Published 31/07/2015

The first recipients of Chorus' and Alcatel-Lucent's $200,000 Gig-Start Fund have been announced today, with nearly $50,000 made available for three exciting initiatives.

A total of 19 applications were received during the funding round, with judges deciding three of the applications should receive funding. The winners are:

  • ResponseAbility from Brydie Meinung ($15,000 awarded)
  • Learning with a Difference from Shelley McMeeken ($12,000 awarded); and
  • Adventure Media Works from Derek Morrison ($20,000 awarded)

The winners also receive two places on a Co.Starters course in August, the start-up programme from Chattanooga in the United States that Chorus recently introduced in Dunedin.

Offering each of the winners the chance to go through the Co.Starters programme will be valuable for them as they develop their concepts, explore their ideas further and ultimately turn them into reality.

Chorus Chief Commercial Officer Tim Harris says the three winners all put forward a compelling case for funding.

"It's inspiring to see so many great ideas coming out of Dunedin making use of gigabit ultra-fast broadband . I'm really looking forward to seeing how these entrepreneurial individuals progress their business plans."

"ResponseAbility plans to develop an app and support programme to help with on-site hazard identification and health and safety management. This is a great initiative for what is a very topical issue."

"Learning with a Difference will use the funding to develop an animated learning programme to help children with dyslexia. We felt that they had a great concept and the funding will allow them to develop their prototype."

"Adventure Media Works has an exciting plan underway involving an online service for the photographic community"

The Gig-Start Fund was established to further develop innovation and help Dunedin to leverage the economic benefits of Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB ). The funding offers entrepreneurs and innovators the chance to develop and market a new service concept that will run over Chorus' gigabit UFB in Dunedin.

The next funding round for the Gig-Start Fund opens for applications at the end of August, and closes at the end of October.

Chorus is delighted to be partnering with Start Up Dunedin for the Gig-Start Fund. Jointly owned by the Dunedin City Council, Otago University and Otago Polytechnic, Start Up Dunedin has been focused on the start-up space for some time.

Also, as Start Up Dunedin already has a proven process for assessing and processing applications, it will run the judging process for future funding rounds.

For more information about the Gig-Start Fund,

For further information:

Nathan Beaumont
Stakeholder Communications Manager
Mobile: 021 243 8412
Email: Nathan.beaumont@chorus.co.nz

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