Three More New Zealand Start-Ups to Benefit from KiwiStartUp.net
Fourth Round Winners Announced and to Receive Access to the Vodafone Network for the First Time
AUCKLAND - Electronic Medical Internet Technologies Limited (EMIT), Xenacom Limited, and 174E are the winners of the
fourth round of the KiwiStartUp.net programme. The programme, a joint initiative between HP Invent, Microsoft New
Zealand, TelstraClear and Vodafone New Zealand Limited, provides software Start-ups with free technology resources to
assist them during their pre-venture capital phase.
EMIT, Xenacom and 174E will each receive HP technology, Microsoft .NET platform software, and a TelstraClear high-speed
connection for a period of ninety days help them progress their ideas. For the first time, Vodafone is involved in
sponsoring KiwiStartUp.net and will give the winners access to their network.
Introducing the Winners
Electronic Medical Internet Technologies Limited is a New Zealand Start-up with a goal to transform how healthcare
information is utilised. EMIT is a software solution that extends beyond Practice Management and Information Storage
systems to centralise information across healthcare providers. A first for New Zealand, the system will also be able to
measure healthcare outcomes against the goals and expenditure set out by Central Government or District Health Boards to
assist them in future planning. The company is currently completing development of the EMIT Beta 1 version.
Dr. Prakash Appanna, Chairman of EMIT, says KiwiStartUp.net is a unique opportunity for New Zealand Start-ups to gain
access to the resources they need to succeed.
"The programme is supportive of Kiwi entrepreneurship and will help us set a new standard in software development for
healthcare systems," said Dr. Appanna. "We will now be able to fast track our software development and attract the
venture capital needed to take the EMIT system to market."
With broad experience in agricultural software development, Xenacom's vision is to develop a specialist application that
will become the industry standard for the maintenance and tracking of all aspects of beekeeping.
Xen-Apiary will run on wireless handheld technology and allow beekeepers to track hives and sites easily while out in
the field. All information gathered will be synchronised over the Internet to a central database, with a subset of the
data also made available to a number of government agencies.
Xenacom is already working closely with commercial apiarists as part of the product development.
Heather McEwen, Director, Xenacom Ltd, said that the combination of vendors and their partnership approach first drew
the company to the KiwiStartUp.net programme. "This innovative programme will allow us to leverage the support
available from leading international companies to launch the product off the ground and have a prototype out in the
field by December."
After identifying a gap in the market, 174E developed a marketing tool that brings new possibilities to the Internet and
other communication networks.
The 174E Network allows content of many different formats to be automatically delivered to a consumers personal device
such as a desktop PC, Pocket PC or mobile telephone. The content can be updated as often as required, the format can be
changed and the end user can choose their preferences. Notice Board, a fully interactive screensaver, and its sister
product News Alert, a message notification system, are the first applications the company has developed to show off the
174E Network.
Vodafone New Zealand is currently trailing the technology to help improve its internal communications.
Tony Walsh, Director of 174E, says the programme is a great opportunity to be mentored by New Zealand's leading
technology companies. "Our involvement in KiwiStartUp.net will enable us to gain access to the resources and expertise
we need to help us complete initial product development."
Todd Irving, head of Innovation and New Venture at HP, says the fourth round of the KiwiStartUp.net programme has once
again attracted high calibre applicants.
"The calibre of entrants for the programme is growing strongly and some start-ups have applied for the second time, a
reflection of their commitment to growing their business," said Irving. "This round's winners have innovative ideas to
offer and we are pleased that we can support them at an even higher level with the introduction of free airtime and
access to the Vodafone network for the first time. It's great to see a growing commitment from leading New Zealand
technology companies such as Vodafone in helping New Zealand Start-ups succeed."
About KiwiStartUp.net
KiwiStartUp.net was launched in November 2000. The programme is about providing Start-ups with the technology they need
to complete a prototype before applying for Venture Capital, thus bridge a significant gap in early venture resourcing.
Packages are tailored to the requirements of each successful applicant, but will include:
· A Compaq High Performance Server
· A Microsoft premier Developer Network Subscription (MSDN
Universal)
· A TelstraClear high-speed Internet connection.
· Vodafone airtime, and access to Vodafone Gateways
Past KiwiStartUp.net winners include Traxium, Climate Dynamics, Nettec, The Hyperfactory Limited, iTools, Spikefin,
Mobile Commerce Ltd and Net Armoury. For more information, please visit http://www.kiwistartup.net.