Things Move Fast in the Start-Up Space

There is no doubt we are living in challenging times, however every day there are stories of success, entrepreneurship and growth in New Zealand.  Just how fast things are moving was really brought home to me recently after I had a few weeks away from work.  When I returned last week I was amazed at how much has happened and changed in that small space of time that I wasn't here.  Feeling a little bit like I have been gone for years, I am now trying to catch up on all the innovation that happened in my absence!

We have several new start-ups now, at various stages of the market validation programme and it's exciting watching them go through the process of learning about their markets and defining exactly what their first products/services will need to be to convert their prospects to customers.

This Friday we're hosting the Capitalising on Research and Development Action Group (CRAG), who are holding a workshop which aims to engage with academics and business to hear their view on how NZ can more successfully capitalise on research and development. 

We're also getting involved in helping to host the international Startup Weekend for local entrepreneurs from 4th-6th November in Wellington this year.

Our investment group MIG Angels has opened itself to applications for funding from seed and startup companies after raising $1 million for its new angel investment fund, MIG Angels Fund 1.

The BCC are also working with Dr Isaac Bentwich, an Israeli entrepreneur who is in New Zealand for a year.  Dr Bentwich is a physician, inventor and entrepreneur who founded medical software company Pegasus Medical which was acquired by HBOC (now McKesson) for $15 million, the largest acquisition of an Israeli Life Sciences company at the time.  He is also the founder of diagnostics company Rosetta Genomics, which listed on the NASDA in 2007 and he recently started MediCloud, an international endeavor to develop a consumer-centred records and decision support system.  Dr Bentwich will be presenting at four events while in New Zealand, including the NZ Technology Trade and Investment Forum, Innovest, the 2011 Angel Summit and an upcoming e2e meet-up at the BCC.

Yes, keeping up with the pace of things at BCC is always a challenge, but it's one I love and I'm glad to be back in the office.  Things sure move fast in this start-up space, so I'll do my best to keep you up to date now that I am back on board.

Esther

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