Setting up an online venture while completing tertiary studies often proves to be a distraction for many entrepreneurs. For Australian Steve Jessup, however, the experience led to success in the classroom and the boardroom.
When Cyberlearning started up in October 1999, Joint Managing Directors Steve Jessup and John Andrius couldn't possibly foresee the company's future success. Their vision, as displayed on their Web site (www.cyberlearning.com.au), is "to be a world leader in commercialising innovative solutions through information technology and multimedia," and they look to be well on the way to achieving this goal. The Cyberlearning site illustrates the company's key business areas, including integrated learning management systems, Internet software development, business-to-business solutions, and Internet business strategic consulting. So how does this compare to the operations at the time of the company's inception?
"Cyberlearning started up while the two directors were maintaining their tertiary studies. "I was an academic involved in education and in part, researching the Internet, and John Andrius, my business partner, was doing a PhD in online learning. He developed one of the first educational sites using Shockwave, and we anticipated that demand would grow in this area," says Jessup. But e-learning was just the beginning. Since then, the company has expanded its services to businesses, while still keeping focus on its original function.
"From being essentially an e-learning company, we have developed and rolled out VPN networks and corporate databases across Australia, developed Web-based applications and back-end systems, and undertaken strategic consultancies and business reviews," he explains. "In addition, we have developed a range of applications and tools, and received funds to commercialise this."
Judging by the Cyberlearning Web site, it's easy to see why the company has proved to be popular. They have produced multimedia CD-ROMs for the Department of Education in Tasmania, and created the Teacher Inservice and Training Education Network (TITEN), which offers accredited coursework used by more than 30 universities. Cyberlearning has also developed a number of software products, provided consulting solutions for the University of Tasmania and TAFE Tasmania, and constructed Web sites for the CSIRO minerals mentoring program corporate intranet site, and Telstra's new multimedia laboratory, the Launceston Broadband eLab.
Cyberlearning has also expanded in terms of the company's size. The company's merger with fellow Tasmanian company Senstra, on the second of March, sees the end of 12 months of planning and negotiation. The resulting company employs 30 staff, with a range of services from "communications and infrastructure development, applications and solution development, and new media services," describes Jessup.
So what does Cyberlearning offer its clients? "Our company provides organisations with strategies and solutions to enable them to meet their future business needs, a term we refer to as 'future proofing'. We have a clear mission to be at the leading edge and attract staff from interstate and overseas to complement our growth strategy. We have a range of products and tools that form part of our service delivery model. All of our work is Internet based and we have particular passion for this work, be it e-learning, financial systems development, or application development," according to Jessup. "We are particularly good at developing business partnerships with organisations that have mutual and complementary growth strategies," he claims.
