Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition
Media Release
For release: 26 July 2011
ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition top prizes awarded to Auckland and Masterton companies
Masterton’s Kiwi Ideas Company and Auckland-based Autogrow Systems Ltd have won the top prizes in the inaugural ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Competition.
Kiwi Ideas Company, which makes a patented brand of scratch and fog resistant safety eye goggles called ‘Safe Eyes,’ won the ANZ Flying Start Business Plan Supreme Award for the best overall business plan. The Supreme Award winner received a prize package worth $60,000 which they will use to expand their distribution network overseas.
Autogrow Systems Ltd will get $10,000 to explore exporting opportunities in their choice of Asia Pacific countries that ANZ operates in. This prize was given to the entrant in the ANZ Flying Start Business Plan competition which showed the most exporting potential.
Sixteen regional winners also received $3000 prize packages each. The Competition received more than 500 entries. The prizes were announced today at an award ceremony in Wellington.
“We chose the winners of the first Flying Start Business Plan competition because they have a solid business plan in place, were geared for growth and had exporting merit which with some help from ANZ could achieve substantial and sustained exports,” says Fred Ohlsson, ANZ’s Managing Director, Business Banking.
The ANZ Export Assistance Prize winner, Autogrow Systems designs and manufactures automated greenhouses and hydroponics systems which control the climate and irrigation of crops.
Jeff Broad, founder of Autogrow Systems, says the business idea came out of growing vegetables for his family at home where he soon got tired of the effort required to maintain constant nutrients and temperature to plants. Using his training as an electronics engineer he created an automated growth system that took care of everything for him.
Mr Broad says what sets Autogrow System apart from other systems is it’s as simple to use as a mobile phone and can be translated into different languages, which is an advantage in emerging markets. Jeff plans to use the ANZ Exporter Assistance Prize to grow his overseas market.
Mr Ohlsson says Autogrow Systems will decide which countries hold the best exporting opportunities for them. “Visiting countries where ANZ has a presence will give the winner introductions to potential buyers and suppliers as well as a unique understanding of a foreign market.” ANZ has a presence in 27 Asia Pacific countries. Go to www.anz.co.nz/flyingstart to see all the regional winners.
ENDS
ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited
Get on top of your money
ANZ has been helping New Zealanders get on top of their money ever since we opened for business in 1840. We were New Zealand's first bank and today we have a large network of full-service branches and ATMs, and talented people across the country.
We're passionate about helping our customers make their money work harder and equipping them to make better financial decisions. Whether it's travelling the world, buying a home, building a business, investing for the future or protecting their family's future, we use our financial strength and expertise to help make it happen.
Through our sponsorships, our Staff Foundation and thousands of staff volunteer hours each year, we support causes that make a difference to New Zealanders.
Canterbury Museum: Mystery Molars Lead To Discovery Of Giant Crayfish In Ancient Aotearoa New Zealand
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga: Māori Concerns About Misuse Of Facial Recognition Technology Highlighted In Science
Retail NZ: Retailers Call For Flexibility On Easter Trading Hours
WorkSafe NZ: Worker’s Six-Metre Fall Prompts Industry Call-Out
PSGR: Has MBIE Short-Circuited Good Process In Recent Government Reforms?
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand: RBNZ’s Five Year Funding Agreement Published
