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Entrepreneurs' Challenge winners all have a biological look about them - how can that be?

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Wellington

 

If you look at it slightly askew there's a general biological theme to the three winners of a $1million prize in the University of Auckland'sBusiness School Entrepreneurs' Challenge.

But the businesses that now have some welcome additional growth funding are a mile away fromcommodity price takers as they look to expand into offshore markets.

As well as a capital injection from a fund established with a $3 million donation by expatriatebusinessman Charles Bidwell, the two Auckland and one Pukekohe based businesses will all receivementoring from the challenge's organisers.

Bidwell was closely involved with Ceramco, Bendon, Baycorp and Steel & Tube in the 1980s and1990s, and has helped establish the challenge with the aim of creating an entrepreneurial culture.The prize is in the form of a three-year loan.

The three companies have all been profiled in sticK, and all showed a passion and commitment todoing well for themselves and the country. They were:

Biomatters - biological researchsoftware that puts an easy to use, graphical interface on the huge amounts of DNA data routinelyused by geneticists

Greentide - Biologically-based pesticidemanufacturers; using entomopathogens to achieve insect control that is at least as good as chemicalcontrol

Piako Gourmet Yoghurt - creators of a new, creamier moreluxuriant fruit infused yoghurt and segment

Biomatters(see original sticK story) is focusing on the U.S. market, and having established a footprint inacademic circles is also concentrating on the commercial applications of its software. Unlike someof its competitors, where scientists have to be virtual computer engineers to manipulate andunderstand the DNA data, the company has created graphic-type interfaces that are easy to use andunderstand. That is, the type of desktop applications that a general computer user has grown upwith.

PiakoGourmet Yoghurt is in the process of opening a British production plant, and intends having thepremium yoghurt in Harrods by Christmas. Founder manager Shaun Jacka, who displayed a refreshingconfidence is predicting he was going to be a winner before the event, says the winnings havealready been spent in establishing his version of the empire striking back.

Greentideis gearing up its production, and its managing director Stephen Ford will spend the capital boost inthe sped up purchase of additional bioreactors in which to grow the fungal killer whose spores areturned into a form that vegetable growers can easily add to their current spraying platforms. Thespores themselves can be safely eaten (if you so desired!).

At a time when New Zealand's biologically-based industries are closely examining how theyreposition themselves for the future; such value-added products, with different forms ofintellectual property protection, are an inspiration for other businesses.

We will watch them with interest.

Entrepreneurs' Challenge winners all have a biological look about them - how can that be?

Entrepreneurs' Challenge winners all have a biological look about them - how can that be?
 
 
 
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