The ICEHOUSE is an approved service provider for NZTE Capability Development Vouchers.

Small businesses may qualify for vouchers to help pay for ICEHOUSE programmes and services such as training workshops, courses and coaching that build the management capabilities of their owners, operators and key managers.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Capability Development Vouchers are only available through Regional Business Partners around New Zealand. Regional Business Partners assess local businesses to determine what their needs are, and assist them with a plan to help them develop, grow and innovate.

Vouchers may be allocated as part of the plan to help businesses pay for up to 50 percent of the cost of services (up to a maximum value of $5000 excluding GST) from registered providers that improve management capabilities in targeted areas.

For more information on the Capability Development Voucher scheme or to find your Regional Business Partner click here>

One of our very alumni start-up companies in the ICEHOUSE Incubator sold their company to a major US listed company. M-Com is the company, who have built up a fantastic reputation over 11 years of being at the top of mobile banking software in the world. What do they do again? If you want to use your phone to check your bank balance or transfer some money on the phone, it is often their software that makes it happen. They sold to a giant US corporation called Fiserv who are majors in supplying the back-end systems for banks to do their business in the US. M-Com is a great story of a group of talented founders, who are low-key, visionary and executors. Adam, Serge, Ed & Graeme have been great contributors to the ICEHOUSE community in advice and guidance and joining the parties. They charted their path in the world, and then executed like demons. This is a great milestone for not only them and the other shareholders, but their families and the 95 employees in M-Com. It is also a great celebration moment for The ICEHOUSE and our NZ Government, with NZTE and Technology New Zealand being major supporters of the M-Com team over many years. They sought out advice and wisdom along the way, not taking all of the advice offered, but they certainly partnered with people like the laconic and wise Martin Goldfinch who was originally with Telecom and more recently at ACC in their private equity team. Martin came to the M-Com team through their establishment of their advisory board in the early days and has been helping them since. Then when they started the discussions with Fiserv they reached out to local deal-maker guru John Strowger of Chapman Tripp (former partner of The ICEHOUSE and Board Member) to help make it happen as the flea danced with the elephant.

M-Com’s revenues are >90% export and they have gone through incredible growth over the last couple years. It was never a ‘sure bet’, they had tough times, but they found the way through. With the FiServe partnership they will likely accelerate 10x because FiServe are the global leader in the banking technology market. They now have access to a great balance sheet and market. This is another excellent story for New Zealand – these founders and employees will go onto other things, the best in the world has recognised them for being the best in their niche and been prepared to pay for it. Here is the link to their Press release>

Mumbai, January, 2010: eBUS MEDIA NETWORKS and AIDEM VENTURES (India) today announced the creation of a joint venture in India to offer a complete solution for digital distribution and management of Television Commercials (TVCs) to advertisers, agencies, media owners, content producers and broadcasters. Read more>
 

Tony Gorton attended our awarding winning Owner Manager Programme 20. On the evening of Friday 19 November Cardinal Logistics attended the Pacific Business Trust Awards where we were announced as the winner of the Pacific Employer/Workplace award recognising outstanding commitment to workplace learning and development.

Cardinal has maintained a strong focus over the last 2 years on supporting their people with a learning and development programme as part of their commitment to continually improving services to all clients as well as supporting staff with their personal development. The programme included introducing a combination of Workplace Language & Literacy education, NZQA qualifications in warehousing and distribution, the ‘FiSH! Philosophy’ and Lean Manufacturing into our workplace.

The results have been amazing and they are seeing significantly increased accuracies with respect to our warehousing services, a consistently positive work place environment and culture and a vastly increased level of personal confidence from their staff.

Congratulations to you and your team!!!
 

ICEHOUSE Graduate Maclean has been announced the winner of the Kaseya Australasian Managed Service Provider of the Year Award. Kaseya provides managed service platform technology to the vast majority of the New Zealand and Australian MSP market, and is considered the benchmark for Remote Monitoring & Maintenance technology, so to win this award lifts us to the top of the Managed Services Providers across the APAC region. Congratulations Chris and the team!

Dr. Ray Thomson was named the inaugural William H. Payne Active Angel in front of the 25 of his fellow ICE Angels and their partners last night at the year-end ICE Angels Investment Evening. 

Ray’s contributions to the ICE Angels this year have been meaningful and widespread.  To name a few, Ray has led one investment and participated in six, he’s joined the ICE Angels Advisory Board, he is currently driving the creation of the ICE Angels’ “Golden Seed” investment network, which will be a nationwide angel network that invests in woman entrepreneurs, he has attended a majority of this year’s events including the NZ Angel Summit, and he introduced his daughter, Tracey Thomson, to the ICE Angels, who is now supporting ICE Angels operations and management.

Also nominated for the award were Brian Casey, Scott Gilmour, Carlos Carvalho, and Michael Blennerhassett.

The ICE Angels’ William H Payne Active Angel Award is an annual, member-nominated award recognizing one ICE Angel for his or her extraordinary contributions made as a member of the ICE Angels.  The award is named in honour of Bill Payne, who spent five months in New Zealand in 2010 as the BNZ University of Auckland Business School Entrepreneur in Residence.
 

MicroDose and Nexus6 Announce Worldwide Partnership to Commercialize the SmartInhalerLiveTM Technology with MicroDose’s Electronic Dry Powder Inhalers.

Press Release>

With the student’s summer break coming up, The University of Auckland Business School can offer full-time interns. They are also organising part-time internship positions for companies during the year. Please see link to brochure setting out the scheme and the benefits to employers.  Brochure>

Tim Alpe of vehicle hire company Jucy has been named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year for 2010. Tim participated on ICEHOUSE Owner Manager Programme 5. Congratulations!!

Congratulations to all the winners in the 2010 Westpac Waitakere Business Awards. Last Friday night was a very successful event with over 720 guests.

Sir Ken Stevens from Glidepath won the Supreme Business Award and has previously won it in both 2001 and 2005. Sir Ken is also on The ICEHOUSE board.

Tasti Products was the big winner on the night, receiving three categories and the Westpac Supreme Award. One of the awards was the Large Business Award sponsored by The ICEHOUSE.

Congratulations to both, these awards were extremely deserved. Well done!

Last night at the AmCham DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards Gala Dinner, enlight photo won Exporter of the year under NZ$500,000 and M-Com winining Export of the year NZ$500,001 - NZ$5million.

Jucy CEO Tim Alpe has won the services category of the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and earned one of only five spots to compete for the overall title next month.

Alpe says "winning the award has given him a chance to step back and look at what the business has achieved. We are well on the way to achieving our goal of being a leading tourism services brand in Australasia. That’s been the goal from day one.”

In 2001 Alpe founded the company with his brother Dan and 35 cars. Since then Jucy Rentals has expanded its car and camper business with over 2000 vehicles on the road and offices in Auckland (CBD, Parnell, Auckland Airport), Christchurch, Queenstown, Greymouth, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns.

This year the company has also opened its first Jucy Hotel in the Auckland CBD and established its Helensville design and manufacturing hub Jucy By Design, where its unique Jucy “campas” are custom-built.

Jucy is also behind Cruize Milford and New Zealand’s first car share business Cityhop.
The Jucy Group now has more than 120 staff and an annual turnover of close to $30m.
An additional 250 Jucy compact but fully-featured campas are being put on the roads from October 1, ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
 

Congratulations to ICEHOUSE graduates starring in the finalists in the NZTE International Business Awards – Mobile Mentor, M-Com and Telemetry Research are graduates of our incubator. Mt Riley wines is a graduate of our Owner Manager Programme and we have done a customized management programme for Cognition. A huge gong for these entrepreneurs building globally competitive businesses  - good luck to you all. We’ll see you at the awards.

More information>

ICEHOUSE residents and owner manager graduates sat down to lunch with Derek Handley New Zealand entrepreneur and former CEO of The Hyperfactory. We heard his stories of success and failure. Derek recommended  us to have a look at the sequoia-dooms day presentation, make sure you have a look!

sequoia-dooms day presentation>

ASHLEY BERRYSMITH - Pioneer of the New Zealand fresh cut industry.

NZ Fresh Cuts founder Ashley Berrysmith talks about the inspiration and vision for his company, his experiences as 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and gives his insights into entrepreneurship.

Read more>

ICE Accelerator Graduate M-Com, won two awards in the 2010 TUANZ Innovation Awards.

• TUANZ Telecommunications Innovation Award sponsored by VectorFibre
• TUANZ Initiative of the Year Award sponsored by Voco
  
  More information>

Funding focused internship opportunity at The ICEHOUSE - supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. More information>

Three of our alumni are finalists for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2010

• Craig Carr, Carr Agricultural Group Limited - OMP 7
• John Woodham, Woodhams Wool Store Ltd - OMP 1
• Tim Alpe, Jucy Rentals - OMP 5
  
  Read more>
   

A Kiwi research company is earning big plaudits in the US for its mathematically based emergency response software. TVNZ>

Pod-Cast - Andy Hamilton on panel>

Business growth centre The ICEHOUSE has marked a visit to New Zealand by American angel investment pioneer Bill Payne by establishing the William H. Payne Active Angel Award... Press Release>

Our own Chairman Greg Cross well-deserved win of the 2010 TechNZ Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual of the Year. The team at The ICEHOUSE receives enormous benefit from Greg’s experience and contribution. TechNZ Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual of the Year>

One lucky business will get the chance to be mentored by some of the world’s best business brains at this year’s Westpac Waitakere Business Awards.

The ICEHOUSE, will be providing the winner of the Douglas Pharmaceuticals Best Large Business award with a place in the company’s innovative and award winning Owner Manager Programme, valued at $15,000.  In addition to working with established and mature business owners, they work with a number of start-up businesses and have recently been named one of the top 10 start-up incubators in the world by Forbes magazine...

Read more>

Newsletter>

United States experience shows gearing up New Zealand’s angel investment capability is key to creating jobs and economic growth... NZ Herald>

Kea launched its Pass It On campaign at a media conference in Auckland today. Kea Launches major 2011 initiative>

Last Friday, HRH Princess Anne visited The ICEHOUSE and met with residents to hear about their businesses. This was part of the Emerging Pacific Leaders’ Dialogue project. HRH Princess Anne led a study group of 12 emerging leaders from Pacific countries where small business development is an area of great relevance.  ICEHOUSE graduate Enlight Photo and Residents Nova Eco Tech and Podscape presented their business ideas to the group and discussed challenges around building new businesses. Read more to see photos.

Join us in cheering for FAST Pitch 2010 Winner and ICEHOUSE resident Big Little Bang and new ICEHOUSE resident Charge Communications’ LiveLinks  business this Saturday at the Planet 2010 Conference. They are 2 of only 6 finalists in the competition, vying for $70,000 worth of prizes. “Good luck guys”  from The ICEHOUSE team.

See all finalists listed in NBR http://www.nbr.co.nz/node/119844
Find out more about the conference at www.planet2010.co.nz

The ICEHOUSE contributes to Tony Alexander's weekly overview. The opportunity each month in this piece is to give some exposure to what is happening in the engine of the Kiwi economy – small to medium business.

November 2009>

January 2010>

February 2010>

NZ Business - R&D a great opportunity but how to make it happen?

Article>

Bill Payne was in the business of angel investing long before most of us had ever heard of it. He talks about angel investing.

Bill Payne>

A group of New Zealand businesses and business development agencies has clubbed together to bring leading American angel investor Bill Payne here for six months to share his knowledge with Kiwi entrepreneurs, investors and universities.

Press Release>

Business incubator The ICEHOUSE presents a five-part series offering advice for growing companies.

Top tips for getting started on the road to success - Ken Erskine
 
What start-ups need to know to speak the language of the angels - Bill Payne
 
Resolutions about getting into shape apply to your business too - Leith Oliver
 
Making certain your business is bankable - Alan Young
 
It's way past time to help owner-managers boost their profitability - David Irving
 

Reporter Renee Graham followed FAST Pitch through to its grand final.

FAST Pitch Competition>

Thinking of going Trans-Tasman? John Hastings of BNZ looks at things you need to consider before doing business across the ditch.

Read more>

The ICEHOUSE, business growth centre, has announced the winners of 2009’s hottest business pitch competition.  The 2009 FAST Pitch competition peaked with excitement as 10 finalists delivered their 60-second pitches to a packed house of investors, business executives and fellow entrepreneurs last night at the University of Auckland Business School.

Small business is a critical part of New Zealand's economy and the constant challenge facing many of our small businesses is how to grow into world class companies.

A businessman and entrepreneur killed in a cycling accident in the Czech Republic has been remembered for his zest for life and drive to help others.

Auckland father-of-four Perry Norwood Knight died on September 18, while holidaying with his wife Lindy.

Changing Gears: How to Take Your Kiwi Business From the Kitchen Table to the Board Room by David Irving, Darl Kolb, Deborah Shepherd & Christine Woods (Auckland University Press)

At last, a practical guide to one of New Zealand’s biggest business problems: How can we grow our small to medium sized enterprises [SMEs] into world-class companies?
 

With David Irving, co-founder of ICEHOUSE and honorary professor of enterprise and management at the University of Auckland, and Bernie Crosby, founder of ProLife Foods. (duration: 21′44″)

David Irving is one of four Business School academics to produce a new business publication (to be launched next week) called Changing Gears. This book is being described as the essential introduction to growing your Kiwi business.

Mike talks to David about anything and everything to do with business.

The Materials Accelerator is a materials development programme that aims to transform New Zealand’s manufacturing sector through R&D partnerships between industry and researchers. The programme has received nearly ten million dollars of government funding over four years (2009-2013). The intention is to build a national network of materials researchers that will create value for innovative New Zealand companies.

Last night, ICEHOUSE Partners Ernst & Young announced the 16 finalists for the 2009 New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year at a fantastic function at The Auckland Art Gallery...

The wrong mindset towards IT investment and new technologies can help businesses lose their competitive edge. This special report examines the impact new technologies can have on productivity, and ultimately the bottom-line. By Glenn Baker.

We are in the bottom quartile of the OECD and we are getting further and further behind our mates Australia. How do we move up the ladder?

Andrew Hamilton, CEO of business growth centre The Icehouse, has been named an “emerging leader” at the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards, the premier awards for leadership in New Zealand.

Andrew Hamilton, CEO of business growth centre The Icehouse, has been named an “emerging leader” at the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards, the premier awards for leadership in New Zealand.

A world leading learning centre for owner managers and entrepreneurs, The ICEHOUSE, has won the 2009 Vero Excellence in Business Support education provider award. Its CEO Andy Hamilton also won in the individual category this year.

“Faster than a speeding bullet, more accurate than a scud missile, will boldly go where no reasonable man should go, 500+ connections on Linked-In, 3,000+ Facebook friends... is there one man who has contributed more to business development in New Zealand?” This man is Andy Hamilton, CEO of The ICEHOUSE and the 2009 Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards Individual Award winner.

Photos from 2009 Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards - The ICEHOUSE won the most outstanding contribution to businesses in the Education Provider category and CEO Andrew Hamilton won the Outstanding Individual award at the prestigious Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards.

The ICEHOUSE is New Zealand's premier business growth centre.  Its CEO, alumnus Andrew Hamilton, gives Tess Redgrave the inside story.

Business growth centre, The ICEHOUSE has arranged yet another international collaboration by partnering with Joe Rouse, a Singapore-based investor and professional director to be The ICEHOUSE’s Executive in Residence, South East Asia.

Business growth centre, The ICEHOUSE together with other innovators from New Zealand has joined Icube, an initiative that encourages collaborative activities to enable start-ups to have greater access to incubators internationally.

Business growth centre The ICEHOUSE has appointed Ken Erskine as Director, Start-Ups.

Business growth centre The ICEHOUSE has appointed Dr. Peter Lee as a director to the Board.

In the first quarter of 2009 $1.5 million dollars was invested in growing companies by the ICEHOUSE Start-Up Fund and ICE Angels, the angel investment arm of business growth centre The ICEHOUSE.

The economic doom and gloom also creates golden opportunities, according to the departing chairman of business growth centre The ICEHOUSE.

Business growth centre the ICEHOUSE has formed a partnership with a group of human resources firms to help the ICEHOUSE’s clients develop high performing teams.

Finalists for the 2009 Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards are upbeat about the economy and innovative in services they are providing to support New Zealand companies according to the evaluation panel. There was a record number of entries for the 2009 awards and the quality of finalists was a notch higher than previous years.

Greg Cross looks at opportunities for New Zealand companies in the global recession.

The ICEHOUSE signed a Letter of Intent for cooperation with VIT-TBI - a joint initiative by VIT University and Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.

Business growth centre The ICEHOUSE has appointed three new directors – Jon
Hooper, Chris Quin and Trevor Smith.

Two of New Zealand’s leading investment groups, Sparkbox and K1W1, have joined forces to launch a Start-Up Fund for companies from the business growth centre, The ICEHOUSE.