Sitters says the ideas behind them take what New Zealand is inherently good at, and then develops them to have applications for health, science, sports, respiratory equipment and beyond. Several of the businesses that Sparkbox and its sister fund Global from Day One backs are leading the way internationally with new and innovative products.
Five years ago I was seeing ideas that were extremely raw – one had even come from a boy’s night out after an idea struck at 2am – now we get a pretty cultured email or call with at least an executive summary, mostly seeking an introductory meeting to see if there’s interest.” Adding new value to old commoditiesįor a national economy with strong roots in dairy, meat and forestry exports, smart start-up businesses are now focusing efforts on generating new value out of traditional product sectors.
#Sparkbox price professional#
“We are also seeing more and better quality ideas and concepts, being pitched to us in a far more professional and developed manner. Some of it is due to better education by authorities like the Angel Association of NZ and the Venture Capital Association, so there’s information more easily accessible on the web. There’s more professionalism from participants on the investor and service provider side. “I’ve definitely seen an improvement in the quality of those applying for funding. In the last few years the number of great ideas before us has grown dramatically.”Īnd the ideas being taken to the world are only getting better. “However, another important part of it is that there are more and more interesting people coming up with more interesting ideas. We have a good education system, a strong focus on R&D, and perhaps most importantly Kiwis can hold their own on the international stage.” “New Zealand enjoys many of the fundamentals needed for a strong and hospitable start-up environment.
“Part of the equation is a pretty buoyant economy,” he says. Backbone asked Sitters about how he identifies opportunities that generate new value for entrepreneurs, investors and ultimately NZ Inc, but first what he thinks is driving New Zealand’s flourishing ideas sector. With business never better – Sparkbox received more applications for funding last year than ever before. Sitters draws on more than 30 years of local and international experience in founding and developing organisations and is an original member of Sparkbox – a company earning a reputation over the last eight years as New Zealand’s premier early stage investment group. Greg Sitters, CEO of Sparkbox Venture Group (Sparkbox), talks to Backbone about a new wave of start-ups and the work he’s doing to fuel high growth potential in New Zealand with the investment it needs.
0 kommentar(er)
