A ‘eureka’ moment came for Jeremy McLean at Snitch Inc when he received feedback from the mentors and judges at last year’s Westpac Auckland West Business Awards.
His young start-up technology business was growing rapidly, with their invention of GPS vehicle tracking technology proving popular with retail customers and corporate fleets. Related website-based products, such as the Radio Network’s TimeSaver Traffic website, were being added to their product line all the time.
However the judges’ feedback that the company would build an even stronger sustainable business by focusing solely on GPS tracking software galvanised Jeremy’s own thinking. He went on to make a huge decision to refocus the business and begin an Australian operation.
No one was more rapt therefore than Jeremy when Snitch was announced the winner of the Innovation in Business Award for 2010. Snitch’s staff are very proud of the award and it has earned the company public recognition and goodwill within the IT industry.
But the value gained from simply going through the judging process was the greatest benefit of all, according to Jeremy.
“I’d been contemplating our future, but feedback from the judges and mentors made me take a step back and evaluate what we were doing. I thought:: they really have a point,” says Jeremy.
“We developed their feedback into a strategy and it led to a shift in focus for us that has really moved our business forward this year.
“I’d thoroughly recommend entering the awards. This year I’ve already made a point of talking to several people who were on the verge of entering and convinced them to go for it!”
Free mentoring workshops, advice on business planning and help with the nomination forms are all available at no charge to companies entering the Westpac Auckland West Business Awards in 2011.
The final free workshop is being held Thusday 12 May at 4pm with places still available to register.
A team of business mentors from Unitec are available to help all companies with their entries, as are staff from the west
Entries close in four weeks time on Friday 10 June. This year the prize pool tops $65,000. Each category award winner will receive a $2,000 Unitec study grant plus a range of prizes from the award’s sponsors.
The geographic eligibility zone for the awards has also been expanded and now includes Hobsonville, Riverhead, Kumeu, Huapai, Waimauku and Woodhill.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for
All businesses considering entering are encouraged to register their interest at www.waitakereenterprise.co.nz/entrepreneur/business-awards as soon as possible. Event Manager Julie Stevens will make contact with you to assist with your application.
Interested in Entering? Here is what to do next!
- Register Your Interest »
- Download the Waitakere Business Awards Entry Form »
- Attend the Free Awards Tutorials »
Other Information of Interest
- How to enter the Business Awards »
- Entry Process and Key Dates »
- Catagories to Enter »
- Who Will Judge Your Entry? »
- New Extended Boundaries »
- Sponsors »
- Eligibility and Conditions »
- Awards Dinner Photo Gallery 2010 »
