ICE Ideas Conference

I was lucky enough to be at the ICE Ideas conference a couple of weeks ago.  It was an opportunity for leading NZ Entrepreneurs to espouse their Big Idea on how to move NZ "up a gear" and make a transformational change for the better for our society through being entrepreneurial.

Derek Handley from Hyperfactory was the last speaker.  HyperFactory, a startup from Auckland, was bought by an American firm for around $70 million after 9 years of operation.  Derek's short speech summed up nicely the challenge ahead for us all.  You can link to it below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrgFOviB9xU&feature=player_profilepage 

Warren.

6 Innovate Companies join the programme ...

The BCC 90 Day Market Validation programme has got into full swing with six companies that came through the Innovate competition taking up the opportunity to validate their business ideas. 

The companies use a combination of the Business Model Canvas and Customer Development techniques to work closer with their market to determine a minimal viable product/service design, then deliver this to the market. 

The process will see the companies interviewing up to 100 potential customers in three stages. 

• Stage 1 surveys potential customers about the unmet needs they might have. 
• Stage 2 asks other customers for their feedback on a first potential solution. 
• Stage three asks other customers for their feedback on a refined solution. 

Finally, they will have to execute their market learning by launching their first product or service to their first customers.

Warren Bebb

Business Growth Manager

Marcella at Bio International 2011

I’ve just had the most exciting opportunity to participate in the 2011 BIO International convention held in Washington DC from the 27^th - 30th of June 2011.

The Convention is HUGE! It is the largest event for the biotechnology industry anywhere in the world.  The 20,000 industry professionals who attended in 2011 were certainly a far cry from the humble beginnings of 1987 in Washington DC.  When the Association of Biotechnology Companies hosted the inaugural international conference there it superseded all expectations by attracting 155 attendees!

The four days were packed with sessions on every facet of biotechnology including technology transfer, business development, bio-security, leadership, health, investment, entrepreneurship.  I was there to learn from those in the business of transferring technology from universities to industry and create links and networks.  The take home messages for me was the importance of creating strong, long lasting partnerships with industry, creating more flexible and collaborative agreements and sharing the risk of commercialization.

A vast array of companies, ranging from small start ups to the largest pharmaceutical and agricultural companies in the world set up displays in the exhibition hall, all vying for the position of the most spectacular display to attract attendees.

The Exhibit Hall



The opening night was held at the Newseum, where networking was enhanced by a beautiful backdrop.

One of the many highlights was lunch with Tony Blair, the former Prime minister of the United Kingdom who now heads up the Tony Blair Faith Foundation with the goal of countering extremism in all six leading religions.

Thanks to the Ministry of Science and Innovation for making this experience a possibility for me.  The people I met and the knowledge I have gained has fuelled my enthusiasm for biotechnology, innovation and commercialisation.

http://convention.bio.org/

Marcella.

Welcome to the BCC Blog

With so much going on in the entrepeneurial and innovation space right now, the team at the BCC thought it was a great time to start our own blog to keep you up to date with what's happening here.

I get to start off with a quick summary of the Innovate Manawatu competition and awards dinner which was held on 21st June.

For anyone who doesn't know what Innovate Manawatu was all about - the competition ran from March - May, looking for new business ideas and inventions (check it out on http://www.innovatemanawatu.co.nz/). It was aimed at assisting entrepreneurs and inventors to develop their ideas and create new business, growing wealth and employment in our region. With a $20,000 cash prize up for grabs we attracted 255 entries - from all sectors of the community, ages 9 – 91, some just at original concept stage, others much further down the track.  Here’s a link to a Manawatu Standard story on the winners – who will definitely be ones to watch for the future - http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/5175867/Late-entry-picks-up-top-award.

On another note, Marcella has just returned from the BIO 2011 conference in USA with some stories to tell.  I'll let her post a blog to tell you all about it !

Esther