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23 June 2009
Dunedin air tracker gets US stamp of approval
Dunedin tracking service provider TracPlus Global, a client of Upstart Business Incubator in Dunedin, has received certification from the powerful Federal Aviation Administration in the United States. The certification covers its satellite linked service, which enables aircraft to be constantly tracked across oceans and to communicate. The oceanic blindspots of lost radio and radar contact were highlighted by the crash of Air France flight AF477 with the loss of 228 lives. If the Air France flight had been fitted with the TracPlus system the plane's position could have been pinpointed with no need for costly search activities. The TracPlus system updates the plane's or vehicles whereabouts every 20 seconds anywhere on the globe, whereas usual radar does not penetrate beyond about 200 nautical miles from the coastline. The TracPlus founder Chris Hinch has announced he is stepping aside as CEO of TracPlus to become director of product development and innovation. The newly appointed CEO is Stuart Campbell formerly of Xerox, Canon and Lion Nathan.
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1 April 2009
$3m Contract for Dunedin Based Company
Based on an article by Chris Morris: Otago Daily Times 24/3/09
Dunedin based company "Innovative Learning", headed by Dr Mike Reid, is joining forces with two international partners in a $3m deal to help fight the spreading "epidemic" of autism. Two new certificate programmes will be launched this year as the result of a partnership between Innovative Learning and Antioch University in Santa Barbara, USA; and will also be distributed by Ludlow Street Healthcare in the UK.
The programmes aimed to improve the care given to those diagnosed with a range of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by upskilling those who came into contact with them - including teachers, carers, GPs and other health professionals.
The certificates offer a combination of online learning and practical community-based exercises, and will be available worldwide with the first programme being rolled out in May 2009. Fees are yet to be finalised but is expected to earn the company about $3m in the first year, rising as the number of enrolments increases.
Innovative Learning was founded in 2006 and is one of the companies receiving support from Dunedin's Upstart Business Incubator Programme. The company employs two staff in Dunedin and nine in Santa Ynez, California. Dr Reid now divides his time between USA and Dunedin.
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31 March 2009
Global Positioning
Written by Lesley Springnall of Unlimited Magazine
- Issue 113, Sunday 1 March 2009
Tracking systems are a dime a dozen, so find your value proposition – that’s the sterling advice Dunedin’s Upstart business incubator boss Norman Evans gave software developer Chris Hinch.
On day one of American businessman Scott Kasprowicz’s attempt to break the round-the-world helicopter speed record, his satellite phone failed. All the months and months of planning Kasprowicz’s Grand Adventure 08 could have come to nothing, says Chris Hinch, founder and chief executive of Dunedin tracking technology firm TracPlus. But TracPlus, as well as providing real-time tracking for the record attempt, had written an application allowing Kasprowicz and his co-pilot Steve Sheik to use their tracking technology as a global text messaging system. “So they didn’t have to abandon the attempt. They could do all their coordinating and get all their messages through TracPlus,” explains Hinch.
Using TracPlus’s newly-opened US office in Atlanta, Georgia, the adventure’s AgustaWestland Grand helicopter’s combined tracking and messaging system enabled ground control to coordinate extremely fast turnarounds at refuelling stops. The quickest was less than five minutes, says Hinch. Kasprowicz and Sheik went on to smash the previous world record by nearly six days, taking just 11 days, seven hours and two minutes to circumnavigate the globe.
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13 February 2009
Economic Strategy Reflects Aim to be Wealthiest Region
Otago's five mayors have launched a 10 year economic strategy aimed at making Otago the wealthiest region in New Zealand per capita. The strategy was developed by Otago Forward, a grouping of the region's city, district and regional council leaders including Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, Central Otago District Mayor Malcolm MacPherson, Queenstown Mayor Clive Geddes, Clutha District Mayor Juno Hayes, and Waitaki District Mayor Alex Familton. Mr Geddes, the Otago Forward Chairman said the economic strategy had the 100 per cent support of all the region's elected leaders and had the potential to spur growth of many new and existing businesses. "The key element is the call to look at what assets we have and find ways to hook one area in with another to create new growth" he said. Businesses and ideas that fitted with the strategy could apply for Otago Forward funding to investigate feasibility of projects, and the strategy would help Otago businesses access central government funding. The strategy identifies theme areas which ae believed to provide the best opportunities. The top five are the film sector, entrepreneurs and high growth businesses, co-ordinating tourism development, improving communication and networks, and access to China. Many of these projects have already begun including the expansion of Upstart throughout Otago.
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15 January 2009
NZVIF Gives Angels a Halo
NZVIF has just launched the eagerly-awaited Halo Fund. The new $5 million angel investment fund is targeting investors in a bid to boost the capital available to seed and start up companies. Basically, the fund allows registered angels to take a passive stake in a diversified portfolio of startups that have been selected by the rest of the significant angel community in New Zealand, and SCIF (the government Seed Co-investment Fund). Halo will contribute 50c for every dollar invested into a business by the Seed Co-investment fund to a maximum of $125,000.
It’s a brilliant concept, in that it allows people to buy a diverse portfolio of 15-30 qualified investments. Angels can put in as little as $25,000. Proceeds from liquidating investments will be distributed to investors immediately. Once the fund closes there will be no further opportunity to invest.
The fund will operate for 10 years and it is the result of NZVIFs desire to recruit 1000 new Angel investors.