Australian startup snapshot: OneConfig

Juniper management for small and medium-sized enterprises.

OneConfig is a Sydney startup that is building a cloud-based network management platform for Juniper devices targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The pitch

Existing network management tools are too complicated and too expensive for businesses with only 10 to 50 Juniper devices in their network, according to OneConfig co-founder, Andrew Hill.

OneConfig aims to be easy to use and by virtue of the cloud offers a subscription-based model with no software or hardware costs, he said.

Funding it

Hill and Martyn Lomax came up with OneConfig in late 2011 and registered the business in 2012. They hired a developer, Charl Matthee, to bring the idea to life.

“We started off funding this ourselves” and working on the project part time, said Hill.

“We got quite a far way into product development but late last year decided we needed to invest a bit more money and time.”

OneConfig listed itself on AngelList “in case we decided we needed funding” and “to get our name out there,” Hill said. “But at this stage we’re fairly determined to try to fund it as long as we can ourselves.”

The company has just finished a beta test of the product with positive results, he said.

Selling it

“Initially we’re going to be focusing on resellers, and get them to either use the tool themselves in addition to their current tools for managed services, and also to sign up as resellers for the tool,” Hill said.

“Once we have some revenue coming in, we’re going to extend that and go direct by our Web portal,” he said. OneConfig hopes to launch by end of June, he said.

Starting up in Australia

Hill said OneConfig has enjoyed networking with other startups in Sydney.

“What we’ve found really useful is talking to other people who are doing the same and learning from them,” Hill said.

“Part of the responsibility is the actual people in the startups themselves making the effort to network and communicate for others.”

While there is government funding out there, “I understand it’s quite complicated to get that funding,” Hill said. It’s something OneConfig wants to explore further, he said.

The future

Hill said OneConfig will likely need to establish a US branch in the future.

“We’re definitely aiming at a global market,” said Hill. “The US would be the largest part of that and Europe close behind.”

“For us to be really successful, we would need to have a big presence in the US, and to support that I think one of us would need to either travel there regularly or find a way to spend significant time there.”

Hill said that while some Australian startups stay Down Under, “a couple of them find it necessary to pack it up and move” to California, he said.

“It seems that if you want to grow quickly, you need to be there, particularly if you’re doing a lot of face-to-face sales as part of your project.”

Startup snapshots:
CryptoPhoto

If you’ve got a startup or know about a cool new Australian business, email Adam Bender at adam_bender@idg.com.au or tell him on Twitter (@WatchAdam).

Join the newsletter!

Or

Sign up to gain exclusive access to email subscriptions, event invitations, competitions, giveaways, and much more.

Membership is free, and your security and privacy remain protected. View our privacy policy before signing up.

Error: Please check your email address.

Tags AustraliaSydneyNetwork managementjuniperSMEStartupfundingOneConfig

More about Andrew Corporation (Australia)Juniper Networks

Show Comments
[]