Create a free account, or log in

Meet the 2012 Future Makers

3. Zac Altman Business name: Taxi Pro Age: 20 State: NSW Zac Altman was an IT student at the University of Technology in Sydney when he entered a competition to design applications for Android smartphones. Altman’s app, Taxi Pro, came second in the competition, launched by Optus and National ICT Australia. It attracted more than […]
Oliver Milman

3. Zac Altman

  • 3-Zac-AltmanBusiness name: Taxi Pro
  • Age: 20
  • State: NSW

Zac Altman was an IT student at the University of Technology in Sydney when he entered a competition to design applications for Android smartphones.

Altman’s app, Taxi Pro, came second in the competition, launched by Optus and National ICT Australia. It attracted more than 40,000 users before it was formally advertised.

In addition to Taxi Pro, Altman founded UniRadar, a free events aggregator for university students.

He currently works for Sydney-based start-up Collusion, and has previously worked as an iOS developer at goCatch and Punchey.

“The first of several challenges was moving from an iPhone development mindset to an Android one… Taking advantage of these differences is what sets your application apart,” he says.

4. Taylah Hasaballah

Forced to scour op shops for clothes that she liked, Hasaballah struck upon the idea of launching an eCommerce site and accompanying blog to showcase little-known designers and offer something to shoppers who want something a little different.

The university student launched Tiger Temple at the start of 2012 and the impact has been immediate. A select range of designers – along with an in-house made brand – with 10 pieces each immediately sold, forcing Hasaballah to ramp up production.

Key to the site’s success has been its fully integrated use of social media, with 10,000 Facebook page views a week achieved through competitions, giveaways and interaction with users.

Hasaballah, who has been accepted into iLab, the Brisbane start-up incubator, also offers a different structure than most designers are used to.

“Many of them are faced with a 50% consignment rate, which isn’t good for them,” she says, “We offer consignment or wholesale and avoid having huge mark-ups. It allows customers to find clothes they won’t find anywhere else at a price that’s very competitive.”

The Brisbane young gun’s immediate goal is to hire staff for her burgeoning operation, before hitting 1,000 sales a week by next year.

“I want to be the market leader in street style, new designers and vintage clothing,” she says. “I think we’ll get there. A big advantage is that I am part of the market I’m selling to. There’s no better way to understand your customers than that.”

5. Elliott Donazzan

Donazzan became interested in the concept of online auctions while running an eBay-based business in school.

He then persuaded his cousin to join him and launch One Cent Flights in January this year and is forecasting $1 million revenue next year.

The site works by putting flights up for auction with users able to make a non-returnable bid in increments of one cent. First, they must buy blocks of credits, with $1 buying one credit, which equals a single one cent bid.

Much like eBay, the real action is at the pointy end of the auction – bids in the final 10 seconds re-set the auction countdown clock to nine seconds, until a winner emerges.

One Cent Flights is currently putting three or four flights up for bids each day, with a travel agent partner fulfilling the bookings. This arrangement means that the bargain airfares (a return flight to London recently went for $43) results in a loss to Donazzan until the site gains critical mass.

The student is confident of hitting this goal, having invested in an advertising campaign splashed across 125 trams in Melbourne and assembling a six-strong management team that adds experience to his youth. The team has already secured investment from a number of high net worth individuals, with a further fundraising round set for next year.

“I think my age has been a benefit, if anything,” Donazzan says. “Rather than being someone who says ‘I have this idea and I want money’, I can say ‘hey, I’m young, I’m at uni and I just want a chat about my idea.’”

“At the moment, Australia is the priority, but I’d love to expand to Asia as soon as we can. The concept has got great potential.”

This article first appeared on StartupSmart. For the full list, click here.