The IT boy with a wise man's head for business

By AINSLEY THOMSON

He may be only 24 but Daniel Williams has been running a successful IT business for five years. Now he wants to use his experience to help other young IT enthusiasts to do the same.

Five years ago, while studying at Auckland's Unitec Institute of Technology, Mr Williams and four of his friends started Web Drive, a web design company. All they had was $500, goods ideas and lots of energy.

This energy was essential because the five young entrepreneurs had little idea about running a business.

"At the beginning we had no direction," says Mr Williams.

"We didn't know where to go or who we could ask for help."



Being so young had its problems.

"When we went to meet people they would always ask about our age. We could tell they were doubting our ability because we were so young and had little experience," he says.

The group had to teach themselves how to behave in the business world and how to run a company.

Perseverance paid off, he says.

"We weren't willing to give up. We stuck with it and finally we landed a big client in the US."

The company, which specialises in web hosting, software development and online content, is nearing its first million dollars in sales.

Only Mr Williams and his business partner, Stephen Hogg, are left from the original team, but they now employ two staff and are looking at hiring another two. They also own their own office. Mr Williams rates the company a "definite success".

The difficulties of setting up Web Drive have inspired Mr Williams to start an organisation, called NETwork, to help other young people who want to establish an IT business.

When he started Web Drive the help of a business mentor would have been invaluable, he says.

"If someone had been there to help us from the beginning, the business would have progressed much quicker."

For this reason, business mentors will be a key element in the NETwork organisation.

Mr Williams hopes to find 20 mentors to help with NETwork.





"The mentors will be acting as a springboard," says Mr Williams.

"Initially, they will help to set up the companies - sorting out tax and other details. Then they will help to define what the young person wants to achieve. They will help them to establish action plans and things like that."

He envisions that the mentors will need to spend around two hours a fortnight with each of two young people, as well as be in regular phone contact.

Mr Williams says a good mentor would be someone who has been successful in their businesses and who can inspire the young people.

He hopes around 40 young people, aged between 15 and 25 will join NETwork.

Mr Williams plans to visit schools and tertiary institutions where he can talk to interested students.

The reason for establishing NETwork is to help young people wanting to start an IT company, says Mr Williams.

"It brings so much satisfaction, showing people they can venture out and do something for themselves. I hope I will be able to inspire other young people."

He says he will make no money from NETwork.

"Obviously there will be long-term spin-offs for my company, but that isn't what is driving it."

NETwork should not cost anything to establish.

"The only thing it will cost is people's time."

Mr Williams is now searching for mentors.

At the moment NETwork is focusing on the IT industry, but Mr Williams says that if everything goes well he will look at expanding into other areas.

NETwork