Pushpay is the big winner at the 2017 Hi-Tech Awards in Auckland, claiming the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year category and the IBM Innovative Company award.
Over 900 people attended the awards ceremony, which celebrates the successes of New Zealand hi-tech companies across 13 categories and to recognise the 2017 Flying Kiwi, Frances Valintine.
Frances Valintine is founder and chair of the MindLab by Unitec and founder of the Tech Futures Lab.
In selecting Pushpay as the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year, the international judges said, “Pushpay was first to recognise a worldwide unserved market need: credit and collections help for churches and charities.
“They have combined hi-tech with an innovative business model and quickly gained impressive traction both locally and in America; as a result they are now in a strong position to dominate those markets even as they diversify their product line towards more conventional commercial customers.
“Pushpay is solidly profitable and a truly great example of nimble, fast-moving Kiwi innovation."
Biolytix wins best hi-tech #Maori #innovation award @callaghannz #HTANZ #TechWeek17 pic.twitter.com/TnxRbGe6J2
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 12, 2017
Another big winner is RedShield Security, garnering two awards – the Duncan Cotterill Innovative Software Product Award and the Kiwibank Innovative Services Award.
2nd win for Red Shield Security, nabs KiwibankNZ innovative hitech services award #HTANZ #cybersecurity pic.twitter.com/b8jcM8Wnk8
— Divina Paredes (@divinap) May 12, 2017
The judges remarked, “We were impressed with RedShield’s proprietary, patent-pending technology.
“RedShield uses a clever combination of security shields and consulting services to protect and mask clients’ security vulnerabilities and extend the life of their complex, high-value web applications.
This approach allows fast, secure deployment, whilst the underlying security flaws in clients' core applications can be addressed over time. RedShield's IP is a complex set of algorithms and processes, which scan and shield web-apps to address both technical and business logic vulnerabilities.”
The Hi-Tech Awards judges, said the calibre of this year’s entrants was at all-time high, making the job of selecting winners exceedingly challenging for the more than 50 local and international judges who assessed entrants across the 13 award categories.
The 2017 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners are:
2017 Flying Kiwi and inductee into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
Frances Valintine
Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award
Winner: Aliesha Staples
Highly commended: Kendall Flutey
Qual IT Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Sector Award
Winner: Orion Health & HealthOne
IBM Innovative Company of the year Award
Winner: Pushpay
ATEED Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector Award
Winner: Shotover Camera Systems
Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Maori Innovation Award
Winner: Biolytix
Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award
Winner: RedShield Security
Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award
Winner: Adherium
Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Services Award
Winner: RedShield Security
Highly commended: Navilluso Medical
NZTE Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Agritech Sector Award
Winner: Compac
Quick Circuit Most Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Award
Winner: oDocs EyeCare
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Winner: Latipay
Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Winner: Timely
PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award
Winner: Pushpay