The Times Australia
Fisher and Paykel Appliances
The Times Australia
.

Marc Degli: Tech Veteran Helping SMBs Rewrite the Rules of Innovation



For more than a decade, Marc Degli has been a driving force in the tech world. As the co-founder of Blackhawk Alert, a company known for its cutting-edge enterprise technology solutions, Marc built his reputation by bridging the gap between technology and business outcomes. Now, he’s turning his focus to a new mission: empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to leverage AI and innovation to grow like never before.

From Enterprise to SMB: A Changing Landscape

In the past, enterprise technology seemed unreachable for smaller businesses. Costly infrastructure, specialized expertise, and slow-moving processes kept advanced tools locked away in corporate boardrooms. But according to Marc Degli, that era is over.

“The gap between enterprise technology and SMB capabilities is closing faster than anyone expected,” Marc says. “AI is the great equalizer. Today, you can do more with less — and that’s transforming the competitive landscape.”

This shift isn’t just theoretical. Marc points to an emerging trend where SMBs are not only adopting powerful AI-driven tools but are also pioneering bold innovations that once would have required enterprise-scale budgets and teams.

The Rise of Innovation in SMBs

Historically, Australia has been an unforgiving environment for startups. A lack of government support and a risk-averse investment culture have made it difficult for early-stage companies to thrive. But Marc argues that the rise of affordable technology has sparked a grassroots revolution.

“Australia has been terrible for startups for a long time. We’ve had minimal government assistance and investors who are often hesitant to back real innovation,” he says. “But now, SMBs don’t need the same level of capital or institutional support. With AI and modern tools, they can build, scale, and disrupt in ways that were unthinkable even five years ago.”

From automated workflows and predictive analytics to hyper-targeted marketing campaigns powered by AI, SMBs are no longer playing catch-up. In many cases, they’re setting the pace — leveraging speed and agility to outmaneuver larger, slower enterprises.

Doing More with Less

Marc’s optimism isn’t naive. He’s a veteran who’s seen cycles of hype come and go. What’s different this time, he says, is that the tools actually deliver.

“AI is no longer experimental. It’s practical,” Marc explains. “For a fraction of the cost, SMBs can automate their operations, scale their customer reach, and access insights that used to take entire teams of analysts. True innovation is no longer trapped inside the walls of multinationals — it’s being born in local shops, niche startups, and family-run businesses.”

This democratization of technology means that SMBs don’t have to wait for permission or funding to innovate. Instead, they can iterate quickly, launch new offerings, and compete in markets once dominated by industry giants.

The Future: SMBs Leading the Charge


Looking ahead, Marc believes that the next wave of disruptive companies won’t come from Silicon Valley boardrooms but from small offices, cafes, and co-working spaces across Australia.

“If you want to see the future of tech, don’t just look at the big players. Look at the scrappy founders who are using AI to reimagine industries,” Marc says. “They’re not just closing the gap — they’re redefining what’s possible.”

And if Marc Degli’s track record is anything to go by, SMBs may very well become the new face of true innovation in Australia’s tech ecosystem.

"You can follow up with Marc Degli at:

https://linktr.ee/MarcDegli

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcdi/"

Times Magazine

Australia’s electric vehicle surge — EVs and hybrids hit record levels

Australians are increasingly embracing electric and hybrid cars, with 2025 shaping up as the str...

Tim Ayres on the AI rollout’s looming ‘bumps and glitches’

The federal government released its National AI Strategy[1] this week, confirming it has dropped...

Seven in Ten Australian Workers Say Employers Are Failing to Prepare Them for AI Future

As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates across industries, a growing number of Australian work...

Mapping for Trucks: More Than Directions, It’s Optimisation

Daniel Antonello, General Manager Oceania, HERE Technologies At the end of June this year, Hampden ...

Can bigger-is-better ‘scaling laws’ keep AI improving forever? History says we can’t be too sure

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman – perhaps the most prominent face of the artificial intellig...

A backlash against AI imagery in ads may have begun as brands promote ‘human-made’

In a wave of new ads, brands like Heineken, Polaroid and Cadbury have started hating on artifici...

The Times Features

The way Australia produces food is unique. Our updated dietary guidelines have to recognise this

You might know Australia’s dietary guidelines[1] from the famous infographics[2] showing the typ...

Why a Holiday or Short Break in the Noosa Region Is an Ideal Getaway

Few Australian destinations capture the imagination quite like Noosa. With its calm turquoise ba...

How Dynamic Pricing in Accommodation — From Caravan Parks to Hotels — Affects Holiday Affordability

Dynamic pricing has quietly become one of the most influential forces shaping the cost of an Aus...

The rise of chatbot therapists: Why AI cannot replace human care

Some are dubbing AI as the fourth industrial revolution, with the sweeping changes it is propellin...

Australians Can Now Experience The World of Wicked Across Universal Studios Singapore and Resorts World Sentosa

This holiday season, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), in partnership with Universal Pictures, Sentosa ...

Mineral vs chemical sunscreens? Science shows the difference is smaller than you think

“Mineral-only” sunscreens are making huge inroads[1] into the sunscreen market, driven by fears of “...

Here’s what new debt-to-income home loan caps mean for banks and borrowers

For the first time ever, the Australian banking regulator has announced it will impose new debt-...

Why the Mortgage Industry Needs More Women (And What We're Actually Doing About It)

I've been in fintech and the mortgage industry for about a year and a half now. My background is i...

Inflation jumps in October, adding to pressure on government to make budget savings

Annual inflation rose[1] to a 16-month high of 3.8% in October, adding to pressure on the govern...