2015 Talent Unleashed Awards open for entries

Technology recruitment specialist Talent International has launched the 2015 Talent Unleashed Awards, and has again enlisted the support of Sir Richard Branson as the prestigious program’s main judge. 

Now in its third year, Talent Unleashed is a global technology awards program for start-ups, entrepreneurs and visionary leaders, rewarding and recognising individuals who are unleashing, innovating and changing technology in business and the community.

Branson will announce and personally present the winners at the global Awards final ceremony on 11 September 2015 in Sydney, Australia.

The 2015 Awards program offers five categories, including: Best Start Up – Community or Social Impact; Best Start Up – Environmental Impact; Best Digital Business (SME); Most Disruptive CIO/CTO; and Best Tech IPO/Venture Capital Raising. The five Asia Pacific category winners, as well as two winners from the UK Awards program, will then present to the panel of judges and the two best presenters will win an exclusive trip of a lifetime to Branson’s Necker Island.

“Talent developed the Talent Unleashed Awards to stimulate the technology sector globally to become more entrepreneurial. Locally, the start up industry is vitally important to New Zealand’s economy and long-term future, so we launched the awards here in 2014 as a way to recognise the achievements our local tech entrepreneurs are making. We were delighted last year that two of our overall seven category winners came from New Zealand – Little Lot and The Mind Lab,” Talent International managing director Richard Earl said.

“Some of New Zealand’s neighbours, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, are running some interesting programs in terms of the support provided to their start up sector. One purpose of the Awards is to tap into synergies between these communities and share creative ideas across the region. In fact, Talent is currently developing ideas to take Talent Unleashed a step further and create a Tech Entrepreneur’s school in Sydney. Our vision is that the school will service Asia Pacific in order to develop a more robust and collaborative regional start up community. In due course, we’d like to look at a similar venture in New Zealand as well.

“Whilst we recognise that we cannot single handedly make this happen, our business has strong access to New Zealand’s 50,000-plus technology professionals and we’re very passionate about this space. We believe we can be a catalyst for a shift in mindset and do our bit to get things moving and make a school for the region’s entrepreneurs a reality.”

The Talent Unleashed Awards attract entries from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the UK and Europe. Talent will fly all Asia Pacific category finalists to Sydney for the Awards event on 11 September. There will also be an Awards event in London for finalists from the UK and Europe, with the two winners from that program pitching to be considered the overall 2015 Talent Unleashed Awards winner via video link at the Awards final in Sydney.

“Last year’s Awards were highly successful – we received more than 750 entries globally – and we anticipate this year’s Awards program to be even bigger,” Earl said. 

“Put simply, we are seeking entrants who have used technology to transform the business or social landscape.”

For more and to enter, visit www.talentunleashed.co Entries close on 17 August 2015.