Start-ups pitch their ideas at LaunchPad

Six start-up companies to pitch their ideas at Launch Pad

Six New Zealand start-up companies will fight it out for the chance to win $70,000 worth of business support at a competition being held at the Planet 2010 conference in Auckland on Saturday.

The six companies will have five minutes to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges at Launch Pad, which will be held live on-stage at Sky City Auckland at 12.30pm on March 13.

The winning pitch will receive $70,000 worth of IT, marketing, legal and accounting services, as well as three 5102 Hewlett Packard Netbooks and 12 months’ account management support from four of the competition’s sponsors, WorldxChange, Republik, Hudson Gavin Martin and MYOB.

The second and third place-getters will receive prizes of $10,000 and $5000 sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and a HP 5102 Netbook.

The judges had this to say about the shortlisted candidates:

Dazzle Tickets, a new ticketing solution which will make it possible to manage event ticketing from start to finish, “Sometimes the simplest ideas are really the best” Simon Martin, Partner Hudson Gavin Martin.

Fun2bFit which is aimed at reducing childhood obesity. “A Bold and Unique Concept” Julian Smith, General Manager MYOB.

Speech School TV, a subscription-based internet television channel “could have huge potential if this model takes off globally” Paul Clarkin, CTO WorldxChange.

Big Little Bang, which recognizes the synergy between online gaming and social play “Huge new territory fantastic to see a kiwi business step up like this” Craig Abbott, Director Republik.

Livelink, which makes it easy for people to “pick and send” branded, multi-media e-marketing, “Has the potential to be as important to email as the stamp was to the postal service” Rob Spray CEO Telecommunications Industry Group.

Lifetime Health Diary, which provides a single and complete lifetime health and medical record “Timely solution to a massive issue of multiple health records” Rob Spray CEO Telecommunications Industry Group.

A Nelson schoolboy has also been awarded a special prize of one year’s free broadband for his entry, a proposal to expand his business, Acronum Industries, which sells electronic components online. The judges commended him for the strength of his business model, his detailed financial statements, and his general business acumen.

“At 15 he is already running his own business, and it’s working.” Paul Clarkin CTO WorldxChange.

Launch Pad is being held as part of Planet 2010, a two-day conference taking place in Auckland on March 12 and 13 to showcase the future and value of communications technology to New Zealand. The keynote speaker at the conference is former American astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Planet 2010 is being organised by the Telecommunications Industry Group. TIG Chief Executive Officer Rob Spray says his organisation is committed to helping innovative New Zealanders achieve their goals.

“We see Launch Pad as a way for us to find and champion New Zealand’s best start-up companies, and help them grow their ideas into something spectacular.”

ENDS

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