Another freshly-baked batch of young entrepreneur opportunities below.  Mmmm…. Enjoy!

9th Annual Australian Innovation Festival (26 April – 31 May)

The 2010 Australian Innovation Festival kicks off at the end of this month bringing a host of events and opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country.  Check out www.ausinnovation.org for locations & registration details and see below for Festival Launch dates in your capital city:
National / Sydney: 10:30am-12:30pm, Thursday 22 April
Brisbane: 6:00pm-8:00pm, Thursday 22 April
Canberra: 6:00pm-8:00pm, Tuesday 27th April
Melbourne: 10:00am-12:00pm, Wednesday 28th April
Adelaide: 8:30am-2:30pm, Thursday 29th April
Perth: 6:00pm-8”00pm, Thursday 29th April
Darwin: 1:00pm, Thursday 29th April
Hobart: 7:00am-8:45am, Tuesday 18th May

North Coast Innovation Festival (26 April – 31 May)

To coincide with the Australian Innovation Festival, 2010 North Coast Innovation Festival will kick off a program designed to showcase the intellectual capital, innovation and creativity on the NSW North Coast.   Festival events will include seminars, workshops, exhibitions, tours and webinars from 26 April to 31 May 2010 in various locations from Tweed Heads to Foster-Tuncurry.  Grab more details at www.ncinnovationfestival.com.au

Creative3 – Creativity x Investment x Enterprise (Today – 16 April)

Brissy will host the international Creative3 Forum from 14 – 16 April, bringing together the brightest talent and industry practitioners from across the creative fields, as well as creative enterprise leaders to share their ideas and offerings, form partnerships, network, and do business. The 3-day program will feature keynote presentations, business development workshops and networking opportunities + the flagship Investment Marketplace.  7 aspiring creative entrepreneurs will pitch their business ideas to a dragon’s den of industry leaders and business experts for their chance to win a $100,000 business package. Register now and join in the action – www.creative3.com.au

Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) Young Social Pioneers Program 2010

Are you a young social change-maker? Have you been actively working on an idea or project for 6months? 14 social pioneers will gain a place on YSP 2010, a unique year-long program providing skills development, mentoring, intensive group and individual training and access to an international network of social innovators. Areas of work can include education, environment, health and wellbeing, human rights, media and technology, performing and visual arts, politics and science.  Applicants must be between 18 and 29 years of age, applications close Friday 11th June. For more information and to apply, visit: www.youngsocialpioneers.org.au.

fastBREAK Innovation Series – Friday April 30, Topic: Are you Alone?

Vibewire present the 2010 fastBREAK innovation series to showcase fresh perspectives and provocative ideas from some of Sydney’s brightest young thought leaders. Each event features 5 young industry leaders from various sectors to tackle big questions with five-minute responses around themes of creativity, commercialisation, collaboration, connections and conversation. Listen in then join the speakers for breakfast.  Takes place on the last Friday of the month (next event 30 April), 7:45am-9am @ the Boiler Room Mezzanine, Powerhouse Museum, cost just $8. More info at: http://vibewire.org/2010/04/fastbreak-are-you-alone/.  

Will you be one of the hot 30 under 30?

Smart Company is again looking for Australia’s hottest young entrepreneurs for their annual hot 30 under 30 list.  Think you’ve got what it takes?  Complete a 10min questionnaire about you and your biz to find out!  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=T78b14EKfqie9GIOdm1XViuOf5kMp2kdApomsoR32PU=& Know a rising young star and want to nominate them?  Email the editor, James Thomson at jthomson@smartcompany.com.au with details.  Good luck!

Share the love – buttons for your website, blog posts and articles

Want to help your clients/customers/readers to share your online gems with their friends and contacts? www.addthis.com automatically generates a html tag for a nifty little Twitter/Facebook/MySpace /Google sharing button.  Simply paste the code on your website or at the end of your post and voila! instant sharing.  

The Hive Melbourne Meets Steve Sammartino of Rentoid - Tuesday 20th April

After working in consumer goods marketing for 15 years Steve Sammartino created rentoid.com in 2007 – A peer-to-peer rental website where people can rent items to and from each other.  Steve is the anti-geek and he says most of his on line success has resulted from what he does off line, busting the myth that we need to be stroking at a keyboard 24 hours a day.  And, with Rentoid now boasting more than $50 million worth of items for rent, he migtht be onto something! Catch up with Steve and The Hive team at The Order of Melbourne, 401 Swanston Street Melborune.  Registration is free (we love that!) so jump online at www.thehive.org.au.

Join the conversation – simpler business reporting

Want to help put an end to complicated paperwork?  The government, through the Standard Business Reporting initiative is proposing to simplify reporting requirements for all businesses.  They’ve put together a business reporting blog and invite business owners, reporting professionals, software developers and members of the public to discuss the SBR online. To participate, go to: http://blog.sbr.gov.au/.  For the full down-low on SBR, check-out:  www.sbr.gov.au.

Last Chance! Applications for 2010 Victoria Fellowships close this afternoon!

Applications close today for the 2010 Victoria Fellowships – up to 6 fellowships for emerging leaders in engineering, science or technology.  Each Fellow will receive a travel grant of up to $18,000 for short-term overseas study to develop a commercial idea, undertake specialist training or career development.  Nominations also open for the Victoria Prize -$50,000 for a scientific discovery or technological innovation. Go to http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD/PC_60157.html

Cool online resource for managing event regos – FREE

It can be such a challenge coordinating networking, launch or product/service events if you have to manage RSVPS and admin nightmares through Outlook…. we know!  Eventbrite.com is an online event management and ticketing service which makes it easy regardless of your event type and size.  Eventbrite is 100% free if your event is free.  If you sell tickets for your event, then EventBrite charges 2.5% of the ticket price + 99c per ticket sold (max fee $9.95).  So, if you’re hosting an event, check-out www.eventbrite.com.

Check out our latest opps for young entrepreneurs below…

Promote your Biz with Kochie and Mel on Sunrise!

The Sunrise Family Small Business Register is all about supporting biz owners who are working hard just to make ends meet – let alone pay for advertising on national TV! Get your chance to spruik your biz to thousands of viewers on Sunrise, by uploading your 30-second pitch to the Sunrise YouTube page! Head to the website to list your biz on the Small Business Register and grab all the details for the YouTube Pitch Promotion! Go to: http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/factsheets/article/-/article/6802910/sunrise-family-small-business-register/

Calling Brissy Brains! IdeaParty Tuesday April 13th @ Visible Ink Valley

Got a big idea but don’t know where to start? Have a project but need a little help? Bring your wishes and plans to the IdeaParty – and get some fun and useful ideas from new friends and peers. It’s informal and casual – but potentially powerful! Any ideas and backgrounds welcome – you may just be the ideal person for someone else’s Big Dream! Learn how IdeaParties work here: http://www.shersuccessteams.com/iparties.htm and contact Tiara Shafiq to RSVP by Friday 9th April (for catering purposes) at: me@themerchgirl.net

Business awards – ready to start your winning streak?

Ready to take your biz to the next level and achieve award-winning status? There are loads of business awards and programs around, so get these bad boys on your radar and begin your 2010 awards application schedule: http://www.snobs.com.au/2010/02/20/business-awards-competitions/

Thinking of breaking into the UK market?

Access Wales is offering business owners the opportunity to test the Wales, UK market with 12 months FREE office space and professional consultancy support! The program is available to innovative, high-growth potential SMEs, currently located anywhere outside of Wales (yep – Aussie Entrepreneurs!) . You’ll get free desk space for 12months, full coordination of your travel, general and specialist business support through the Welsh Assembly Government and Access Wales’ professional consultancy partners and access to a dedicated point of contact throughout! For more details and to apply, go to: http://www.ibwales.com/business-support/access-wales/

Media Opportunity – Gen Ys affected by GFC

One Green Bean are looking for 18-24 year old Gen Y guys and girls who are interested in speaking to their metro newspaper about the negative impact the GFC had on them and their careers/businesses. You will need to talk about the impact on your employment/biz, personal finances and savings, and be willing to be photographed in the next two weeks. Please send an outline of your current employment status and one or two sentences about how the GFC affected you in a negative way, and what city you live in, to michelle@onegreenbean.com.au

Building your biz on social media, emerging technology or new enterprise?

Get into the ConnectNow conference 7-9th April 2010 and do away with old and ineffective advertising and marketing strategies that were too expensive anyway! Get the tools and strategies you need to help drive business growth in today’s market. International specialists from all over the world are converging on the University of Sydney campus for three days of presentations, keynotes and workshops. You can register for one day, two days or all three – prices start from $400 (25% of profits go to local Sydney charities). Go to: www.connectnow.net.au

Want to monatise your website, blog, magazine, e-newsletter or online network?

MediaScope is a new directory dedicated to connecting advertising buyers and advertising sellers…. essentially, a website designed to help you get the $$$! If you have a great advertising opportunity but have found the thought of seeking advertisers just too overwhelming, why not upload a listing and get advertising buyers coming to you?? What’s even better – it is FREE! If you are a media buyer or a small business owner Looking for an edge when promoting your business, you can subscribe to receive Ad updates with all of the latest last minute or first-to-market advertising offers. Check out: www.mediascope.com.au

Get Winning Biz Listings… FREE!!

Got your biz listed on True Local and Hot Frog and thing this is enough? My Business Help offers 20 top FREE business directories where you should be listing your biz TODAY. Haven’t listed on a business directory yet? You’ll definitely want to click here…
http://www.mybusinesshelp.com.au/10-free-australian-directories-to-list-your-business/
http://www.mybusinesshelp.com.au/another-10-free-australian-directories-to-list-your-business/

Avoid Business Brain Drain – have fun and stay sharp!

Running around the (home/garage) office, managing mountains of admin and dealing with cash flows stress can take its toll on our bodies… and our brains. Keep yours as sharp as a tac by building your left (logical, analytical) and right (creative, intuitive) brain with these fun, free tools. Stop working IN your business by getting your brain focussed ON your business… plus, have something on hand to distract you while on hold with your telephone/insurance/internet/supplies/courier/banking provider. Go to: www.lumosity.com

Get free business guides for your Smart Company

Smart Company has a range of free business guides to help you build your biz. Get 101 Tips for Your Business in 2010, 25 Tips for Real Entrepreneurs and more! Start with http://www.smartcompany.com.au/101-tips-for-your-business-in-2010 and go from there!

Sort your space – new ideas for your home office and professional profile

Spending 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20hrs on your biz is all that much easier in a great space! Check out these great products to keep your great ideas top-of-mind:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41787742\
http://www.myaquanotes.com/
Wanna look the biz and go Green? Haul is a great Australian business designing “rubbish” products from A4 satchels to MacBook sleeves from recycled billboard advertisements, licence plates and other trashy bits! Get some derelict style a la Zoolander @ www.haul.com.au

We took some time off to recharge, and now we’re back – excited to be joining you for another year of entrepreneurial ideas, opportunities, and action!!!  Grab some Friday Fun below and have a great weekend!

Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

We know it, so check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6MhAwQ64c0&feature=player_embedded

Use your skills to Make a World of Difference

The Vodafone Foundation – Australia is giving 5 Aussies the incredible opportunity to work for the charity of their choice for one year… they’ll pay your annual salary (up to $50,000) and expenses (up to $25,000)!  Jump online and complete the application form to let the Foundation know how you will make a world of difference for your chosen charity.  Entries close Wednesday 17 February (err… so be quick!).  Go to: www.vodafone.com.au/worldofdifference.

Be your own Media Monitor with Google Alerts

Want to know where your business is being seen and discussed online? Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results from web and news, based on your choice of query or topic!  Set alerts on your business name, your products and services, your competitors, your industry or key events and other relevant info.  They’re easy to set up and Alerts come straight your inbox!  Go to: www.google.com/alerts.

Understand complicated techno stuff – and use it in your biz!

If you’re like me and you are Gen Y in the “birth-year” sense but not in the “innate-understanding-of-all-things-technological” sense then Common Craft videos will be your saviour!  Famous for their super simple Youtube videos on everything from the web, blogs, social media and social networking to zombies, electing a US President and borrowing money!  Let Lee & Sachi LeFever (and faithful dog Amos!) explain the complicated world of Web 2.0 technology (and other complicated stuff) to you today:  www.commoncraft.com.       

Let TED Inspire You

We’ve said it before, get your fill of inspiration as well as heaps of free professional development from the world’s leading experts in everything from marketing and advertising to consumer behavior, creative thinking and social media.  TED = Technology, Entertainment & Deisgn and these days, it is OH so much more!  Set up a TED Talks feed at: http://feeds.feedburner.com/tedtalks_video (we promise there will be something there for you and your biz!).

Saucy PR and Other Promo Opportunities

Get connected with journos and others looking for your insight and expertise at the SourceBottle – a free subscription service for anyone looking to connect with opportunities to raise their profile!  SourceBottle also allows event coordinators to send out product requests for gift bags, conferences and events so you can get product samples and service offers in front of your target audience!  Jump on and Drink Up at www.sourcebottle.com.au 

Are you a Young Woman in Manufacturing?

The Department of Industry & Investment NSW has recently assisted the formation of a ‘Women in Manufacturing’ business cluster, designed to connect women manufacturers with like-minded professionals and opportunities for professional development.  If this is you, get more info and check out all of the NSW DII programs designed to support women in business at:  www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au.

With only a few weeks left till Christmas, Santa and his Elve’s are busy getting all these opportunities out to you!

Get into these opportunities quick!

Twitter for Entrepreneurs

We’ve all seen the Twitter model applied to organizational employees via Yammer, which encourages co-workers to share and collaborate by frequently answering (in 140 characters or less) the question, “What are you working on?”

Now Canadian startup Sprouter invites entrepreneurs to do the same thing as an opening for discussion, support and collaboration.

Sprouter is an online community that allows small business owners and entrepreneurs to share links, ask questions and share expertise with their peers. Whereas most social networks focus on connecting users with people they already know, the premise behind Sprouter is that it’s often the people one hasn’t yet connected with—but who share common goals and interests—that can be the most valuable resources. Accordingly, the site’s search function can help members find not just entrepreneurs in their area or industry, but also those who are discussing a topic of common interest—funding, for example. Members of the site can create profiles and start real-time discussions around any concept, company, association or event.

Sarah Prevette, Sprouter’s founder and CEO, explains: “The power of social networking by individuals has been made more than evident, and Sprouter is striving to create that same sense of community and sharing for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs face struggles on a daily basis—from how to get funding to the best business tools to use. Sprouter can provide the forum for real-time networking and collaboration so everyone can benefit from mistakes and successes.” Sprouter is free for users, and hopes to generate income through partnerships with venture funding agencies and small business associations.

Launched to the public just this week, Sprouter also hosts monthly events to bring local entrepreneurs together for in-person networking. The site’s community currently includes members from all over the world, including India, Australia, Europe and North America. One to try out for your own entrepreneurial edification…?

Website: www.sprouter.com
Contact: info@sprouter.com

2009 Online Diva’s Awards

Online Diva’s are a networking group that brings business women together who share a common vision; Running an Online Business and working in the Online World.

They are celebrating their 1 yr anniversary along with the 2009 Online Diva Awards!

All the juicy details:

Where: Hugo’s Lounge, 33 Bayswater Road Kings Cross

When: Thursday 19th November 2009, 8pm – 10pm

Packed with lots of FREE goodies such as:

• FREE entry
• FREE  cocktail on arrival
• FREE gourmet pizza

This is a FREE event with limited spaces available, RSVP to hollie@onlinedivas.com.au . Be sure to vote for your favourite ONLINE DIVA for 2009 at – www.onlinedivas.blogspot.com

Calling Youth Candidates for Parliament 2010

The YMCA has started the ball rolling in South Australia and is calling all candidates to express their interests from people aged 16 – 25 who are interested in running for the office for youth 2010.

If you know anyone or would like information sent to you please contact Sophie Rose on (08) 82002513 or via email sophie.rose@ymca.org.au.

Small Business Benchmarks

This is a great resource that helps with your financial projections when starting up. These Benchmarks provide a snapshot of how businesses in an industry are performing, on average, by providing a measure of various business costs in relation to turnover.

http://ato.gov.au/businesses/pathway.asp?pc=001/003/102&mfp=001/003&mnu=48610

Get stuck into our latest Opportunities Blast just for you and your growing business.

Young Entrepreneurs Workshop –THIS Saturday (13th June) in Sydney

This is a FREE event put on by The Frank Team for young entrepreneurs to help activate their ideas. Hear from successful young entrepreneurs, work on your business idea through innovative and practical workshops, and meet other local young business people out there making their ideas a reality. The day assists 16 – 28 year olds who have a business idea, are thinking about setting up a new business, or want to grow their existing business. More info http://www.youngentrepreneurs.net.au/young-entrepreneurs-workshop-activate-your-ideas.html

Show Me How Workshop – PR Secrets for Beginners

Would you love to get some coverage in the media to grow your business but don’t know where to start? Effective PR is important to any business for a number of reasons. Mainly because it raises your profile to your audience, positions you as an expert in your field, helps to build your database and most importantly INCREASES SALES! The Frank Team’s ‘PR Secrets for Beginners’ workshop will teach you how to be a self-sufficient PR gun with a toolbox full of strategies for getting you and your business the PR exposure to grow your business right now. Delivered by young entrepreneur Jonica Bray from Publicity Insider.
BOOK NOW http://www.youngentrepreneurs.net.au/prworkshop.html
(Yes we are looking at webstreaming/recording this – so if you can’t make it let us know and we will keep you updated with this option)

Announcing Frank Team Young Entrepreneur FORUMS

We are super excited to announce our Young Entrepreneurs online FORUM. Here is a place to connect with young people just like you, starting and running a business – share knowledge, get contacts, get advice…..and generally hang out! Go and introduce yourself right now http://www.youngentrepreneurs.net.au/forum/

Help Brand Australia

If you are an exporter or importer then you can help to Brand Australia with Austrade. Have your say in how to better position Australia as a trade and investment partner, so that it helps you grow your business. Get involved http://survey.austrade.gov.au/ .

QLD Young Entrepreneurs Camp

With UPLOAD, our friends at Edgeware offer stimulating, accessible, enjoyable explorations of enterprise development and entrepreneurial skills, delivered through a series of interactive, hands-on workshops with expert trainers and young, real-world entrepreneurs. Check it out
http://www.edgeware.com.au/upload.htm

Take advantage of the Australian governments tax exemption http://www.creditcardfinder.com.au/30-percent-tax-break-for-business-owners-2009.html

DELL has also got some great end of Financial Year deals going on that you may like to take advantage of! Get into it.

If you have an opportunity you would like to share with other young entrepreneurs, let us know.

Stepping Up Program – ONE Spot Left

The Frank Team’s highly successful Young Entrepreneurs Stepping Up Program starting on May 27th has only ONE more spot available. We have 15 very eager young entrepreneurs all ready to go, and so can only take one more application for this intake. Get in quick with your application to be a part of our 6 week intensive business growth program which has workshops, networking and mentoring galour!

More info and application form for Young Entrepreneurs Stepping Up Program

Young Entrepreneurs MasterMind Group

The Frank Team has a new MasterMind group starting on May 18th for young entrepreneurs. This group will meet monthly to learn, connect & discuss business to help grow to the next level. A guest speaker will present at each session, as well as facilitated discussion around key business issues and the setting of personal business goals that the group will keep you accountable for. Only 10 – 15 young entrepreneurs per group. If you are interested to join please contact us jessica@frankteam.com.au

Media Alert – New Channel 9 TV Show Wants Biz Talent

A new show by Channel 9 called “Money for Jam” is looking for some young entrepreneur talent to feature! They want to hear from young biz peeps who are running their business part-time, while they are studying school or uni, doing it on the side, for a little extra cash, or to help support the family. You can be any age and in any industry. They would prefer that you are from Sydney, NSW, Melbourne or Brisbane – due to tight filming deadlines.

The show is about the innovative and resourceful ways that people are making money in the current climate. They would like a regular feature on a young entrepreneur.

So if you fit the criteria (or someone you know fits the criteria) and are interested in being featured then please contact us jessica@frankteam.com.au or (02) 95186244 and we will get your details and forward to the producer.

Get Chatting & Sharing – New Young Entrepreneurs Forum

The Frank Team has just launched its online forum for young entrepreneurs. This is a great place to meet other young entrepreneurs just like you, share ideas and advice, promote you and your business and hear about great opportunities.

We know that any time we have an event or at our workshops the young entrepreneurs LOVE learning from each other, hearing each other’s ideas and advice, and being inspired by each other and your achievements. So to help keep these conversations going and to start more, we have created a forum space for young entrepreneurs.

We have started a few topic areas and will add to these. So go and GET CHATTING – start off with introducing yourself and your business to everyone! And yes, all of the posts are indexed by google – yey!

Biz Awards- Get Noticed & Rewarded

There are a heap of business awards up for grabs at the moment that we suggest you consider entering. Biz awards are a great way to learn more about your business and analyse it from an outsiders point of view. There are a heap of great prizes up for grabs, and of course the profile and publicity is great for business  if you are a finalist or winner! So get in there now and take your marketing time to enter some of these awards:

Smart Company’s HOT 30 Under 30 – you gotta get in TODAY to enter this one (entries close May 8th). They are looking for the top 30 young entrepreneurs under the age of 30.

Essentially for Women Award – this one offers a business and life makeover for women, pretty cool!

Sydney University Alumni Awards – if you attended Sydney University then this would be a great one to enter.

Telstra BusinessWomen Award – this has a great selection of categories to enter, including one for Young Business Women.

My Business Awards - these have been running for a while and are a great way to gain exposure.

Work from Home? Need some help? FREE Events

We know many young entrepreneurs who start out working from home, and then even have a home office aswell as an office. Working from home and setting up there (often in your parents home!) can have its own challenges. Home Based Biz Week is a great way to learn more about how to make it work for you. It runs from 25th – 29th May.

And even if you don’t work from home the events during HBBW look pretty good and they are free – so why not  take advantage of them!

If you want to run an event there is still time to be added – so ask quickly!

Job Opportunity at The Frank Team

The Frank Team is currently looking for a full time sales and marketing manager. If you or anyone you know is interested then please contact us for a full job description and application details.

If you hear of an opportunity that you know young entrepreneurs could make the most of then please let us know an we will spread the word!

Wanna get these opporutunities emailed to you? Email us info@frankteam.com.au with SUBSCRIBE TO YTREP OPPS

Soooo much juicy goodness happening.

Sink your teeth into these opportunities below and action them ASAP to start reaping the rewards for you and your business!

If you want to receive these opportunities as an email update then please send an email with SUBSCRIBE TO YTREP OPPORTUNITIES to jessica@frankteam.com.au . We send them out every fortnight.

Need help taking your product to market? Free Workshop

Our wonderful friends at ATP Innovations (http://www.atp-innovations.com.au ) have told us about an awesome workshop coming up that you are invited to. And the best part – it is FREE to attend…woo hoo, lovin it! But get in quick as places are limited to 8.
This workshop is designed for entrepreneurs with physical products.

When: Tuesday 31st of March 10am to 12pm Where: ITL Design & Manufacturing, Suite 111 National Innovation Centre, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh, NSW 1430 Exclusive & intimate, places limited to 8. To book your place, please contact ITL Design at (tell em you heard about it through The Frank Team!):
[e] info@itldesign.com [t] 02 8394 4800

Want to be featured in a national publication?

The Frank Team has been contacted by a journalist from a weekly national publication. If this sounds like you (below), then contact us now!
- You are under the age of 25
- You have created a really original and interesting business that is making money for you
- You live somewhere in Australia and your are Australian
- You are happy to be interviewed and photographed for a feature in a national publication
- They are particularly interested in young female entrepreneurs……so speak up girls!
Please contact jessica@frankteam.com.au before Tuesday 24th March to be considered. Please tell us who you are, where you live, what is your business & why your business is original, interesting and successful.
The Frank Team will then compile a list to forward to the journalist for them to consider. The Frank Team will also be mentioned in this article – yey!!!

FREE subscription to Smart Capital Magazine

Smart Capital Magazine is ASSOB’s new mag. First edition will be out May 1st.
It features some of the fastest growing unlisted companies in Australia. It will take you behind the scenes and into the homes, offices and minds of the entrepreneurs driving these businesses. Smart Capital will be an inside source to identify high growth opportunities in the unlisted sector PLUS an awesome way to promote your business to investors.
Anyone registering on the site gets a free 6 Month subscription and goes into the draw for an Apple iPhone – I am up for that!!! Head straight to www.smartcapitalmagazine.com.au for your free 6 month subscription.

How to Raise Capital in 2009 as an Unlisted Company; SEMINAR – 2 FREE tickets available

This seminar is highly valuable for our advanced young entrepreneurs who are looking at raising capital for their business ideas. It has very hands-on information and is delivered in plain English; just how we like it here at The Frank Team! This 3-hour seminar will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing all companies seeking to raise capital in today’s challenging economic climate, in particular unlisted companies.
This seminar comes highly recommended to us.
You will learn what investors are looking for right now, how to value your business, strategies to increase your success in raising capital and be given real life examples. There is detailed analysis of successes & failures (warts & all approach), low cost business development strategies and much more. And all for only $195. TO register go to http://assobsydney.eventbrite.com/
We are lucky enough, thanks to the support of ASSOB, to offer 2 free tickets to this seminar on 21st April in Sydney. In order to be considered for one of these tickets you need to contact The Frank Team and tell us about you, your business and why you desperately need to have a free ticket to “How To Raise Capital in 2009″. From these entries, with ASSOB, we will select the 2 winners. Entries close 31st March 2009.

Free “How to Do Twitter” Session in Sydney CBD

Do you keep hearing “Twitter is awesome,” or “I heard about it on Twitter” or “watch out or i’ll Twit you!”…..and you want to know how to get started for real and get the most out of it for yourself and your business? Well, Mark Pollard is sharing his Twitter knowledge to those who want to learn more. This session has been recommended to us by one of our YESUP young entrepreneurs (thanks Amanda). The sessions will be running in April. I am totally going along – hope to see you there!
5 things you will take out of it
1. Why so many of us think it’s (Twitter) good
2. How to get started
3. How to find momentum and rhythm
4. How to let it impact your real life
5. Tools to enjoy it with
To register contact mark markboogie@gmail.com . More info at http://www.markpollard.net/free-twitter-sessionsin-sydney-cbd/

Monthly Opportunities with IGNITE

If you aren’t already subscribe to IGNITE, The Frank Team’s monthly enewsletter we suggest you sign up now. It is always packed with a heap of awesome opportunities from across Australia and the world for you to make the most of. We collect these opportunities through all sorts of avenues and then jam em together for ya! Plus. we have a feature article and a profile of a young entrepreneur in every edition to inspire you and build your knowledge. Everyone who gets it always tells us how much they love it and use it.
Sign up at www.frankteam.com.au/ignite

Global Student Entrepreneur Awards – more info

The GSEA Australia program is the premier award competition for undergraduate students that own and run a business while attending college or university. Nominees compete against their peers from across Australia in August with the winners representing Australia at the 2009 GSEA Global Finals Competition in Chicago, USA
during October 21st and 22nd! HURRY!! The deadline to nominate and apply for the GSEA Australia competition is 30 June 2009!!
Did we mention PRIZES?! The winners of the GSEA Australia Competitions will win a prize package plus a trip to Chicago, USA during October 2009 to represent Australia at the GSEA Global Finals Competition. The Global Finals Competition has a prize package valued at over US$100,000!
Step 1: Browse to www.gsea.org , click the “Nominate Now” button, and complete the online nomination form. Any questions contact Rob robert@customware.net who is the Australian guru for GSEA!

Some $$ for Making Your Biz Family Friendly

This is for young entrepreneurs who have staff.
The Australian Government has introduced the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family grants program to help small businesses put in place flexible working arrangements. The program provides grants for $5,000 to $15,000 (GST inclusive) to successful small businesses to put in place family friendly arrangements that suit the individual needs of your business. It is for small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations and improve employee retention and productivity. The current funding round will close on 24 April 2009.
Eg You could apply for funding for some of these ideas
Hold a ‘Bring your Child to Work’ day or a family picnic day
Job sharing arrangements
Technology set up that will allow some employees to work from home on certain days
Creating/building a children’s area at your place of work
More info http://www.deewr.gov.au/WorkplaceRelations/FreshIdeas/Pages/default.aspx

Get Noticed & Rewarded – Telstra Business Awards

Nominations and entries are now open in the 2009 Telstra Business Awards. These awards are a great way to promote your business. Marketing and promotion are crucial to surviving the hard times and the Telstra Business Awards give small and medium companies the chance to really stand out. Businesses will be judged on a range of criteria including growth, customers, people, innovation and financials, and Award winners will share in up to $400,000 in cash and prizes. Enter at http://www.telstrabusinessawards.com/ There are 5 award categories:
• businessowner Micro-Business Award – For businesses with five employees or fewer.
• MYOB Small Business Award – For businesses with more than five employees, but less than or equal to 20 employees.
• Panasonic Australia Medium Business Award – For businesses with more than 20 employees, but less than or equal to 200 employees.
• AMP Innovation Award – For businesses that have successfully introduced an innovation.
• Sensis Social Responsibility Award – For demonstrated leadership and contribution by a business to the environment, people, education or the community.

Winners of the ASES UTS Free tickets – from last fortnight

Congrats to: Marcus Layton, Michael Cao, Samatha Dybac, Clint Salter, Ryan Cross, Maria Park, Brad Rushworth, Mary Nguyen, Michael Birchall, Eddy Ang.
We were inspired by the 3 speakers at the event. My personal favourite was Mike from Atlassian whose presentation was frank, thoughtful and humourous. Congrats to UTS ASES group for your first event.

If you have an opportunity you would like us to share with other young entrepreneurs, please send it through to jessica@frankteam.com.au

Yours in entrepreneurial spirit.
Keep livin’ the dream.