NZ firms find value in Singapore expo

Tech Venture 2001, a trade forum in Singapore attended by 11 New Zealand IT companies last month, was a success, say some of those who were there.

E.see.com general manager David Vassen says the Auckland company, which provides online management and storage of brand assets, wasn’t there to secure venture capital funding, as others were, but that attending was still beneficial.

"We went there to network and to meet with prospective clients. It was an information gathering exercise for us."

Contacts were made with several major Singapore-based companies and while venture capital wasn't on e.see.com's agenda, "it was good to see how the business works. We've been to a couple of venture capital events in New Zealand and it was good to see it from a different perspective."

Wellington-based Total Metering was also not present to get venture capital, but marketing manager David Talbot says contacts were made with potential partners.

"For New Zealand companies to expand globally, they need to find the right partners."

A company should establish connections first, a sales channel second and funding third, Talbot says.

Total Metering intends to pursue opportunities in the recently deregulated Singaporean electricity market, he says.

The other companies which attended Tech Venture were Global Ecomex, GlobalPro, KLG Systel, PayGlobal, Robotechnology, Synergy International, Travelgate Technology and Deep Video Imaging.

Deep Video Imaging chairman Keith Phillips says the expo was positive for the company but he noticed the impact of the September 11 terrorist attack in the form of the absence of US venture capitalists.

The trip was organised and partly funded by Trade New Zealand.