A team of veteran investors is set to scrutinise the expansion plans of six high-growth businesses in a million-dollar funding competition.
The University of Auckland Business School Entrepreneurs' Challenge has whittled down its competitor list to six who will face a Dragon's Den-style investment committee in a bid to graba share of more than $1 million in business funding.
Technology companies dominate, with only coffee wholesaler Three Beans Espresso outside the IT sector.
Tech entrepreneur and investment committee chairman Greg Cross said entrants to the competition, now in its sixth year, get more exciting every year and will make winner selection tough.
"We are thrilled at the calibre and potential in 2014," Cross said.
New this year is a category for young entrepreneurs seeking funding for high level advisory support plus an ongoing crowd-funding initiative run through newly registered platform Snowball Effect.
Winners are revealed next month.
The finalists
• 90 Seconds - cloud-based video production service with global reach. • Aura Information Security - website security specialists. • STQRY - mobile-based story-telling platform. • Vensa Health - mobile-based appointment reminder and health advice technology. • Three Beans Espresso - wholesale coffee company. • TranscribeMe - voice-to-text transcript firm.
