Startup to tackle Predator Free New Zealand challenge

Startup to tackle Predator Free New Zealand challenge

New Zealand based App and Website Pestur will launch in 2017. Pestur is a social network allowing users to compete with each other in challenges as they work to eradicate different pest species through trapping and hunting.

Co- founder Greta Donoghue says the inspiration came in seeing the millions of people around the world willing to try and catch something that doesn’t exist (Pokemon), “the idea being that if even a fraction of these participants put some real world effort into the issue of invasive pest species we could see tangible improvements ranging from the protection of endangered species to the economics of better crop yields”

Pestur will closely model the likes of Strava- a community that allows its participants to share ideas- in this case that discussion might be what to hunt and when and how to go about it and then challenges can be set up either by users or by Pestur itself. Possibilities here include the likes of a nationwide Cane Toad challenge in Australia organized by Pestur or perhaps a Possum trapping challenge set up by a single classroom in New Zealand.

• First goal is a real world reduction in invasive pest species, of any revenue generated 10% to go back to pest control Conservation programmes and 10% to go into prize pool for serious Pestur challenge users

• Potential market in millions of hunters and conservationists around the world

• The Strava of Pest Control

• Forum allows communication around best methods

• Pest species are an international problem, Pestur will also be available overseas

• Rules around using humane and legal methods

• Photos and GPS need to be logged with kills to verify authenticity, inappropriate photos will result in a ban. Locations though can be marked as private to protect secret hunting spots

• Registration now available on Pestur.com

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