Local web firm plans mass onslaught on Amsterdam

By DITA DE BONI

The entire staff of Auckland web solutions company WebMedia is Amsterdam-bound in April.

And they'll be taking Gen X DJ star Mikey Havoc with them.

The company, which won gold at the European Multi Media awards in Amsterdam last year, wants to develop contacts made there during that time, and hopes to bring some business back to its Auckland base.

The 50 staff travelling to Amsterdam will take part in team building exercises and field visits to like-minded companies, says chief executive Glenn Harding.

The company will also host an industry event the night before it leaves.

"We want to show that New Zealand has all the talent to fulfil contracts from overseas, we just need more networks and the opportunities," says Mr Harding. WebMedia does work worth several million dollars for overseas clients in its Melbourne, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Auckland offices, but wants to work with other NZ firms to "help build the knowledge economy."

"New Zealand is a key place for people to come with business. Large companies in the States, for example, contract out their work all over the place, including Russia and other places in Eastern Europe.

"But New Zealand offers higher quality for the same budget, and because of the size of the market, Kiwi companies can take a diverse approach because we have not become too niche-focused."

Hong Kong-based technology incubator techpacific.com owns 10 per cent of WebMedia. Clients include Wells Fargo bank, Cuisine magazine and Roche New Zealand.

Links