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Australia’s 100 most innovative products
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Anthill Magazine has just announced the companies included in its inaugural ‘SMART 100’ Index.
The SMART 100 Index was developed with global market research agency Colmar Brunton to identify and rank Australia’s 100 most innovative products. |
Recognition for SoftwareShortlist
SoftwareShortlist is proud to have been named in the SMART 100, which puts it in good company with other innovative Australian firms such as RedBubble, 99Designs, Aconex, Cone-Head, and spellr.us.
The award provides further validation of SoftwareShortlist’s unique online service to compare software for small business. The site’s beta launch in February 2009 has been well-received by software buyers and vendors alike, and work is underway to expand SoftwareShortlist’s service to include more types of business software, such as accounting software, email marketing software, and IT help desk software.
About the SMART 100
Over 861 companies were nominated by Anthill readers, and invited to submit a detailed application form describing their innovation. The SMART 100 were selected using the “wisdom of crowds” — in the form of 1600 “mavens” from Colmar Brunton’s online panel — to judge which innovations were most likely to succeed.
Full details of the SMART 100 winners can be found in the Apr/May/Jun 2009 edition of Anthill Magazine.
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Trigora has just been awarded a $70,000 grant for SoftwareShortlist.com, as part of the Commercialising Emerging Technology (COMET) program.
COMET is a competitive, merit based program that supports individuals, early-growth stage and spin off companies to improve their potential for successful commercialisation of their innovation. It is administered by AusIndustry (part of the Australian Federal Government’s Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) with support provided through a network of private sector COMET business advisors.
Obviously we’re very pleased about this!
The COMET grant will accelerate our efforts with SoftwareShortlist.com, enabling us to tap into expertise in key areas of the business. We will initially focus on market research and validation studies, in collaboration with selected partners and suppliers. And the timing is perfect, with our beta launch due at the start of February.
The COMET grant also means we are well placed to extend upon our IP strategy. Working with Duncan Bucknell we have lodged provisional patent applications in Australia and the US – but we can now proceed confidently with the full (PCT) patent applications, wider trademark protection, and other IP issues.
Trigora is also assembling an advisory board to raise our governance standards, give us access to expert input, and challenge our thinking with fresh perspectives. Plus co-founders Craig and Xavier will participate in the ANZATECH Gateway to the US program, culminating in a 3 day summit in Silicon Valley in October.
So, a big thanks from us to AusIndustry, the Australian Government, and of course our COMET business advisor Jim Paulyshyn. It’s going to be a big year!
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Today we’re pleased to be able to show you a sneak peek at SoftwareShortlist.com. But first, a quick update…
Recent progress
Final testing is wrapping up this week, our provisional patents were filed yesterday, and hosting has been arranged. We’ve received great support from vendors and we will spend the next few weeks setting up all the necessary content in our first few niches. Beta launch should occur mid to late November.
A glimpse at SoftwareShortlist.com
(Note: the specific content shown below is fictional and for testing purposes only, hence the blurred out logos and text)
Homepage for SoftwareShortlist
Example Results Page
Here are two screenshots from our staging site showing (1) Home Page (2) Results comparison page.
The home page is the start of the software selection process, which essentially involves a quick yet robust online “interview” for the user about their software requirements. After providing this information, the user is shown a recommended shortlist of software tailored to their needs.
As you can see, we have focused on providing an easy side-by-side comparison of the software. Results can be saved for later retrieval, or emailed to others who may be involved in the decision process. Detailed product information is available by clicking on any of the solutions shown, from which the user can also visit the vendor website, ask to be contacted, or purchase the software.
We look forward to unveiling the full site very soon…
