ANZA Technology Network | March 2007 Newsletter

From the CEO

G’day! I just got back from six outstanding weeks Down Under—and I have to say that the energy and enthusiasm for ANZA and its programs has never been greater!

ANZA arrived in sunny Melbourne on a summer day in late January and got straight to work promoting the second round of our Fast Track to the US program for Victorian tech and biotech companies. The response was overwhelming. The applicants exceeded our time capabilities and we’ve had to ask many interested companies to come back for our next intake session in early August. Meanwhile, I’m working diligently with our mentors in selecting our second round of Phase Two Fast Track companies.

I’m also pleased to announce that some of our first round Fast Trackers who joined the program last year are ready, after lots of hard work and adept mentoring, with their US Go-to-Market plans.

I also spent time in February in Canberra, South Australia and New South Wales, getting some positives for their participation in future ANZA events. We’re getting such a good buzz around the Gateway to the US program that as soon as I got back to San Francisco we locked down the dates for this year’s Silicon Valley Summit— October 22-24, 2007. The Gateway to the US program will officially launch in June. More information will be in future newsletters and on the website.

Having met with so many of you here in Silicon Valley in the months after the successful 2006 Gateway event and now in Australia, I’ve listened to your feedback and am pleased to announce ANZA’s newest program— Bridge to the US.The Bridge to the US will work with Australian and New Zealand CEOs to create a program like our successful Fast Track and Gateway, one that is specifically tailored to your company’s needs and timeline to entering the US market.

And, finally, for the past five years our Gateway to the US program has commenced with the Boot Camp marketing workshops held in Australia and New Zealand at the end of August. We’ve revamped and strengthened the format for these one-day workshops to be more strategic and US-market focused than ever before. Perhaps that’s why it was easy to come up with a new name for the Boot Camps—they are now called the FOCUS Marketing Workshops, and they will provide attendees with intensive marketing communications review and feedback from ANZA executives and US market experts.

We are working toward a goal of having the right program, at the right time for any innovative business with plans to enter the US market. Now more than ever, if the US market is where you want to be, ANZA is the place to start.

Viki Forrest, CEO

» ANZA Programs - Find the right fit for your company

Bridge to the US - Our newest program starts with a Cup of Coffee with the CEO. Make an appointment to meet with Viki Forrest in Silicon Valley to talk about your market to the US plan. From this initial discussion, ANZA will look at how the ANZA team—including our world-class mentors—can best help your company gain US market traction. ALWAYS OPEN.
Gateway to the US - Our premier program, the Gateway to the US is designed for companies considering the world’s largest market. Education + Promotion = An Informed Decision About Entering the US Market. Over 200 innovative Australian and New Zealand companies have come through the Gateway to the US since 2002. The program begins with an intensive one-day FOCUS Marketing Workshop at the end of August in a city near you and culminates with a 3-day Silicon Valley Summit in California in October. Along the way, we match you with a mentor who will help you prepare to showcase your product in front of some of America’s leading investors, entrepreneurs and tech execs. REGISTRATION OPENS JULY.
Fast Track to the US - A comprehensive 15-month program that provides a clear path to US export success while reducing costs and risks. Designed for companies with strong, global potential, many have already made inroads into the US, but want an absolute breakthrough. The Fast Track and ANZA’s world-class mentors help committed companies capitalize on existing connections and move in new and more lucrative directions. ALWAYS OPEN, VICTORIAN COMPANIES CLICK HERE.
FOCUS Marketing Workshops - A one-day intensive, interactive session that offers invaluable insight to doing business in the US. ANZA brings a panel of experts to a city near you to analyze your company’s growth potential in the US and market readiness and provide immediate feedback. These lively and invaluable workshops are not to be missed! FOR ALL INTERESTED BUSINESSES, PREREQUSITE FOR THE GATEWAY PROGRAM, REGISTRATION OPENS JULY.

News Roundup

» Competition High for Spots in Victorian Fast Track Program

“The companies in this round showed very high potential for success in the US, they’ve done their homework and understand the challenges,” said Viki Forrest, ANZA CEO. “We saw a great blend of innovation and business savvy in this round.” Click here to read more…

» When It Comes to Innovation, Geography Is Destiny

So, says this New York Times story, that talks about how much harder it is to get a foothold in the US marketplace when you don’t live in or near California’s Silicon Valley. Click here to read more…

» Start-Up Fervor Shifts to Energy in Silicon Valley

“Clean tech”, or “watt-com”, is the new “dot-com”. 2007 is shaping up to be the Year of the Green. Can highly regarded Aussie and Kiwi clean techs get a piece of the alternative energy market in the US? Click here to read more…

ANZA Events

May 21 - 25, 2007
Silicon Valley, USA. Fast Track Summit for companies in Phase Two of the Fast Track. Three days of business forums, workshops and networking with additional time for pre-arranged, individual business meetings.

June 4, 2007
Gateway to the US 2007 Program Launch. More details on this year’s premier ANZA event coming soon. Check your e-mail for updates.

July 18 - 20, 2007
Melbourne, Victoria. Free Briefing Sessions for the third intake round for the Victorian Fast Track Program. Registration available soon.

August 8 - 14, 2007
Melbourne, Victoria, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Freshwater Place
Level 19, 2 Southbank Boulevard.
Victorian tech and biotech companies make presentations to ANZA executives and mentors for acceptance into the Fast Track Program. Registration and application available soon.

August 14, 2007
Melbourne, Victoria, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Freshwater Place
Level 19, 2 Southbank Boulevard.
VIP Cocktail Reception for Victorian Fast Track companies.

August 20 - 31, 2007
Australia/New Zealand. FOCUS Marketing Workshops, prerequisite for Gateway to the US. Cities, dates and times TBA.

October 22 - 24, 2007
Silicon Valley, USA. Gateway to the US Summit. Registration and venue information coming soon.

December 3 - 5, 2007
Silicon Valley, USA. Fast Track Summit for third round of Victorian Phase Two companies.

Other Events

March 2007
Australian Anthill Cool Company Awards. Get nominated. Nominate your company. The Anthill Cool Company Awards recognize Australian companies that are doing things differently—challenging business conventions, launching exciting new products, implementing new ways to do business, undertaking “rule-breaking” thought leadership. Registration is now open at: http://www.australiananthill.com/main.php?page=cool

March 28, 2007
“Say G'day to the USA” Austrade Webinar hosted by Kylie Hargreaves, Senior Trade Commissioner, Los Angeles. This practical session will take you through the key issues and top tips for exporting to the US. $50 per person plus local phone call. Register online or call Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.

May 6 – 9, 2007
BIO International Convention. More than 20,000 attendees are expected. Will your company be a part of the world’s biggest biotechnology conference? http://www.bio2007.org/

May 8, 2007
“G’Day Google!” Google’s Mountain View site will host a showcase of Google's R&D in Australia, from 6 pm – 9 pm, Seville Tech Talk Room, Building 40, Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA. Contact: Alan Noble at anoble@google.com for more information.

May 8 – 9, 2007
Software 2007. ANZA is sponsoring and participating in this influential annual gathering of 2,000 leaders of the software ecosystem in Santa Clara, CA. http://www.software2007.com.

FOR MORE INFO

ANZA Technology Network
www.anzatechnet.com
Viki Forrest
CEO

Office: 415-309-7068
viki@anzatechnet.com