Cisco calls ANZ start-ups to join its global Grand Innovation Challenge til Sept 7

Cisco is seeking entries from innovative New Zealand and Australian start-ups, entrepreneurs, developers and inventors in the Internet of Things space to participate in its global 2015 Innovation Grand Challenge, which recognises, supports and celebrates up-and-coming IoT technologies.

Although the deadline is soon (September 7), entry is fast and simple. To enter, start-ups need to fill out a quick online questionnaire about their company and the concept to go into the running to be a winner.  The Grand finalists will pitch their ideas at the IoT World Forum later this year in Dubai.

Three winners of the competition will share in a total cash pool of US$250,000. The overall winner will take home $150,000 and will be awarded a special mentoring program from Cisco, including one-on-one sessions with top Cisco executives, as well as access to a Cisco IoE innovation centre to develop their concept, as well as potential investment and other forms of support in the company’s journey.

The competition aims at promoting and accelerating the adoption of breakthrough technologies and products that connect the unconnected. It will focus on three verticals – Manufacturing, Energy, Smart City and Transportation.

The ANZ IoT start-ups who want to take a chance at pitching their ideas to Cisco can submit entries into five categories:

• Infrastructure
• Middleware, platform & frameworks
• Data analytics & applications
• Security
• Fog Computing

If you know start-ups that might be interested in this competition do not hesitate to share this with them!

Last year, and Australian drone start-up called Propeller Aerobotics, was part of the 19 global finalists, and the only finalist selected from the ANZ region.

More information is also available online on Cisco’s blog