust or any other business format. On the other hand the challenge will be handling and minimizing any financial risks.

One way of handling the risk is to “hand it over” to established businesses or institutions. In the last few months I experienced a rising interest within the IT Consulting and Telecommunication Industry (especially the big players) to learn more about and understand latest web business models, patterns and technologies (maybe it is just the position I am in at the moment). The IT (Enterprise) Consulting Industry for example is forced to productize their services (mostly by acquiring new businesses) or drive innovation due to shrinking margins as a result of entering competitors from overseas. The telecommunication industry (maybe more in Europe and the US) faces a similar situation. Increasing competition equals shrinking margins and turnover, which can be compensated by innovation.

So, if we can make the open space / coworking space attractive to the consulting and telecommunication industry I am confident by showing them a return (such as access to insider information, trends, talents etc.) we might be able to get some big sponsors on board.

Happy to help driving the idea of an open space / coworking space in Sydney utilizing my contacts in the consulting and telecommunication industry.

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Mike Cannon-Brookes

Mike Cannon-Brookes — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:40:57 +0000

Mick - awesome idea mate. I’d love to help out how I can - space or $. Brain too tired after J1 all week in SF to think now, but we used to be _in_ a coworking space (Sunshine Suites) in NY who had a lot of cool ideas. Biggest problem becomes security (physical and virtual) once you get beyond ‘mates’.

Why don’t we organise a night to brainstorm it once I’m back in Sydney? I’ll volunteer some space and beers for the brainstorming night - Atlassian’s office and fridges :)

Sometime the week of the 25th?

Comment on Why I’m Pissed Off At Omnidrive by Sami

Sami — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:12:53 +0000

Sorry guys to bother you with this. But I believe that what is, as far as i’m concerned, a major element of the story, that’ s to say customers, has been voluntary or not neglected in this story. What they would wait from Nik would be one email (or one blog post on http://www.omnidrive.com) explaining clearly and briefly what happened the last months, revealing only the details that should be publically known. The rest of the story has to stay in the respective mailboxes of each involved person.

Furthermore, apart from that, I think that this type of discussions shoud be private as it mainly involves some investors, some ex-employees and their small circle of friends, and of course the CEO. Put it on a blog and it will end with misunderstandings, lies, and in many cases useless accusations, because of a lack of discernment, thus not solving in any way the initial problem…

Disclaimer : I am personally not involved in this story, however I did use Omnidrive as a product, and so I felt that I had the right to put my two cents in this “yet-it-should-be-private” public discussion. Sorry again, provided that my comment may offend somebody’s sensibility.

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Pierre

Pierre — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:41:42 +0000

During quiet hours (early mornings 8-10….) the office space could be use to give classes, workshops, training… (e-business, internet, digital photography…).

We could probably find a lot of different skills within all the users of this shared office. To have them pass on their skill giving classes to external people could be a way to pay the rent / bills…

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Matthew Hall

Matthew Hall — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:58:10 +0000

Shouldn’t we get @Warlach into this - he is in the commercial property field at the moment.

I agree that a property trust to buy a space would be a brilliant idea. Then just buy/sell units as your money permits, with ad-hoc transfer of rights by the hour or day (with or without compensation). Just like the time share guys are doing now here.

Comment on Sydney Needs Coworking Space by Simon Sharwood

Simon Sharwood — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:36:24 +0000

A few ideas.
One would see some folks BUY a workspace. Long story short, set up a unit trust, buy a workspace, share the office, repayments=rent, negative gear the whole thing, needs a solid mechanism for selling out/buying in/subleasing/transferring access. Potentially a nice investment strategy.
Two would be a shared rental.
Three would see critical mass of hirers sign up to the extent that someone can set it up as a business.
Four: we negotiate some kind of group deal with Bureaux http://www.bureaux.com/
(Wrote this after a beer!)

Comment on Why I’m Pissed Off At Omnidrive by Nik

Nik — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:35:43 +0000

Mick I probably should have been clearer, but when I was referring to ‘holding the bag’ I wasn’t referring to Phil and John - far from it. I told both of them at the time that I really appreciated their efforts considering what was happening at the time. There were at least 3 or 4 occasions where we thought that we had the fundraising wrapped up, and the only way you can gauge what is happening and how soon it might happen is to take the feedback you get at face value. The big mistake is counting fundraising before it actually closes, and I was certainly guilty of that - so there is a lesson there. There was even a point where we not only had a ‘yes’ from 2 firms and term sheets, but also amongst a group of either existing or potentially new investors as well. It is easy to say this now, but there is no doubt that I would have done things different at the time knowing what I do now

But it is a big stretch to go from that to some of the things that are being said now, which are vicious personal attacks on me. I never once denied that I had made mistakes, nor did I tell anybody to go screw themselves. Some people are trying to re-cast the story into something it isn’t (eg. fraud, drug use, partying)

I am fully aware of what my responsibilities are at this moment and am working hard. If some people want to write that effort off and continue the personal attacks on me, then thats their prerogative.

Ill shoot you an email, I appreciate being able to talk without having crazy accusations thrown at me