Sunshine Coast entrepreneurs descended on Myriad festival last week in Brisbane, a tech and innovation event connecting the biggest names in the start-up ecosystem.
The Sunshine Coast had an impressive footprint at Myriad, with 11 regional start-ups showcased, and representation from Sunshine Coast entrepreneurs on panel discussions and keynotes. Alongside official representation, more than 40 start-up advocates were seen supporting the Sunshine Coast at the 3-day tech event.
Inaugural Chief Entrepreneur, Mark Sowerby, is one of Queensland’s most successful entrepreneurs, and is best known for his role as the founder and former Managing Director of Blue Sky Alternative Investments Ltd.
When interviewed at Myriad by Steve Austin for ABC Radio Mornings, Mark Sowerby backed the future of Sunshine Coast as the most entrepreneurial area in the whole of Australia.
“There’s very much a community feel up there. After the financial crisis, the Sunshine Coast decided to do something about their own future,” said Mr Sowerby.
Sowerby attributed the innovation and entrepreneurship coming out of the Sunshine Coast to the people and community that have connected the dots to support such a unique culture.
However, the Sunshine Coast’s one key weakness that Sowerby mentioned, was the amount of software engineers produced by local education providers including the University of the Sunshine Coast.
“When I asked the university how many software engineers they are producing, and they told me it was 5. It needs to be 500,” said Mr Sowerby.
“They need an army up there, because everything else is in place.”
Listen to the full interview at: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/brisbane/programs/mornings/mark-sowerby-myriad/8405500