Innovate 2013 Top 10 Finalists Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Innovate 2013 Top 10 Finalists Announced
Palmerston North, New Zealand | 30 May 2013

Innovate has announced its top ten finalists for 2013. Innovate was created in 2011 by the BCC, a Palmerston North based business that specialises in taking high technology ideas to market.

The competition received over 780 ideas in the last three years, with this year’s total of 182 coming from the Manawatu and Wanganui regions. Entries were accepted over 61 days (1 March to 30 April).

The judges panel comprised of Simon Barnett, Vicki Stewart, James Watts, Sharon Bryant and Larry Ellison. All have substantial entrepreneurial backgrounds and run very successful businesses in New Zealand.

The judges heard pitches from 32 semifinalists over the course of 2 nights, and last night announced the 10 that will be moving through to the final stage where they will go through a Market Validation program with experts from the BCC.

Simon Barnett, convenor of judges, was excited at the ambition shown, and quality of entries. “This year's entries are without question the highest quality we have seen since the inception of Innovate. A number of the ideas pitched to the judging panel utilised emerging technologies, social trends and communication methods, and this year we have seen a number of very exciting and ambitious product based ideas. Perhaps the most exciting thing to see was the number of entries that were scalable and able to be taken to the global market, rather than just domestically focused."

The 10 finalists, and their entries are (in no particular order) –
Keith Betteridge | Cow Collar
Dwyane Hotereni | Baby Nail Trimmer
Clifford HarrisMills | Sock Applicator
Deinika Elston and Cameron Kilgour | Diabetes App
Jonathon Stevenson | Epinephrine Pen
Anthony Roberts and Hubb Baker | Audio Prescription Label
Jason Quinn | Space Window Insulation
Jonathon Te Ruana & Brandon Lockwood | Health and Performance Manawatu
Hayden WashingtonSmith and Fergus Allan | Brakeraid Bicycle Light
Juanita Shields | “Lash Bar”

Those that didn’t make the Top 10 last night, including the general community, have been invited to a new “ideas club” called Innovate U. This is a fiveweek programme that will include workshops, lectures and other activities focused on putting the right people in the right place to grow ideas. In week five, those that have attended will have the opportunity to pitch for their chance to get into the Top 10, making it a Top 11 or 12.

After completing Market Validation with the BCC, contestants will make their final pitch on 29 July. A winner will be selected and presented with the $10,000 grand prize on 31 July 2013.

ENDS

Website | www.innovate2013.co.nz

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