This spring week, we flung our Melbourne doors wide open to a bank security expert, a seasoned IT journalist, a pair of young men selling award-winning baby prams online, and handfuls of inspiration-finders, idea-seekers and curious-lookers – who marched into our office as Startup Walkabout; a tour checking in at Australia’s thriving startup scene.
It was a glorious day set to 33 °C, and Nitronauts welcomed the 18 Walkabouts at noon with true tales tracking our journey from a scrappy startup in 2005 to the lauded, international delight that we are now.
The afternoon opened with a warm introduction of Nitro by Adam Nowiski, Regional Sales Manager, who paved the way for Shaun Arsana, Customer Success and Support Manager and one of our longest serving Nitronauts, to bring to fore the many ways we’ve retained our startup spirit in the way we communicate with our customers and teammates, and the way we do business locally and abroad.
Check out the rest of the photos on our Facebook album.
It was lovely to see larger smiles and nodding heads among the group when Chloe Fitzgerald, Nitro’s Operations Manager, stepped up to share examples of Nitronaut culture beyond the standard startup perks; from regular team events such as zip-lining and popular family days, to body and mind programs, to Nitro Nauties; our Nitro women’s social group.
Following a sumptuous Italian buffet lunch by Corner & Bench, we kicked off a traditional post-lunch Nitro activity; a fast-paced ping pong match which our visitors, Adrian Bole and Tim Lele won, fair and square.
From one fun day to the next; we will be on the turf at Dare Festival next Monday serving you the best coffee at University of Melbourne’s Copland Theatre when you register to this workplace happiness event, so come by to get your fix – it’s on us.
What’s Startup Walkabout?
The global movement Startup Walkabout began touring startup hot spots in Boston, USA, and now welcome walkers from New York, Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne.
In Australia, Startup Walkabout is part of the Startup Spring, an annual event coordinated by StartupAUS and Google.
Grant Downie, Principal at Innovaction and organizer of the Melbourne event, hopes to highlight the innovative commercialisation of Australian startups and bring awareness to the sector’s ability to help diversify the economy with entrepreneur events like Startup Walkabout.
