Inaugural Meeting!!!

[Marita Cheng]

First Meetup:  Melbourne Hardware Startups Meetup Inaugural Meeting!

Location:  Richmond, Melbourne

Time: 18 April 2013, 6pm - 8pm.

This is the kick-off meeting of the meetup. Here's a loose agenda:

6:00pm - Hellos / Pizza Ordering / Talking

6:30pm - Hacker RoundTable, people talk about what they do and what issues the

group can help them with.

7pm-ish - Quick Demos / Talks (2 mins max each)

7:30pm - Eat Pizza / Talking

8:00pm - End

RSVP by joining this Google Group and email Marita mar...@gmail.com to get the address

[Marita Cheng]

Hello! 

It's great that we now have 23 people who are part of this community!

What projects is everyone working on?

Cheers,
Marita

[Mark Parncutt]

Hi Marita and the hardware startups group!

I built a water tank depth sensor for some tanks on our family farm.  Currently considering evolving this into a more comprehensive suite of farm-related sensors that I might be able to commercialise.

Cheers,

Mark

[Manish]

Hi Marita, this is a cool idea.

So I have been working on ARM SOC boards and running Linux and android on them. Interfacing to many chips like WiFi, GPS etc.
Create some sort of an embed system.
At the moment trying to modify the government provided TV multi socket power unit so that I can use the slave nodes without them timing out.

I enjoy general hacking around hardware but do not really have a concrete idea for startup yet. Although that is something that does interest me.

I have a amateur radio license and my call sign is vk3hax although I am rarely online.

[Johnathan Wu]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Johnathan and I’m from Sydney! I Fully support the hardware startups in Australia!

I’m currently in the process of preparing for two startups.

1.       CTzone.com.au – is a hardware design company focusing on creating accessories and futuristic furniture to improve the integrated experience of a computer user. Our first product, uChair - recently won the International A’design award in the furniture and homeware category.

2.       CTComputing.com.au – it’s an e-commerce store which focuses on selling custom gaming systems – we believe the future of computing devices will be rich in form factors (I’m thinking wearable technologies) and we will be seeing more 3D printers in people’s homes within the next couple of years. We’re on the verge of hardware revolution. There will also be innovations in the robotic sector to make way into our homes and offices. We want to be at the forefront of this.

If anyone requires advice and assistance on their startups – I’m here to help. I’m also a member at the Founder’s Institute (Early-stage startup accelerator and global launch network that helps entrepreneurs create meaningful and enduring technology companies.)

Best Regards,

Johnathan

[andyg]

hi All,

On Friday, 29 March 2013 20:25:00 UTC+11, Marita Cheng wrote:

What projects is everyone working on ?

It's been a bit quiet.  Hopefully, a few more people can be encouraged to share their projects / aspirations before the first meeting.

I'm currently working at a Melbourne hardware (and lots of software) start-up, which started as a KickStarter project.  The first six months have been summarised here ... http://blog.lifx.co/2013/04/03/htbaceismp1

It is now a very good time to be getting into this sort of venture.

cheers andyg (@geekscape)

[Jonathan Oxer]

Hi everyone,

Time for an introduction.

I've been involved in starting several businesses, some of which have gone well and others not so well. Either outcome is a big learning opportunity! In the technology space I started a business called Rotor Systems Research back around 1990 doing automotive electronics, but after initial enthusiasm I had no idea how to run the business properly or make it scale up. In retrospect it had far more potential than my limited skills and knowledge could take advantage of, and I suffer the usual "I wish I knew then what I know now" regret.

In 1994 I started another tech business, which initially did custom development using Internet-connected databases (using Mini SQL at the time, IIRC) and has since morphed into what is now known as Internet Vision Technologies, www.ivt.com.au. IVT now has about 27 staff in Melbourne and Sydney and primarily services the non-profit sector with online software for membership management, PD tracking, event management, etc.

In April 2010 I started another tech business, Freetronics (www.freetronics.com) in partnership with Marc Alexander, primarily to produce Arduino-related devices. Freetronics now has distributors all over the world, including Jaycar. Freetronics is structured very differently to IVT and it's been a big learning experience to have both the companies running in parallel, seeing the differences between a software business that relies on hardware, and a hardware business that relies on software.

There are other businesses that I've been involved with along the way, but these are probably the most relevant to a tech startup group. I'm looking forward to hearing from you all about your startups and learning how I can do things better in my own businesses.

Cheers

Jonathan Oxer

http://twitter.com/jonoxer

[Balazs Imri]

Hi Everyone,

I work in the environmental industry controlling weeds along waterways. I would like to design and build some hardware for this field.
I am also "working" on a "crowddone" space program on my own. It all started a year ago when I had enough of reading technews, and science news websites and wanted to do something cool instead.

I can only do these things as a hobby as of yet, so it is mostly just play and learning new things for me. I need to learn about engineering and business. I thought networking with other people would help me with these things, and might also help me motivate more to work harder on my projects.

Cheers,
Balazs

[Marita Cheng]

Hello!

We now have 38 members in the Melbourne Hardware Startups Group, which is really exciting!

The address is 19/2-6 New St, Richmond, 3121.  Just buzz number 19 at the main entrance to be let in.

I look forward to meeting you on Thursday night at 6pm!

Cheers,
Marita

[Luke Weston]

Unfortunately I forgot this was on, and it would have been over by the time I remembered and travelled over there. Sorry, maybe next time. :)

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[Marita Cheng]

Hi!

Thank you for coming along to the inaugural Melbourne Hardware Startups Meetup!  We had an awesome turnout of 15 people, and some great discussions on Kickstarter campaigns, manufacturing and raising money!

The next meet up will be the Melbourne Hardware Startups May Meetup!

Location:  19/2-6 New St, Richmond, Melbourne
Time: Thursday 23 May 2013, 6pm - 8pm.

Based on all your suggestions, and last time's experiences, here's a loose agenda:

6:00pm - Hellos / Pizza Ordering / Talking

6:15pm - Lightning talks (2 mins max each)
6:30pm - Speed dating (bring a few issues/ problems/ concerns you have with your startup and talk to every other person there about it)
7:15pm - Eat Pizza/ Talking
7:30pm - Hacker RoundTable, people talk about what they do and what issues the group can help them with
8:00pm - End

If there are any topics you want to discuss with the group, please feel free to start a Post about it in the Google Group.

Hope to see you at the May Meetup and look forward to continuing the discussions and supporting you in your hardware startups!

Cheers,
Marita




On Thursday, 21 March 2013 20:57:19 UTC+11, Marita Cheng wrote: