Sydney’s premier networking event launches with great community interest
6 June 2012 – The night was wet and cold but the reception was warm and cosy for 66 Meet-Ups, a networking group launched to bring together Sydney’s creative entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, start-up mentors, investors, media and local officials on a quarterly basis.
Behind 66 Meet-Ups is Sydney-based start-up AroundYou, which operates Australia’s leading what’s on website, in collaboration with the City of Sydney.
Launch proceedings kicked off before a full house at Madison’s Café Restaurant in Darlinghurst with a welcome talk by AroundYou CEO, Mike Dovey.
“As one of the start-up companies based in the subsidised office spaces on 66 Oxford Street provided by the City of Sydney, AroundYou was given the opportunity to connect with other start-ups from a variety of fields early this year. So we have decided to expand upon the idea of bringing more start-ups together to help one another grow and succeed through 66 Meet-Ups”, Mr Dovey said.
The Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore MP, the night’s guest of honour, gave an inspiring talk on how the City of Sydney would like to do more to support the growing Sydney start-up ecosystem.
“What a fantastic turn out here tonight. It is exactly the sort of outcome the City was hoping for when we set up 66 Oxford Street as an affordable centre for start-ups and young creatives. We know that start-ups need a supportive environment that allows for experimentation and yes, for failure as well. This is why we are supporting start-ups with affordable work spaces. We are now also looking at ways that the City of Sydney could broker relationships between start-ups and investors”, the Lord Mayor explained.
Start-up guru and co-founder of Fishburners, Peter Davison, presented real-life case studies contrasting the journeys of four Aussie start-ups – leaving the audience with interesting discussion points for the night.
“Instead of trying to emulate Silicon Valley, a mature ecosystem of investors, entrepreneurs and acquirers, Sydney can provide opportunities for the new breed of bedroom entrepreneur. We need to start out by giving local start-ups the opportunity to learn from each other, network and talk to the big end of town.
“Doing so might trigger an industry of successful small businesses, creating jobs and bringing in money. With a little luck, one or two Silicon Valley-like success stories might emerge”, Mr Davison said.
AroundYou and the City of Sydney would like to thank everyone who came to the 66 Meet-Ups launch and made it a success.
Check out our launch photos and feel free to tag yourselves and the people you know. You can also like us on Facebook, connect with us on LinkedIn and follow us @66MeetUps on Twitter, if you aren’t already doing so.
Your feedback and suggestions are important to us. You can also send us community announcements we could air on your behalf at the next 66 Meet-Up. Simply send your comments below.
See you at the next 66 Meet-Up in September!
