Press Release: Trans-Tasman partnership for start-ups
Trans-Tasman partnership for start-ups
7 APRIL 2015, SYDNEY / AUCKLAND – Australian start up accelerator muru-D and New Zealand business growth hub, The Icehouse have announced a partnership that will extend the reach of the start-ups involved on both sides of the Tasman.
The agreement will see muru-D and The Icehouse share best practice acceleration principles, connect Australian and New Zealand start-ups and mentors, and expand their all-important business networks by fast-tracking access to potential investors and customers.
Annie Parker, Co-Founder of the Telstra backed, muru-D says, “New Zealand is well-known for its healthy entrepreneurial environment, so it made sense for us to look across the Tasman for our first global partnership. In today’s global economy we cannot operate in isolation; we’re confident this partnership will help us secure and encourage the best entrepreneurial talent.
“Our first muru-D global partnership will substantially increase the number of opportunities for both our current class and alumni, as The Icehouse gives us access to their extraordinary network of investors. The opportunities the muru-D start-ups can tap into through The Icehouse, particularly those seeking investors for Series A funding, are tremendous,” said Parker.
As one of the longest standing hubs in New Zealand, The Icehouse has been supporting owner-managers and entrepreneurs, shaping the future of New Zealand, for over a decade.
Andy Hamilton, CEO of Icehouse commented, “Over the past 14 years we have helped more than 250 start-ups to raise $117m of funding, with nearly 50 per cent of this funding coming from our fantastic angel investor network, ICE Angels.
“We’ve been very impressed with the calibre of muru-D’s start-ups and the ecosystem it has built to support them. We’re keen to leverage its excellent business and technology relationships and share our learnings, so that together we can help attract the best investors for our communities,” Hamilton said.
muru-D is a key part of the Telstra Software Group, and the partnership between muru-D and The Icehouse represents the latest avenue for the Group to grow its global footprint, following recent acquisitions and partnerships across Asia, Europe and the US.
Charlotte Yarkoni, President of the Telstra Software Group and muru-D Co-Founder, says, “In addition to our recent overseas investments, for example Silicon Valley-based video delivery platform Ooyala, the strategic partnerships muru-D are undertaking are key as we build a thriving global ecosystem of entrepreneurs.”
After six months of intensive workshops, mentoring sessions, a trip to China and many business pitches, the second class of muru-D start-ups are coming to the end of their acceleration journey. On 7 May, interested investors and budding entrepreneurs are invited to come along to hear their stories and watch them demo their progress by contactingrachel@muru-d.com.
ENDS
muru-D Media contact: Cath Harris + 61 477 747 176
Email: media@team.telstra.com
www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/
Reference: 60/2015
About The Icehouse:
The Icehouse is a business growth hub. We work with a wide range of businesses at variou stages of growth – from entrepreneurs launching new ventures through to successful owner managers wanting to take their business to the next level. We are in a unique position to give our customers the skills, clarity and support to grow their business or fast track their startup because no-one gets them better than we do.
New Zealand is a country of small and medium-sized businesses. The Icehouse was founded in 2001 in recognition of the importance of this sector to the NZ economy. We’re committed to creating a high performing New Zealand economy where ideas and businesses thrive and we believe that to unleash the economic potential, we need to lift the capabilities and aspirations of owners, entrepreneurs and people who run startup and SME businesses to enable them to take the business forward.
Since 2001, we have worked with over 5,000 ambitious owner-managers and entrepreneurs. On average our established businesses grow revenue by 12% every year, meaning they grow 2.5x faster than the average NZ business. Our startups have collectively created over 900 jobs, raised more than $117m in funding and have generated over $325m in revenue.
The Icehouse is owned by a not-for-profit trust and backed by the financial support and expertise of the New Zealand government and an extensive group of committed partners that includes: AJ Park, Bank of New Zealand, Deloitte Private, HP New Zealand, Microsoft New Zealand, Spark, Visa and our founder The University of Auckland Business School.
For more information visit www.theicehouse.co.nz
Icehouse media contact: Grace Havill, Communications Manager
Email: g.havill@theicehouse.co.nz