Finalists named for Gen-i Incubator Awards

March 9, 2007

Finalists named for Gen-i New Zealand Incubator Awards

Helping New Zealand find more success stories like Trademe is the aim of the Gen-i New Zealand Incubator Awards, with this year’s finalists including many of the country’s hottest start-up companies.

The 12 finalists include a company that helps health professionals learn surgical procedures in virtual reality. Another is a development which maximises the yield for manufacturers cutting fabrics.

The finalists will contest four categories, with the winners to be announced at the Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland next Wednesday (March 14). An additional award will be made to a company that has graduated from the incubation environment and excelled in their recent business achievements.

The Awards were introduced by Incubators New Zealand in 2005 with the aim of celebrating the knowledge-based start-ups that business incubators are helping to grow.

“With over 160 potential high-growth businesses currently in incubation and another 130 companies having graduated, even becoming a finalist means that you have stood out amongst the new generation of business elite,” says Incubators New Zealand Chairman Jonathan Kirkpatrick.

Principal sponsor Gen-i’s Head of Wellington Sales, Paul Wilson, says that as an established ICT company Gen-i recognises its ongoing success depends on innovative ideas and passion for technology: That’s why we’re involved in celebrating the success of emerging companies and entrepreneurs who share these ideals.”

The finalists for the 2007 Gen-i New Zealand Incubator Awards are:

Start-Up of the Year
 eBUS (Auckland)
 OpenEye Displays (Auckland)
 ShapeShifter Technology (Christchurch)

Start-Up Exporter of the Year
 HTS-110 (Wellington)
 MPT Solutions Limited (Wellington)
 The Optima Corporation (Auckland)

Innovation of the Year
 Farco Technologies Limited (Christchurch)
 Go Virtual Medical Limited (Auckland)
 ShapeShifter Technology (Christchurch)

Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year
 Carmine Masiello - eBUS (Auckland)
 Gareth Croy - OpenEye Displays (Auckland)
 Mark Bell-Booth – Assetta Limited (Palmerston North)

This year the awards are part of New Thinking Week 2007, which brings together some of New Zealand’s leading organisations in enterprise and business development to showcase New Zealand innovation in a range of sectors. New Thinking Week 2007 takes place from March 12-16, 2007 at the Sky City Convention Centre, Auckland and is a key event in the Export Year 07 calendar.

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