Invenco is the big winner at the 2018 Hi-Tech Awards, claiming the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year category.
Close to 800 people attended the annual awards dinner in Christchurch, held to celebrate the successes of New Zealand hi-tech companies across 13 categories and to recognise the 2018 Flying Kiwi, Claudia Batten.
“Invenco prevailed with its unique combination of extraordinary growth, scale and profitability,” according to the international panel of judges.
“Invenco’s outdoor payment terminal systems combine hardware, software, and data communications, showing Kiwi expertise in all these fields. Invenco’s revenues come from all over the world, as do its team members, but its Kiwi values of collegiality and tenacity shine through in ways that make Invenco a great global representative of New Zealand high tech."
Congratulations to @InvencoGroup - 2018 PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year! #htanz pic.twitter.com/ukaO9Y9XdO
— PwC New Zealand (@PwC_NZ) May 25, 2018
We’ve made a big push this year to encourage and celebrate diversity
Another big winner is Dexibit, garnering two awards – The Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution Award and The ATEED Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector Award.
The judges remarked, “Dexibit is a business with a deep sense of purpose and passion for museums, culture and art.
“It is creating advanced analytics tools that provide great value and new possibilities for its clients all over the world. The judges were impressed with the bravery, growth and global reputation for leading innovation Dexibit is building in its sector.”
Congratulations @Dexibit for your win at the Hi-Tech Awards. Great to see #culturetech go mainstream! @angie_dexibit #htanz
— Melissa Firth (@mslissa) May 25, 2018
The Hi-Tech Awards judges said the calibre of this year’s entrants was at an all-time high, making the job of selecting winners exceedingly challenging for the more than 70 local and international judges who assessed entrants across the 13 award categories.
New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chair Jennifer Rutherford noted the diversity in the lineup of winners.
“We’ve made a big push this year to encourage and celebrate diversity and whilst we are still on the journey, it’s really pleasing to see we are making progress and that was clearly reflected up on the stage this evening,” said Rutherford.
Rutherford said 2018 Flying Kiwi, Claudia Batten “has achieved so much in her own career and is truly an inspiring and passionate individual.
We are not a developing ecosystem anymore, we ARE an ecosystem - and growing up in a phenomenal and amazing way - @ClaudiaBatten Our newest Flying Kiwi - congratulations! #HTANZ pic.twitter.com/MXNedfzTzM
— Callaghan Innovation (@callaghannz) May 25, 2018
“She is someone who is doing so much to help Kiwi tech companies succeed on the global stage. Her own success is inspiring so many of our up and coming companies.”
“What stood out most for me was the level of diversity, which is phenomenal by global tech standards. The representation is finally looking fairer in terms of gender, culture, age, early and established firms, industry application, and regions right across New Zealand,” says Callaghan Innovation CEO Vic Crone.
“This was topped off by the sector’s timely and heartfelt embrace of our Maori heritage. Maori tech success is on the rise and there are signs that the Maori economy could play a key role as this nation's largest investors.”
The 2018 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners are:
2018 Flying Kiwi and inductee into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
Claudia Batten
Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever
Winner: Aliesha Staples
Visa Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good
Winner: Emergency Q by Healthcare Applications
IBM Most Inspiring Individual
Winner: Lillian Grace
ATEED Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector
Winner: Dexibit
Callaghan Innovation Best Hi-Tech Maori Innovation
Winner: Straker Translations
Highly Commended: Code Avengers
Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution
Winner: Dexibit
Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product
Winner: Enatel
Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Services
Winner: Beca
NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for the Agritech Sector
Winner: Gallagher Group
Quick Circuit Best contribution to the NZ Hi-Tech sector by an internationally headquartered company
Winner: IBM
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Winner: Banqer
Highly Commended: Code Avengers
Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Winner: Ask Nicely
PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year
Winner: Invenco
Congratulations @strakerglobal and all other finalists for Best Hi-Tech Maori Innovation tonight. And thanks @callaghannz for your support for our sector #htanz https://t.co/wmWCbZErED
— Kiwa Digital (@kiwadigital) May 25, 2018
Congratulations to our former North America Regional Director, the entrepreneur and tech extraordinaire, and the expert squiggler, none other than @ClaudiaBatten, for taking out this year's Flying Kiwi Award at #htanz pic.twitter.com/wFzhKeO6aQ
— NZTE (@NZTEnews) May 25, 2018
Got a pretty good seat here. #htanz Look a giant @francesvnz!! pic.twitter.com/eCCqItiAnp
— Vaughan (@nzvorn) May 25, 2018
We are thrilled that Enatel Motive Power has won the Most Innovative Hi – Tech Hardware Product at the NZ High Tech Awards this evening. #htanz pic.twitter.com/ZvkAeMA7X4
— Enatel Limited (@Enatel_Limited) May 25, 2018
Congratulations @BecaGroup for winning Hi-Tech Award Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service. Great way to finish #Techweek @MatthewEnsor #htanz #twnz18 @NZTechIA
— Graeme Muller (@graememuller) May 25, 2018
Thank you to all our friends across the NZ Hi-Tech ecosystem! We are so honoured to be recognised with this award. #htanz https://t.co/NVsBrDirAr
— IBM New Zealand (@ibmnz) May 25, 2018
And for the second time this evening, highly commended goes to @CodeAvengers. This one's for the Hi-Tech Start Up Company of the Year. Category sponsored by @nzvif . #htanz
— NZ Hi-Tech Awards (@NZHiTechAwards) May 25, 2018
Morris Pita, Healthcare Applications - Winner of the Public Good Hi-Tech Award - An inspiration using tech to tackle hospital emergency dept congestion #HTANZ @NZHiTechAwards 👏🎉🎊 pic.twitter.com/S6J0siDm5H
— Callaghan Innovation (@callaghannz) May 25, 2018
Wow, what an honor to be taking home a #HTANZ award tonight in Christchurch! Thanks to the whole team and all our amazing customers!! pic.twitter.com/uk6DI77vIH
— AskNicely (@asknicely) May 25, 2018
A greatly deserved tribute to @NorrieWayne at the 2018 @NZHiTechAwards for his contribution to the awards and the industry #HTANZ pic.twitter.com/WqnzqCtcu0
— Owen Gibson (@owengibson) May 25, 2018
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