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Media Release
11 April 2020
8 Kiwi tech companies have been selected as finalists, with a shot at $30,000 prize money and global networking opportunities
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Monday, 5 th October 2015 – Samsung Springboard is off to a flying start, with The Icehouse and Samsung today announcing 8 finalists of the competition, drawn from over 80 outstanding applications. The 8 finalists cover a wide range of savvy and innovative Kiwi tech leaders, from wearables that enhance athletic performance to a new music education platform. Each finalist stands to win a range of mentoring and networking opportunities and resources, with the grand prize including a cash investment of $30,000NZD.
With 85 applications, choosing just 8 finalists was no easy feat, said Kenny Yeon, Managing Director of Samsung New Zealand and Samsung Springboard judge.
“The quality of the applications has been world class - it was a real challenge to narrow the pool down to just 8 finalists. It’s inspiring to see such innovative ideas emerging from this competition, and I’m really excited that Samsung can play a role in supporting these companies’ journeys into global markets,” said Yeon.
Andy Hamilton, CEO of The Icehouse, said they had an overwhelming response to the competition.
“I’m blown away by both the quantity and quality of all the applications. The calibre of these tech businesses is outstanding which says a lot for the Kiwi tech ecosystem,” said Hamilton.
The competition is not over yet, Hamilton said, and the finalists have a busy month ahead.
“Over the next month, the 8 finalists are going to be working hard to perfect their pitch in preparation for the finale event. I’m really looking forward to hearing them pitch and seeing who will take out the grand prize,” says Hamilton.
As part of the Samsung Springboard program, the 8 finalists will have access to leading business mentors and workshops to perfect their pitch. The winners will be selected by a panel comprising of some of the most influential Kiwi business leaders, including: Managing Director of Samsung New
Zealand, Kenny Yeon; Customers & Partners Director of The Icehouse, Cam Wallace; PowerbyProxi

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CEO, Greg Cross; Samsung Enterprise Director, Verdon Kelliher; and Dr. Michelle Dickinson (aka Nano
Girl). As well as the top cash prize and potential to connect into the global Samsung network, special prizes include $10,000 developer funding, a tenancy at Kiwi Landing Pad in San Francisco including flights, Samsung products and workshops from The Icehouse. The winner of Samsung Springboard will be selected at a live pitching event on the 5 th of November.
The Samsung Springboard Finalists
Area360 (previously known as Stqry)
Area360 innovate to enhance the way people experience, understand and connect with what's around them. Currenly in 5 countries, the company has developed countless applications, websites and content management experiences serving thousands of people around the globe.
Auror
Auror wants to empower everyone to play their part in preventing crime. They do this by making it simple for businesses to share intelligence on criminal activity and report crime to the Police electronically; connect the dots on organised crime groups; and prevent further crime in partnership with the Police.
CSx
CSx has developed an innovative, high-tech solution that collects neurocognitive data which medical professionals need and that empowers team management to act in the interests of player safety. The
CSx App provides all mandatory concussion protocols and sport-specific cognitive testing on a secure cloud-based platform, tracking a player’s neurocognitive history. CSx have started with rugby for market validation and will then move into soccer, league and other contact sports.
Parrot Analytics
Parrot Analytics is a data science company that has developed the industry’s first and only crossplatform, country-specific, real-time demand rating platform for TV and film content (Parrot Demand
Rating). The company's next-generation technology helps TV and film producers, content buyers, sellers and advertisers make more effective content decisions. It does this by capturing and analyzing
TV content demand in real time from hundreds of millions of viewers across the world; providing unprecedented insights into global content demand and predicting future country-specific content performance with a high degree of accuracy.
Melodics
Introducing and improving musicianship is the goal of Melodics. Built upon persuasive technologies, utilising adaptive learning and motivational design, Melodics software is the first music education

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Melodics will breed success in the area of learning musical instruments.
FaceMe
An innovative company that has developed a software platform that solves user experience issues with video and collaboration. Their technology is changing the way organisations can now communicate with each other, connect face to face with their customers and improve internal communication and productivity.
I Measure U
IMeasureU (IMU) build wearable devices that enable elite coaches, team s and athletes’ deeper training and performance insights beyond GPS and heart rate. Built on science-driven sensor data, fused with physics-based computational models, IMU provides coaches high fidelity athlete movement and workload data used to optimise recovery, training and performance. mediKOL mediKOL technologies intends to breakdown the communication barrier by being at the forefront of
Innovative Personal Medical Wearables, Mobile Applications and Software. mediKOL technologies will develop products, applications and software designed to enable efficient and effective communication between patients and first responders.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
To register your interest in attending the final event of the Samsung Springboard on Thursday 5 th
November, click here .
About The Icehouse:
The Icehouse is a business growth hub. We work with a wide range of businesses at various stages of growth - from entrepreneurs launching new ventures through to successful owner-managers wanting to take their business to the next level. We are in a unique position to give our customers the skills, clarity and support to grow their business or fast track their startup because no-one gets them better than we do.
New Zealand is a country of small and medium-sized businesses. The Icehouse was founded in 2001 in recognition of the importance of this sector to the NZ economy. We're committed to creating a high performing New Zealand economy where ideas and businesses thrive and we believe that to unleash the economic potential, we need to lift the capabilities and aspirations of owners, entrepreneurs and people who run start-up and SME businesses to enable them to take the business forward.

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Since 2001, we have worked with over 5,000 ambitious owner-managers and entrepreneurs. On average our established businesses grow revenue by 12% every year ; that’s 2.5 times faster growth than the average NZ business. Our start-ups have collectively created over 900 jobs, raised more than
$117m in funding and have generated over $325m in revenue.
The Icehouse is owned by a not-for-profit trust and backed by the financial support and expertise of the
New Zealand government and an extensive group of committed partners that includes: AJ Park, Bank of New Zealand, Deloitte Private, HP New Zealand, Microsoft New Zealand, Spark, Visa and our founder The University of Auckland Business School.
For more information visit www.theicehouse.co.nz
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
Samsung Electronics inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies, redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, printers, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. In
New Zealand we employ people in offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Furthering our commitment to improving the lives of New Zealanders through technology, we partner with Sustainable
Coastlines, St John and the Manaiakalani Education Trust. To discover more about Samsung New
Zealand, please visit our official website at www.samsung.com/nz and our official blog at www.samsung.com/nz/discover
Contact:
Grace Havill, The Icehouse, g.havill@theicehouse.co.nz
, 09 308 6238
Sally Vernon, Samsung NZ, s.vernon@samsung.com
, 021 833 630 / 09 477 7180