Building better businesses with transformative tech

Pictured above: Igor Matich.

With AI creating both excitement and uncertainty for Kiwi SMEs, Hamilton-based tech firm Dynamo6 is helping businesses cut through the noise. Founder Igor Matich offers up some pragmatic, people-first digital solutions that he hopes will help drive real transformation and long-term growth.

For many of Kiwi SMEs, the promise of AI remains more theoretical than practical. While 32 percent of SMEs have now started using AI tools, nearly double the figure from the year prior, a significant portion still feel the technology is not relevant to their operations, or simply don’t know enough about it to get started.

Yet, those who have invested in digital tools are seeing rapid returns. According to MYOB’s latest Business Monitor, nearly half of SMEs that measure return on their tech spend reported a positive impact within six months, including improved efficiency, reduced workload, and greater marketing effectiveness. Still, confidence gaps, resource constraints, and fear of the unknown continue to hold many back.

That’s where companies like Dynamo6 come in. Founded in Hamilton by tech strategist Igor Matich, Dynamo6 helps businesses navigate the complex, often noisy world of digital transformation with a pragmatic, human-focused approach. Cloud-native from day one and now increasingly focused on AI enablement, the company delivers technology solutions that support smarter operations, scalable growth, and long-term capability – particularly for those who don’t know where to begin.

From Zagreb to NZ

Igor’s journey started in the former Yugoslavia, where he grew up in Zagreb during the turbulence of the Balkan conflict in the 1990s. In 1995, his family moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and it’s here that he found his footing – and eventually, his future in tech.

“My dad was a computer programmer, so tech was in the house. But I wasn’t interested in the same way. I was more drawn to engineering and systems thinking,” Igor says.

Like many teens, he experimented with risk – but ultimately found focus through study, completing a diploma in IT and rising quickly through the ranks in the industry.

Before long, Igor had earned a CTO role while still relatively young – working for major integrators like HP and building service teams for clients across New Zealand. But something was brewing.

“I could see the cloud was coming,” he says. “And with it, a whole new business model. The traditional way of doing IT – selling hardware, charging CapEx – it didn’t fit anymore. To me, sticking with that would’ve been like trying to hold back the tide.”

So, in 2012, he left the executive path behind and founded Dynamo6. The timing couldn’t have been better.

Betting on the Cloud

Dynamo6 was born cloud-first – not just in name, but in ethos. While many IT providers were still trying to replicate on-premise infrastructure in new clothes, Igor says that he saw the power of hyperscale platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure to fundamentally reshape the industry.

“You can’t compete with the scale of those global platforms. Trying to host locally and call it cloud just didn’t make sense,” he says. “So from day one, we aligned with the best of breed.”

That clarity paid off. Over time, Dynamo6 built a strong reputation across public and private sectors, delivering cloud migrations, infrastructure upgrades, security improvements, and custom software solutions for organisations including Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Hamilton City Council, and educational institutions.

But what really set the company apart was its approach to solving business problems – not just tech ones.

“We’re not just developers or engineers. We look at your processes, your goals, your data structure. It’s about how you actually operate as a business.”

Today, that approach is more relevant than ever, especially as AI introduces a new wave of disruption.

Cutting through the AI hype

With the explosion of AI tools and LLMs like ChatGPT and Gemini, many business leaders are scrambling to figure out where to start. Igor’s advice? Start experimenting with AI, but also get your house in order.

“AI that integrates with your company data isn’t just plug-and-play,” he says.

“It needs more consideration. You need the right cloud foundation, secure data, governance policies, and people who understand how to innovate. Otherwise, you’re just creating risk.”

For Dynamo6, AI is already baked into their operations, from developers using it to speed up code and automate documentation, to delivering AI-powered solutions like image recognition and search interfaces for clients.

But much of the company’s current AI work is still in the “preparation” phase; helping businesses safely enable tools like Microsoft Copilot or Google’s Gemini, setting up data access and privacy controls, and advising on internal policies.

“We’re often asked to help organisations write AI use policies, check their security, or explore safe adoption paths. Sometimes it’s about building something bespoke; like an AI-powered search that helps a manufacturer access decades of documentation and specs instantly.”

And while AI gets the headlines, the real transformation work still often comes down to digital basics; better security, smarter data management, and cloud      readiness.

Solving problems, not just selling tech solutions

One of Dynamo6’s key strengths is its ability to move between cloud infrastructure and software development with ease, providing integrated solutions that aren’t locked into vendor-specific thinking.

“We don’t build or implement tech solutions just because someone asks us to,” Igor says.

“We carefully understand the business requirements first and offer trusted advice. For example, if a customer asks us to build a custom application, and if their requirements point to a SaaS solution that does 80 percent of what they need, we would suggest they use it and leverage software APIs to build the remaining 20 percent or adopt their business process.

For Dynamo6, this problem solving approach extends to implementing and optimising core business systems like Microsoft 365, to building secure customer      portals and digital dictionaries to bespoke applications for logistics firms, the company is focused on creating long-term value, not short-term revenue.

“We’ve got the scale and skills to build enterprise-grade solutions with global reach from day one. Because we’re already operating in that cloud-native, [DevSecOps] way of thinking.”

That technical capability is matched by a clear people-first culture. Something Igor, an avid footballer, credits to his passion for team dynamics.

“Football is life,” he laughs. “You can’t just have superstars. It’s about balance, trust, and getting the best from each role. That’s how I think about teams at Dynamo6 too.”

One of the most distinctive aspects of Dynamo6’s story is that it is headquartered in Hamilton. At a time when many tech firms were Auckland-bound, Igor saw an opportunity to do things differently.

“We moved from Auckland to Hamilton for family, and just stayed. There’s an amazing tech community and energy here. And when you combine that with remote capability, there’s no reason you can’t scale nationally or globally from the Waikato.”

That vision is reflected in Dynamo6’s team structure. While headquartered in Hamilton, the company also has offices in Auckland and Wellington working with clients across New Zealand and growing connections in Australia and beyond.

The next few years will be all about scale. With an advisory board now in place and a plan to expand, Igor is looking at organic growth, strategic partnerships, and possibly acquisitions to take Dynamo6 to the next level.

“We’re only scratching the surface. There’s huge demand for what we do, especially from businesses that don’t want the ‘same-old’ approach to IT.”

Igor recently spoke on the topic of AI and tech at the NZBusiness Future Tech & Your Business event.

NZ tech’s moment

Beyond Dynamo6, Igor is vocal about the potential (and challenges) facing New Zealand’s tech sector. While he praises our niche innovation strengths, particularly in Medtech and Agritech, he’s also realistic about what needs to change.

“We need bolder leadership. More investment in people, in real capability. Tech is now part of every business, but too often it’s still underfunded, under-prioritised, or misaligned.”

He believes CTOs and CIOs need a stronger seat at the executive table – not just to maintain infrastructure, but to lead strategic transformation.

“It’s not enough to keep the lights on. You need to be changing processes, improving customer experience, and driving real innovation.”

And when it comes to AI, that means not just experimenting with prompts, but building habits and systems that integrate AI into the core of how businesses operate.

Read more: People, purpose, and the power of leaping first

For businesses looking to level up their digital capability, whether it’s cloud, security, software, or AI, Igor’s advice is consistent: start with curiosity and a clear view of your business context.

“You don’t need to dive headfirst. But you do need to explore. Be inquisitive. Build a team that’s willing to try new things. And most importantly, work with partners who don’t just sell you tech, they help you solve the right problems and innovate.”

That mindset has driven Dynamo6 since its earliest days. And with AI now opening new frontiers, Igor says that he and his team are just getting started.