MYOB “Highly Impressed” by Kiwi Entrepreneurs

Media release: 30 March 2010

MYOB “Highly Impressed” by Kiwi Entrepreneurs

Leading business solutions provider MYOB says New Zealand entrepreneurs show great hope for the future, following this morning’s announcement of the winner of Launch Pad – a competition to find the best new start-up business idea in the country.

Launch Pad has been designed to offer entrepreneurial Kiwis the opportunity to win resources and services to help ‘launch’ their new business in its first year of operation. The winner of the inaugural competition is Dazzle Tickets, a new ticketing solution that manages the event ticketing process from start to finish.

Major sponsor of Launch Pad, and a member of the judging panel, MYOB general manager Julian Smith says there was a very high level of talent shown by all entrants. “I was highly impressed by the calibre of all those who entered Launch Pad,” says Mr Smith.

“We had entrants from throughout the country, with such a diverse range of new business ideas that it was a hard task singling out the finalists to pitch their ideas to our panel. We even had an entrant who, at the age of 15, had already been in business for three years. This shows that the Kiwi number eight wire mentality is definitely still alive and well in New Zealand.”

Launch Pad was developed as part of Planet 2010, a new technology and communications conference showcasing the future and value of communications technology held recently in Auckland. The conference was organised by Telecommunications Industry Group.

As well as MYOB software and support, first prize winner Dazzle Tickets received WorldxChange telecommunications, three HP Mini 5102 netbooks from Hewlett Packard, marketing and branding assistance from Republik, and legal services from Hudson Gavin Martin. The prize also includes account management support over the twelve-month period to ensure best possible value from the products and services provided.

Second prize was awarded to Life Time Health Diary, which provides a single and complete lifetime health and medical record. Speech School TV, a subscription-based internet channel designed to help teach English to people worldwide, was awarded third place. Both prizes include significant resources and support from the key sponsors.

“We all know that the first year of any business can be a struggle,” says Mr Smith. “That’s why we are very please to support the Launch Pad competition – to provide the experience, resources and support to make those first twelve months a lot easier – and really set them up to succeed.”

“It is so important that we encourage and champion Kiwi entrepreneurs, as they are key to growing our economy now and in the future.”

“We are very proud to be involved in such a positive initiative and thank all those talented entrepreneurs who took place in the competition. We look forward to seeing great things from all these emerging businesses in the future.”

ENDS

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