Catching 22

For the first Catching 22 episode of 2016, Grant and Eamon pay a visit to the Majoran [https://majoran.co] coworking space to talk to an Aussie back from Silicon Valley for his Christmas holidays. Jindou Lee CEO from HappyCo talks to our hosts about his journey with his company’s product “Happy Inspector”. As a property investor in Adelaide, Jindou experienced first hand the pain of paper based property inspections created by property management companies. A digital report produced on the first generation iPad was a logical improvement and with this product they are growing a company in Silicon Valley. GUEST * Jindou Lee,@jindoulee [https://twitter.com/jindoulee],www.happyco.com [http://www.happyco.com] HOSTS * Eamon Pielow,@EamonPielow [https://twitter.com/EamonPielow],LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/eamonpielow] * Grant Hull,@gbuffer [https://twitter.com/gbuffer],LinkedIn [http://au.linkedin.com/in/granthull] CONCEPTS AND THEMES * A time of adjustment when entering the workforce, wanting to use creativity only to have it stifled by employers or clients. * Leaving Adelaide to be stretched, for opportunities and for legitimacy. * Growing up and out of the games industry. * Starting Web development and App companies. * Identifying a pain points and needs through firsthand experience. * Selling concept to potential customers before the product is finalised. * Working backwards from what customers value to create the software. * Moving to Sydney to join Statemate, as a good steppingstone to the US. * Vital takeaway from Statemate was learning to fundraise. * How fundraising is like dating. * The 5 things Capital sources look for: * The problem * The solution * The business model * The market size * How you will execute on it * Unable to raise capital in Australia until finding success overseas. * Earning the first money is really hard but after the first says yes more want to come onboard. * Pitching to US vs Australia. * How investment changes business and culture. * How to maintain culture and comparing Australian culture to US. * The company inherits the nature and character of the founder, or founding team. * The Beer test, hanging out with someone to make sure they are a cultural fit. * Adelaide knows how to get by, to make do and create something out of nothing. * Funding pays for experienced people helping to accelerate faster. * Wanting to give back to Australia and Adelaide. * Strengths when smaller which becomes an impediment to being larger. * Actual data and reporting requires you to be real with yourself and investors. * Don’t hire lazy people. * Order of new hires: * Support * Sales * Marketing * And the product team grew across time. * Raise more capital and get there quicker. * Moving from a minimal viable product to their product today. * Growing the Pie into other industries. * Interactions into other’s systems and moving to API’s. * Staying paranoid is a good thing, but don’t dwell on what your competitors are doing * Deep dive to understand your customers’ pain points and solve these. * If you don’t stay ahead of your team they will leave in search of someone else to lead them. LINKS * Start mate interview: http://startmate.com.au/happy-inspector [http://startmate.com.au/happy-inspector] * ANZA TECH interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62TlFvUvUSo [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62TlFvUvUSo] * Majoran – Tech & Creative Coworking Community [https://majoran.co] BOOKS, PODCASTS AND ONLINE THINGS * ONLINE: * Christoph Janz – Blog: http://christophjanz.blogspot.com.au [http://christophjanz.blogspot.com.au] * Jordan Belfort – Straight Line Persuasion – http://jordanbelfort.com [http://jordanbelfort.com] * BOOKS: * Many titles by Tony Robbins * Good to Great [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1519745265/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687582&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=185686863X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=04G68T480JCF34X6472Y] – Jim Collins LISTEN TO THE EPISODE OR SUBSCRIBE

In this Episode Grant flies solo and spends time talking to Explorer and Environmentalist Tim Jarvis AM while his co-host Eamon spends time getting over a cold. (Best wishes for fast healing Eamon) With a Masters in environmental science and environmental lawand only last year being announced as WWF-Australia Global Ambassador, Tim is amply qualified to explore the topic of climate change, which in our option is one of the world’s most vexing Catch 22s. Be sure to donate to the cause at theIndigogo Page >> [https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/climb-it-change-the-time-for-action-is-now#/] GUEST * Tim Jarvis AM,@TimJarvisAM [https://twitter.com/TimJarvisAM],www.timjarvis.org [http://www.timjarvis.org] HOSTS * Eamon Pielow,@EamonPielow [https://twitter.com/EamonPielow],LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/eamonpielow] * Grant Hull,@gbuffer [https://twitter.com/gbuffer],LinkedIn [http://au.linkedin.com/in/granthull] CONCEPTS AND THEMES * Cognative Dissonance of day to day life and climate change * The Arctic and how to ward of polar bears * No Dogs in the South Pole * Retracing Douglas Mawson’s Journey to the South Pole * Weight loss across the journey * Ernest Shackleton’s expeditions * Exploring Antarctica today even with technology, the possibility of death is very real. * Recreating Shackleton’s infamous two week, 1,500km journey from elephant Island to South Georgia * Eating Pemmican – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemmican [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemmican] * Leadership qualities of Shackleton, never losing sight of the WHAT but modifying the HOW to suit the circumstances. * 25Zero expedition and how Tim’s Shackleton’s journey helped Tim consider the extended question of humanity’s own survival * Glaciers are considerably affected by climate change, very noticeable on equatorial mountains * Climbing 3 mountains while COP21 [http://www.cop21paris.org/] is on * 21 years of climate talks and still no legally binding agreement for reduction in carbon emission * Presidents like Obama and François Hollande might like to leave a legacy * INDC [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intended_Nationally_Determined_Contributions] Intended Nationally Determined Contributions * Catch 22 at the individual level: Climate change to the average person feels too complicated to warrant even trying * Hard to believe that an individual can have an effect * Fossil Fuel Subsidies * Keep it in the Ground [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/series/keep-it-in-the-ground] Guardian Newspaper * We cannot burn what we have in reserves, yet oil and gas companies are still looking for more * Using your superannuation as a lever to discourage the fossil fuel industry * Need a staged withdrawal from fossil fuel and those who are most capable of withdrawing should! * Challenges of Software development – using the same strategies to accomplishing an expedition to successfully negotiate a software project * The Martian Movie is a Shackleton Story * Exploring Mars as a new frontier * There is nothing like first hand experience to learning things about our world LINKS * http://25zero.com [http://25zero.com]– Current Expedition * Indigogo Page to Donate [https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/climb-it-change-the-time-for-action-is-now#/] * Tim Jarvis on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Jarvis [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Jarvis] * Tim’s Shackleton Expedition – http://shackletonepic.com [http://shackletonepic.com] * Tim on Vimeo –https://vimeo.com/channels/timjarvisam [https://vimeo.com/channels/timjarvisam] * COP21 –www.cop21paris.org [http://www.cop21paris.org/] * Keep it in the Ground [http://www.theguardian.com/environment/series/keep-it-in-the-ground]Guardian Newspaper BOOKS, PODCASTS AND ONLINE THINGS * BOOKS: * I Come From The Stone Age – Heinrich Harrer www.amazon.com/Come-From-The-Stone-Age/dp/B000J65NTS [http://www.amazon.com/Come-From-The-Stone-Age/dp/B000J65NTS](to understand the climb) * MOVIES: * The Martian –www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/] * Sherper – www.imdb.com/title/tt3746250 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3746250/] LISTEN TO THE EPISODE OR SUBSCRIBE

This Episode we (Eamon and Grant) spend some time reflecting on the first 10 Catching 22 episodes, commenting on our highlights and surprised takeaways. We also spend a good amount of time discussing one of Grant’s favourite market assessment / product development techniques “Jobs to be Done”. We wrap up our chat with a commentary about books and movies we’ve recently enjoyed and drop a few hints about some of the guests we have planned for future episodes. HOSTS * Eamon Pielow,@EamonPielow [https://twitter.com/EamonPielow],LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/eamonpielow] * Grant Hull,@gbuffer [https://twitter.com/gbuffer],LinkedIn [http://au.linkedin.com/in/granthull] CONCEPTS AND THEMES * That being an entrepreneur is a challenging journey. * The lessor known effects that content piracy has on the Australian film industry. * That Android and iOS are now different enough that their unique interface paradigms should respected by developers. * Jobs to be done (JTBD) as a very good tool for evaluating why people use software and everyday objects. * Clayton Christensen’s Milkshake example for JTBD * Teaching content about JTBD as part of the University of Adelaide’s Tech eChallenge program LINKS * Adelaide Uni’s eChallenge –www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge/ [https://www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge/] * JTBD – Jobs to Be Done website –jobstobedone.org [http://jobstobedone.org] * Clayton Christensen and Milkshakes: BOOKS, PODCASTS AND ONLINE THINGS * BOOKS: * Seven Steps to Accelerated Wealth [http://www.amazon.com.au/Steps-Accelerated-Wealth-Fast-track-Introduction-ebook/dp/B0074VTA2M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1442925479&sr=1-1] – John L. Fitzgerald * The Martian [http://www.amazon.com.au/Martian-Andy-Weir-ebook/dp/B00FAXJHCY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1442925578&sr=1-1&keywords=the+martian] – Andy Weir (www.andyweirauthor.com [http://www.andyweirauthor.com]) * MOVIES: * The Hunt – www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/] * Difference Drummers –www.imdb.com/title/tt2472742 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2472742/] * YouTube: * Film Riot – www.youtube.com/user/filmriot [https://www.youtube.com/user/filmriot] (Tommy Tiger Fang [https://youtu.be/6JpwdjOaL9U]) LISTEN TO THE EPISODE OR SUBSCRIBE

This Episode we invite Russell Ivanovic from Shifty Jelly into the studio to chat about what it is like to be an App developer who is making their own products. We learn about the transition from paid occupation to working on his own business, the experiences of having a number one app in the Apple App Store, success factors in developing Apps and the benefits of breaking a Non Disclosure Agreement with one of the worlds most successful internet companies. GUEST * Russell Ivanovic, @rustyshelf [https://twitter.com/rustyshelf]– www.shiftyjelly.com [http://www.shiftyjelly.com] HOSTS * Eamon Pielow,@EamonPielow [https://twitter.com/EamonPielow],LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/eamonpielow] * Grant Hull,@gbuffer [https://twitter.com/gbuffer],LinkedIn [http://au.linkedin.com/in/granthull] CONCEPTS AND THEMES * Publishing Apps in the early days * Apple’s rejection of apps and gradual easing of restrictions * How they decided to make a podcast app * Working with RSS Feeds * Popularity of their App on iPhone and enthusiasm from noisy Android enthusiasts eventually pushed Pocket Casts into Android * What makes Android their preferred platform these days? * The experience of working remotely with interstate team members * Experiences and experimenting with different online app stores * Broken promises and poor results with Amazon’s free app of the day and the meltdown of their server because of Amazon’s poor timing * Violating Amazon’s NDA through Shifty Jelly’s blog to explain Amazon’s exploitation of App developers * The importance of reading app store and developer  agreements * App Marketing Strategies for Apps * The App Store gold is rush over * The progression of: Be an App developer make millions! – Put an app in the store possibly make thousands. – Kickstart my app? – to finally I’m an app developer for hire, please give me a job! * Games have been spoiled by free to play * Contrasting fee-for-service and working on your own apps – in particular building apps for other entrepreneurs * The concern of the trap with fee-for-service * Trying to decide what projects to work on * Using constraints to enhance opportunity for innovation and novel ideas to emerge * Speed to market is imporant, more imporant than a good idea * What is Google’s Material? * Google’s response to PocketCast with Material * Appearing in the Advertiser news paper on the front page * Being invited to develop for Android Auto and Android Wear * Working with Andy Inako and Yasmine Evjen on the Material Podcast LINKS * Shifty Jelly: www.shiftyjelly.com [http://www.shiftyjelly.com] * Shifty Jelly Twitter:https://twitter.com/shiftyjelly [https://twitter.com/shiftyjelly] * Material Podcast:www.relay.fm/material [http://www.relay.fm/material] * News.com.au on their Material Win [http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/four-person-aussie-app-team-beats-billion-dollar-competition-to-take-out-google-design-award/story-fnjwucti-1227378625892] * Shifty Jelly Blog article on Amazon Store [http://blog.shiftyjelly.com/2011/08/02/amazon-app-store-rotten-to-the-core/] * Android Developers YouTube clip on Shifty Jelly and Material [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0r36OJaeMo4] BOOKS, PODCASTS AND ONLINE THINGS * BOOKS: * Anything byTerry Pratchett [http://www.amazon.com/Terry-Pratchett/e/B000AQ0NN8] * PODCASTS: * Science Vs (ABC) [https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/science-vs/id998250544?mt=2] * MOVIES: * Star Wars * Star Trek * Her [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/] * Ex Machina [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/] LISTEN TO THE EPISODE OR SUBSCRIBE

In an industry which is facing more Catch 22s than most and in a country (and state) where the odds are stacked against achieving success, is a film production company creating content and stories that really work. In this episode we talk to Sandy Cameron about the film industry in Australia and how Hedone Productions is doing business. We learn about the funding process and how technical and cultural trends present significant challenges to overcome in Australian Film Production. GUEST * Sandy Cameron, @sandycameron [https://twitter.com/sandycameron], LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/pub/sandy-cameron/2/426/809], Letterboxd [http://letterboxd.com/sandycameron/]sandy@headone.com.au [sandy@headone.com.au] HOSTS * Eamon Pielow,@EamonPielow [https://twitter.com/EamonPielow],LinkedIn [https://au.linkedin.com/in/eamonpielow] * Grant Hull,@gbuffer [https://twitter.com/gbuffer],LinkedIn [http://au.linkedin.com/in/granthull] CONCEPTS AND THEMES * Introduction to Hedone * Breakdown of funding options in Australian film * Distributors role in funding film including the advance on salesThe risk for Distributors to get a return and the risk is getting largerWith an advance on sales this can help to gain Equity from Screen bodies such as Screen Australia and South Australian Film CorporationThe Producers Offset available from Screen AustraliaPrivate investment and loans can make up the last portion * Eligibility for the Producers offset – defined by legislation and includes: * Theatrical release on a defined number of screens in a number of capital cities (500k and 6 theatres) making VOD strategies hard – but is becoming more flexible * Aim of the legislation is to create a gate * 80s was a time when there was a 150% tax deduction, leading to tax dodges on films that were never going to do well * Event Screenings and four-walling as a technique to launch films * Screen Australia’s funding cuts * “The Adelaide Tax” It is hard in SA to access the Market Finance. I.e. the distributors or broadcasters, you have to go interstate and overseas to markets * Other challenges include: * Audience awareness around australian films * Ticket Pricing and piracy * Language itself is an aid to foreign speaking countries – but australia has english so cannot play the localised content in mother tongue card * What is Australian film’s identity? Often alternative / indie and arthouse * We have a lot of high caliber people – Talent Leak to the places where the work is. * Copy Protection hurts the person doing the right thing more than the pirater who is unaware * Piracy is changing business models. * Piracy exist because they can but also because it is not available in the territories they habitat * Pre-selling into territories is being damaged my piracy because of the staggered nature of selling films to markets overseas * This means that pirating leads to diminished pre-sales, and without this it doesn’t trigger other funding opportunities so films cannot get made. * Piracy often hurts films trying to get made as much or more than films that area already in the market * They won’t buy something that has been pirated * Streaming as an opportunity e.g. Netflix – they are trying to wrap up the territories and break down those walls * They may become too big and the doors will be narrowed possibly leading to less diversity * But before you could just shop and eventually find an excited partner * But it should diminish piracy due to availability and price * Explanation of Co-production * The returns on films for $2 million need to make $5-$6 million to pay back all the investors only then can the producers earn profit. * The benefit of establishing a growing library that slowly builds residual income * Film allows more cooperation and co-production than tech startup because the exit comes so much sooner * Working as a husband and wife team * Advice to aspiring actors, writers and producers: * Make it personal / intentional * Keep it brief * Do lots of Networking * Casting is particular so don’t take it personally * Keep writing, write more than one story * Get professional / industry input into your script * Intern if possible * Get a mentor * Get early credits at assistant levels * Understand concepts and terminologies * Being a producer is likely to be a long road towards financial success. * Being a producer is like a fight LINKS * Hedone Productions:hedone.com.au [http://hedone.com.au/] * The Infinite Man on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/au/movie/the-infinite-man/id944226767] * The Guardian’s review of The Infinite Man [http://gu.com/p/4xjev/sbl] * Danger 5 on SBD [http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/danger-5]–Danger 5 on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danger_5]– @danger5tv [https://twitter.com/danger5tv] * South Australian Film Corporation: www.safilm.com.au [http://www.safilm.com.au] * Screen Australia:www.screenaustralia.gov.au [http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/] * Script Notes Podcast [http://johnaugust.com/scriptnotes] BOOKS, PODCASTS AND ONLINE THINGS * BOOKS: * American Pastoral [http://www.amazon.com/American-Pastoral-Philip-Roth/dp/0375701427] – Philip Roth * Robert McKee –http://mckeestory.com [http://mckeestory.com] * MOVIES: * Chinatown [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071315/] * The Godfather [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/] * Rosmary’s Baby [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/] * All the President’s Men [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119/] * The Parallax View [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071970/] * Documentary: Going Clear [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4257858/] LISTEN TO THE EPISODE OR SUBSCRIBE