7 New StartUp Business Launched at Tauranga StartUp Weekend

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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7 New StartUp Business Launched at Tauranga StartUp Weekend

Tauranga StartUp Weekend started at 5pm on Friday night and finished up 10pm on Sunday night, 54 hours later.

The venue was the BNZ Partner Centre on Cameron Road. Chief organiser Sheldon Nesdale refers to it as "It's like a high tech space station in here. What better place to launch Tauranga's future from?"

The opening night began with a introduction to the StartUp Weekend concept which is in more than 90 countries and has been held more than 600 times around the world. This was the 8th time in New Zealand and a first for Tauranga.

Then we heard from Mayor Stuart Crosby and Simon Bridges MP who were overwhelming supportive of the idea and how it encourages entrepreneurship.

Then came the pitches.

22 ideas were pitched on the opening night.

These entrepreneurs had just 60 seconds to get their idea across.

Some entrepreneurs had been dreaming about their idea for months or even years, others came up with theirs a few minutes before they heard the shout "Last call if you want to pitch! Get up the front now!"

Over the next 60 minutes the 48 participants voted for their favourites and talked to those entrepreneurs about what their role might be. 7 teams emerged by about 8.30pm and choose a room to set up camp.

Teams worked all weekend long and had input from 10 experienced business mentors throughout.

On Saturday morning they got out into the community to validate their concepts by bouncing their ideas off real potential customers. One team was at the boat ramp at 6am talking to boaties about their safety concerns.

On Sunday morning they had to start preparing their final presentations which were due to start at 5pm.

The 4 judges walked in at 5pm and took their positions at the judging table:
• Brett Roberts, CEO of Wharf 42
• Candace Kinser, CEO of NZICT
• Cheryl Reynolds, CEO of Soda Inc
• Lance Wiggs, Serial Entrepreneur
The 7 teams each had just 5 minutes for their presentations and 5 more minutes for the judges questions.
The quality of the final presentations were best summarised by one of the judges Brett Roberts: "Wow, absolutely outstanding presentations! The best I have ever seen at a StartUp Weekend event. And amongst the best I have ever seen in the corporate world too."
The 7 startup companies are:
1. What Shall I Do Now
• Team Leader: Vicky Crickett
• A mobile app that lets you choose how much time you have to spare, who you are with, and what you are prepared to pay. Push the magic button and you are told what to do now. Eg “Do 5 star jumps” or “Fly a kite” or “Take your dog surfing”
• www.WhatShallIDoNow.com
2. Model It
• Team Leader: Ben Runciman
• Model It is a service for Architects that creates real life 3D scale models using 3D printing technology from their CAD files
• www.Modelit.co.nz (website not live yet)
3. Message Tap
• Team Leader: Joshua Wilson
• MessageTap is an iphone App that helps you find people similar to you in your location
• www.MessageTap.me
4. So Money
• Team Leader: Jenha White
• So Money is a service that connects financial managers with Generation Y who are normally intimidated by the financial profession. Individual financial managers grow their reputation on the So Money platform as their Gen Y clients rate their service and recommend them to others
• www.SoMoney.co.nz
5. Just Down The Road
• Team Leader: Graham Cameron
• Just Down The Road is a website/app that pinpoints local fruit and vege growers in your area
• www.JustDownTheRoad.co.nz
6. OpSwap
• Team Leader: Danielle Olivier
• OpSwap is an website/app that enables you to swap your clothes with others
• www.OpSwap.co.nz
7. StandBy
• Team Leader: Ian Wills
• StandBy is a mobile app that enables those who are heading out to sea an easy-to-use method of checking in as they depart with the coast guard and with loved ones, and informs them of their safe return.
• www.StandbyNZ.com
First Prize went to StandBy
• Team Leader: Ian Wills.
• Team: Ian Wills, Phil Harris, Justin Scott, Clare Kemeys, Rachel Donald, Rochelle Alder, Mike Jansen, Kelvin Trask
Their prizes:
• KPMG: $4000 worth of Accounting services and business advice
• Catalyst Management Services: 8 x 1 hour coaching sessions worth $2000
• Loundes Jordon: StartUp Law Pack worth $2000
• Kiwi Landing Pad: 3 months hot desk in San Fran worth US$1500 (flights not included)
• FluidUi: Lifetime membership for mobile app mockups worth $1548/year
Second Prize went to Model it
• Team Leader: Ben Runciman.
• Team: Ben Runciman, Jeremy Levy, Julie Carle, Rob Scovell, Joshua Mossop, Josh Reid, Patrick Nicholas, Carolyn Melville
•
Peoples Choice Award

The room was asked to vote for their favourite (and prevented from voting for themselves!) and the winner was, again, Standby.

It is truly amazing that this 54 hour marathon started on Friday night with 22 one-minute pitches. And within 2 hours the 7 teams emerged. And within 48 hours from then 7 startup companies made their pitches in front of the judges.

Quotes
Sheldon Nesdale, the chief organiser of Tauranga StartUp Weekend said "Wow, what an amazing experience, what an amazing result. These 7 businesses, these 7 teams, none of this existed last week!

"This is exactly why I brought the StartUp Weekend concept to Tauranga after seeing it in Auckland last year. To change peoples lives. To leave Tauranga's dependence on fruit and logs behind, and to set Tauranga up as the next Silicon Valley.

"Tauranga StartUp Weekend has drawn out people with special skills and talents and ambition from the community, it has brought them together for a weekend and forced them to grow and learn and argue and compromise and look what they have created: New friendships, new skills, new companies.

"The feedback has been overwhelmingly encouraging and positive. Let's do it again in 9 months!

"But first my next challenge is to ensure these 7 teams get the care and support they need to continue with their ventures. To continue to refine and develop what they have started here.

Max Mason, CEO of The Tauranga Chamber of Commerce said "This is just what Tauranga needs; young entrepreneurs that stand up and create new Tauranga based businesses with huge potential"

Bill Murphy, from Enterprise Angels said "Our group of almost 100 investors has been desperately seeking local opportunities for months, and now, after a few weeks of further refinement, it looks like we will have 7 to consider! Fantastic!"

Other guests/judges who are available for comment:
• Tracy Preston-Lett, KPMG [VIP Guest, and Major Sponsor]
• Rhys Arrowsmith, Bay of Plenty Tourism [VIP Guest]
• Rod Drury, Xero [VIP Guest]
• MP Simon Bridges [Friday night speaker]
• Mayor Stuart Crosby [Friday night speaker]
• Brett Roberts, CEO of Wharf 42 [Judge]
• Candace Kinser, CEO of NZICT [Judge]
• Cheryl Reynolds, CEO of Soda Inc [Judge]
• Lance Wiggs, Serial Entrepreneur [Judge]
The Next Tauranga StartUp Weekend
The date has already been set: 14-16th of June 2013
Photos
https://www.facebook.com/TaurangaStartUpWeekend/photos

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