I came across a list of the the Top 100 Web 2.0 Startups and this later version created for a conference that our mate Ross Dawson organised in 2008.

A click through the list shows that 4 years later, 44% of the companies have a website still functioning with a tiny proportion of those showing any signs of life. I’d say 10% have made it to become companies of any substance. It’s a sobering reminder of how hard it can be to launch a successful startup anywhere, especially in Australia.

I do think we are getting better at it though. Anyone want to make a new list that we can benchmark in 2016?

And don’t forget, each #flearn makes us stronger. Ross captures it well:

“Few of the companies on the 2008 Oz Web 2.0 list are thriving, but many of the people behind them certainly are :-)”