The ICEHOUSE and ATEED partner to fuel city’s businesses

Top business growth centre The ICEHOUSE and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) have formalised their partnership to help create an environment in which Auckland’s innovative high-growth businesses can thrive.

The partnership continues the two organisations’ history of working together to showcase Auckland’s innovation, encourage research and development in high-tech sectors, and stimulate angel investment in promising companies. 

The first component of ATEED’s $70,000 investment is its support of the New Zealand Angel Investment Showcase jointly organised by The ICEHOUSE and ICE Angels. The event on 23 October in Auckland will give 15 companies the chance to impress an invited audience of more than 200 potential investors.

Angel investors who attended last year’s Investment Showcase invested $2.5 million across 11 of the 17 start-ups which presented. Companies which attracted investment covered the spectrum of industry sectors, including 1Above, Caldera Health, Nextspace, Photonz, Nexus6 and MiniMonos. 

ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says the collaboration with The ICEHOUSE is a great fit with the council organisation’s vision: “ATEED is focused on delivering key priorities in Auckland’s Economic Development Strategy, which was launched by the Mayor last month. This will create a city where innovation thrives, a city with a skilled workforce, and a city of opportunity which attracts crucial investment.”

“Exciting collaborative developments such as the Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct, which will be a superb asset for Auckland when the first stage is completed in 2014, are fertile ground for ATEED, The ICEHOUSE and other organisations to ensure Auckland has a world-class business environment.”

The ICEHOUSE CEO Andy Hamilton says he is pleased to make the relationship official: "ATEED’s work with Auckland businesses complements our goal of significantly accelerating growth of entrepreneurs and owner-managed businesses across the region. 

“We are excited at the future possibilities of this partnership, given our common focus and the successful work we have already done with ATEED."

Named one of the top 10 start-up business growth centres in the world by Forbes magazine, The ICEHOUSE is focused on developing owner-managers and entrepreneurs who will shape the future of New Zealand’s economy. The ICEHOUSE has worked with more than 3500 ambitious owner-managers – from start-ups to established multi-million dollar companies – and aims to enable 1000 internationally capable, competitive and ultimately successful organisations by 2020.  It has helped raise more than $50 million capital through its Angel Investors group – New Zealand’s largest.

The partnership will also see the two organisations work together on initiatives including ICE Angels Chinese Group (regular meetings of Chinese investors in Auckland) and The ICEHOUSE’s popular monthly entrepreneur events First Wednesday for ambitious entrepreneurs.