KEY POINTS:
A Wellington start-up has been chosen as one of 40 participants at the San Francisco's TechCrunch40 conference.
Chosen from over 700 applicants, Ponoko's founders says it is the world's first personal manufacturing platform. Using its website, people can invent and design new products, then have them made to order, or sell their designs to others.
Founder David ten Have said Ponoko allowed anyone to turn an idea for a product into reality, by connecting designers and consumers to an international network of digital manufacturing hardware that could be controlled from any computer.
"The company also acted as a global marketplace for ideas and inventions, by allowing people to buy, sell and share designs," he said.
"It meant it would be easier and cheaper to bring ideas to market," he said.
At the conference, a panel of technology investors, commentators and representatives from some of the world's largest technology companies would assess each company on display.
"The conference is a fantastic opportunity for Ponoko to establish itself on the world stage," co-founder Derek Elley said.
Mr ten Have co-founded web development firm, Provoke, helping to build a multi-million dollar company within five years.
Mr Elley co-founded and internet marketing agency, First Rate.
Ponoko currently had a digital manufacturing bureau in Wellington and plans to open bureaus in the United States over the next few months.
- NZPA
