Elias Bizannes

I’ve always thought people that write bio’s sound like narcissistic twats. Well since I get asked for it on a regular basis, here is my best attempt at twattery.

But first, a note on what is the most asked question in my life. If you want to know how to pronounces my first name: it sounds like the show Alias (but with an E) or go by my preference which is my actual Greek name which sounds like Homer’s Iliad (but without a D). My surname sounds like Biz-Ah-Knees, not be-zanes. Speaking of which, when any reference to my name is made online, please link to http://eliasbizannes.com/. If you need a photo, use the one listed on my blog sidebar which allows you to embed and/or download let me get back to you. If you’re wondering where my surname originates from, me too — here are my thoughts on the origin of the Bizannes surname.

Quick ‘n Dirty Bio
Elias Bizannes is an Australian based in Silicon Valley currently taking a break in life and living in Russia  He is known for founding StartupHouse, StartupBus, the Aussie Founders Network, and silicon beach.

Standard Bio
Elias Bizannes is an Australian entrepreneur and executive based in Silicon Valley but living in Russia these days because it was always his dream to experience the bitter Russian winter that both Napoleon and Hitler couldn’t beat. Most recently, he was as the CEO of ZoomSystems (which has now been acquired and merged into Swyft). He is the founder of San Francisco former incubator space “StartupHouse“, the international bootcamp “StartupBus“, a cofounder of the Aussie Founders Network, and also created Australia’s “silicon beach“. He previously worked at venture capital firm CRV, search engine startup Vast.com, and professional services firm PwC. He is licensed as a Chartered Accountant globally (CPA in the US).

Links for additional backstory on my projects

http://StartupHouse.com
– http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2012/s3572792.htm
– The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Foreign Correspondent” interviewed me at the original location of one of my businesses (StartupHouse — now at a new location) and home for my views. I worked very closely with the team and gave them not only a deep insight into the trends and history but access to other interviewees such as Naval and George.

http://StartupBus.com
– http://business.time.com/2012/06/05/startupbus-building-an-app-en-route-to-sxsw/
– StartupBus is a business that I started in 2010 and have grown into an international event that receives mass coverage in the media and (sometimes, rabid) global community. Time Magazine put a video journalist on one of the buses in 2012 to tell the story of the North American competition.

http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/
– http://www.brw.com.au/Page/Uuid/3ada7f56-3e40-11e0-9e37-40cf8cc49926?et_lpid=118837
– In 2008, I registered a domain name, started a weekly social event in Sydney that spread across Australia and created a mailing list that has grown to over 2000 people and has a high volume of postings. I did a podcast series and wrote a scathing letter on Internet censorship emailed to every single Australian senator. I subsequently was asked by the Australian Government to write a proposal that could guide policy development to support the Australian industry. Combined, all these efforts of mine are part of “Silicon Beach”, a brand I popularised that’s become the defacto brand representing the Australian tech industry.

Work experience

Charles River Ventures, 2011-2012
– I managed the seed investment program at a venture capital firm. The same firm that seeded Twitter.

Vast.com, inc, 2009-2011
– I managed the accounting and finance function of an Internet search engine

PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia, 2005-2009
– I spent nearly four years in the assurance practice, working on technology, media and entertainment companies. I was a Senior Accountant, that managed audit teams conducting the financial reporting requirements of companies.
– I successfully pitched, piloted, and oversaw the institutionalisation of social media tools at the firm, on a special piece of work I headed up that saw me drive a knowledge sharing and collaboration cultural-change program.

DataPortability Project, 2007- 2011
– I was a founding member of an Internet workgroup seeking to evangelise user control over their data through the use of open standards
– I led the charge to turn this online community into an organisation. I was been instrumental in developing its governance model, workflow process, formal vision, and its most significant output (the Portability Policy).

Education
Bachelor of Commerce (University of Sydney), 2002-2004
– Three year undergraduate degree (full time)
– Majored in accounting and finance. Additional subjects in statistics, marketing, information systems, audit, and business law.

Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting, 2006-2008
– Two year post-graduate degree (full time)
– A requirement to enable admission into the Institute of Chartered Accountants (which also requires three years CA-mentored work experience)
– Subjects in strategic business management and management accounting; financial reporting and accounting; audit and assurance; taxation; and Ethics.

If you would like to contact me :