Wellington
Perhaps the best thing coming out of what is only the second
It feels like it is going to hang around.
The publicity (and recognition that it’s bloody hard work) given to up and coming businesses,or the ideas for businesses, is a virtuous spiral. Much of this is based on the notion that ‘heckif Joe or Joanne can do this….there’s no reason I shouldn’t.’
And with the success, (and failure…but let’s call it experience instead) of participants inthese Bright Ideas Challenges, will come more bright ideas. They might use BIC 2012 to develop it,but more importantly, look to explore it now. (As an aside, apparently this year's ideas were ofbetter quality than last year's inaugural event, so an onward and upward notion is definitely onthe cards).
Given the contacts and discussions and networking that the challengers (and those looking overtheir shoulders) will and have done, people will simply get on with testing, validating andcapitalising on an idea.
One of the most promising aspects of the finalists in BIC was the range. While there were a fairnumber of computer/internet/app based business ideas, the region’s science organisations alsoparticipated.
GNS won the science prize for ‘The Macerator’, a new technology to process samples for fossilanalysis – particularly useful in the oil and water exploration industries by those drilling forthe products. GNS hasn’t yet protected the technology, so is rightly cagey about revealing themethodology.
Tinkture Tattoo Aftercare received the consumer productprize for – well, it is self-named.
The main prize, taken by the Clean Technology Category winner, was
One feature the BIC organisers got right this year was the presentation ceremony. It took about10 minutes for all the category winners to be announced, and then after a quick speech by GrowWellington chair Fran Wilde, the winner, Helen Joronen, received the top award.
See all the winners, announced on Wednesday 2 November,
Then the all-important, arguably most important aspect of the evening. Smooching and connecting.The event itself started at 5.30, and was still going, after nine when sticK left.
If you want a totally non-objective indication of the value that people have and are finding fromBIC, look no further than that as an indicator.