NZTech Update – Supercharging small business

Hi Readers

Last week, I had the pleasure of spending time with Minister Nash, the Minister of Small Business, Revenues and Police.  We discussed many issues, but the focus of our meeting was the relationship between tech and small business.

I highlighted that most tech firms are also small businesses.  For example, the recent announcement by the New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA) that Game Studio revenues are growing at 43% and exceed $143m hides the fact that approximately $130m is coming from 10 large studios.  There are hordes of small game studios, that with better access to support might also become multi-million-dollar exporters.  Currently, NZTech, MBIE and the NZGDA are researching the local market and comparing it to international successes to identify ways to supercharge this sector.  The research report is due for release later this year.

The other side of the tech and small business conversation is the massive productivity gains that tech can provide for small firms.  The latest Xero Small Business Insights report is the sort of information that the Government should be using as it is provided in real time and the sample size is statistically significant, with data from over 300,000 subscribers.  The data clearly shows that small businesses, who deploy and use technology, report an increase in productivity and profitability.  Wouldn’t it be smart if the Government found a way to incentivise small firms to use the right technologies, sooner rather than later?

This week, I am looking forward to lunch with Minister Robertson and the Tech Leaders Executive to discuss the future of work and how large firms can work together to reduce the impact of automation on their workforces.  It’s encouraging to see large firms thinking about how they can do their bit to make New Zealand more prosperous.

Have a great week and stand by for the CTO announcement, expected later this week.

Nga mihi
Graeme Muller
CEO
NZTech

Workshop registrations now open!

Attend Blockworks on 12 October

Join the Security Summit

CONNECT

Join our next Wellington Connect Even on 6 September.  Graeme Muller will share an update on NZTech’s 2018 work. He will be joined by tech specialist, Jane Parker, who sits on the board of legal AI startup, McCarthy Finch.

Join TechMarketers on 21 August in Wellington, 22 August in Auckland and 23 August in Christchurch.

Join EdTechNZ on 23 August in Auckland for a panel discussion on the future of work.

Join FinTechNZ at their Winter Connect Event on 29 August in Wellington.  Attend the next
InsurTech meetup on 5 September in Auckland.  Register for the New Zealand FinTech Summit on 29 November in Auckland.

PROMOTE

Attend the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Forum New Zealand, 27-29 August in Auckland.

Attend WINTalk Project Connect’s next event with Steve Sammartino: The Lessons School Forgot on 31 August in Auckland.

Connect with experts on the 2018 Taking Care of Business – Small Business Roadshow this month visiting Manukau, Matamata, Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin and Westport.  Learn more here.

Wanted: global focused agritech businesses looking for fast growth, mentoring and access to global markets.  Apply for the 2019 Sprout Accelerator.  Join FinTechNZ’s James Brown at the IoT Waikato  meetup tomorrow in Hamilton.

ADVANCE

Well done to Agritech New Zealand’s Peter and Jacqui Wren-Hilton as finalists in the AmCham DHL Express Business and Innovation Awards.  Congratulations also to NZTech board member Mike Smith for his win.

Applications for the Edmund Hillary Fellowship (EHF) close on 2 September.  Register your internship listing with Summer of Tech.  Meet the 2018 New Zealand Spatial Awards finalists on 5 September.

CERT’s Cyber Smart Week is 8-12 October.  Save the date for the Tech Marketers conference on 28 February and AI-Day on 28 March, 2019.  Also, mark your diaries for Techweek’19 scheduled for 20-26 May.

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