Wellington’s economic development agency is thrilled to see a strong result from the region’s high-tech businesses with eight Wellington-based companies named as finalists in this year’s Hi-Tech Awards.
Grow Wellington CEO, Gerard Quinn, says the number and calibre of Wellington finalists this year reinforces Wellington’s place as the high-tech capital of New Zealand.
“Wellington has a collaborative community which aids technological innovation and creativity," he says.
"The region has the most web-based and digital companies in New Zealand with many being internationally competitive. Wellingtonians are twice as likely as people in other cities to work in ICT.”
The finalists this year include technology businesses ranging from small startups, to multinationals with a wide range of products, reflecting Wellington’s diverse high-tech scene.
Wellington’s IkeGPS, Mobi2go and Social Code, took three out of four finalist places in the UK Trade & Investment Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Product category, with Wellington’s Xero announced as a finalists for PwC Hi-Tech Company of the year.
Other Wellington-based finalists and categories for 2015 are: Totara Learning, and Volpara Solutions, both finalists for Cisco Hi-Tech Emerging Company; Star Now, for Callaghan Innovation Best Technology Solution for the Creative Sector, and Mindscape, which is a finalist in two categories; Duncan Cotterill Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product and New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-Up Company.
Finalists in the 2015 category of Grow Wellington Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service Company, sponsored by Grow Wellington, are StarshipIT, Straker Translations and WaterOutlook. Ben Richmond from Xero has been shortlisted for the Fronde Hi-Tech Young Achiever.
Quinn says Grow Wellington encourages technology businesses to enter the awards.
“The awards present a chance for a company to gain international recognition," he adds.
"Becoming a finalist or winner brings fabulous opportunities for networking and promoting products and services, and brings attention from high-profile international judges."
The national winners will be announced at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards gala dinner in Wellington on 15 May 2015.