Big thinking builds rapid startup success

AUDIO TECHNOLOGY platform Whooshkaa celebrates its second anniversary this month, and in just two years has evolved from a one-man startup into Australia’s largest podcast host.

Whooshkaa

AUDIO TECHNOLOGY platform Whooshkaa celebrates its second anniversary this month, and in just two years has evolved from a one-man startup into Australia’s largest podcast host.

The platform has enabled audio content creators to generate ad dollars in a largely untapped space, and connects Australian listeners to thousands of podcasts and over four million streams every month.

Despite the startup’s stellar rise, founder Rob Loewenthal is reluctant to say he’s made it. Podcasting may have been Whooshkaa’s ticket to success, but the company is continually looking for new ways to serve consumers’ growing appetite for audio content. “Audio technology is a big category, and podcasting is just part of that,” says Mr Loewenthal, who has forged partnerships with the likes of Amazon and Facebook.  Whooshkaa’s text-to-voice product uses Amazon technology to convert written material into audio, in 52 accents and 27 languages. Another top-end partnership has given Whooshkaa access to Facebook’s native audio player, while NewsCorp has several assets on Whooshkaa’s platform, including podcasts from The Australian, Sky News, Fox Sports and The Daily Telegraph. The company is also investing heavily in artificial intelligence, enabling fully automated audio and transcription to be created in less than 30 seconds.

Mr Loewenthal says he’ll never stop to rest on his laurels, adding that it’s essential for companies at all stages of their business journey to remain start-ups at heart. “The pace of change is so rapid that all companies, even large corporates, need to adopt the mentality of innovate, tinker, trial and error,” he says. “You can never stop to congratulate yourself – once you stop innovating, you die.”

Whooshkaa is one of 200 Australian movers and shakers involved in last year’s inaugural Westpac Businesses of Tomorrow program. The initiative seeks to recognise and reward businesses with the drive to shape Australia’s future, and for Mr Loewenthal, it unlocked invaluable networking opportunities. “Being part of the program provided me with introductions to entrepreneurs on similar journeys, and led to meetings with people I never thought were possible,” he said. “I’d definitely encourage other businesses to get involved. By participating, you’ll meet likeminded people who can help you, and you might even have the chance to help them, too.”

Westpac launched the Businesses of Tomorrow program as part of its bicentennial celebrations last year, recently launching the 2018 program with applications open until 8 April.

“We saw some really impressive businesses as part of our 2017 program across many industries like healthcare, retail, publishing, technology, education and manufacturing,” said Ganesh Chandrasekkar, General Manager of Westpac SME Banking. “A Business of Tomorrow can be large or small, working in any industry across metropolitan or regional Australia, and doesn’t need to be a Westpac customer.”

This year, a panel of independent experts from Deloitte and Westpac will select the top 200 businesses who will receive a three-day Melbourne Business School program and access to the Businesses of Tomorrow network among other money can’t buy experiences.

A prestigious panel including Tim Fung, CEO and co-founder of Airtasker and Westpac director Alison Deans will then select the top 20 businesses who will win a two-week study tour to the US, one-on-one mentoring, a professional services package worth $50,000 and further media recognition.

The mentors include business leaders such as former Westpac CEO Gail Kelly, McDonald’s Australia CEO Andrew Gregory, Mecca cosmetics founder and CEO Jo Horgan and Airtasker CEO and Co-founder Tim Fung.

To apply go to https://businessesoftomorrow.com.au/

Originally published as Big thinking builds rapid startup success