Booz.Allen backing e-ntrepreneurs

By CHRIS BARTON

International management consultancy Booz.Allen and Hamilton is entering the dot.com arena by offering consulting for a 5 to 20 per cent stake in embryonic e-commerce ventures.

The global initiative kicks off with an Australasian "Accelerator" unit (www.ebiz-accelerator.com) consisting of 10 Booz.Allen Australian staff, investment bank Rothschild Australia and international law firm Blake Dawson Waldron. Booz.Allen principal Martin North, who heads the e-business practice from Sydney, said there were more than 30 e-business deals in the pipeline, with 10 in Australia. So far none had come from New Zealand.

"We're a bit surprised about that, given New Zealand's reputation for entrepreneurship in this sector."