If you see choreographed lights in the Benalla sky in the new year, don’t worry — the aliens are not invading.
Well, probably not. The more likely explanation is that Bel Cook, and her team of 15 digital ninjas, have perfected their drone light show technology.
This week (November 14-21) is Global Entrepreneurship Week and there’s never been a better time for locals to take a leaf out of Ms Cook’s book and back their business idea.
And innovative local initiative Startup Shakeup is here to help.
Startup Shakeup is a local not-for-profit that supports startups and small businesses in north-east Victoria to grow.
Startup Shakeup Project Coordinator Clare Fitzgerald said it’s using this week’s global festival of entrepreneurship to remind locals that being based in regional Victoria was an advantage, not a barrier, to success.
“We meet so many locals who have a fantastic business idea but are held back by the fear of doing it alone,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“But all the help you need is right here in our region, and Startup Shakeup provides an incredible network and knowledge to support you.”
Ms Cook is a great example of how a good idea and hard work can be the catalyst for success.
With 10 years’ experience working in the digital landscape in Sydney under her belt, Ms Cook had been harbouring a desire to open her own studio.
With no solid plan she quit her job and moved to Alice Springs where she found the digital landscape expensive and lagging behind.
“I decided to start Digitally Buzzed then and there, with the most up-to-date tech knowledge and skills I had,” Ms Cook said.
“I thought I could make a real difference to the community — particularly the Indigenous communities where everything is so remote.”
The support of family, friends and old colleagues was integral to her success
“There were so many times I had doubts whether I would make it through the ups and downs of business,” she said.
“But everyone I knew had every faith in me and supported me through my doubts.”
Ms Cook persisted and grew her business through accepting all types of jobs from small websites to SEO, project management and consulting.
“I initially started my business with just myself, over time I had convinced the best people that I had worked with in the industry to jump on some project to help,” she said.
“Eventually I poached them on to my team. Starting a business is tough and exposure is everything.
“I got in front of as many people as I could — talks, seminars, business groups, online advertising, signing up on tender lists.”
Ms Cook is now based in Benalla and is growing her business and her team, which now has 15 ‘digital ninjas’.
She has exciting plans for the region.
“With the creation of our drone light show technology this will be our next service offering that we will be delivering and getting just right, to be fully market-ready,” she said.
“Our goal is to make Benalla the first country Victorian region to have a drone light show and we have plans to deliver one in the new year which we’re super excited about.
“I think it's really important for the regional areas to showcase talent and services that can compete with those in the big cities.
“Technology can be quite scary or overwhelming for businesses that have used traditional systems or processes within their business.
“I would say the biggest support for any regional business would be for their clients to be open-minded to newer methods and solutions.”
Ms Cook will be talking at a Startup Shakeup meetup in Benalla on November 30. Find out more about Digitally Buzzed on Facebook @digitallybuzzed.
For more information on Startup Shakeup, visit www.startupshakeup.org