CIO

Disruptors and innovators: ​Icehouse identifies 10 up-and-coming Kiwi digital startups

Lightning Lab Auckland Programme works with the latest entrepreneurial talent
At the Icehouse’s annual Demo Day event

At the Icehouse’s annual Demo Day event

10 promising digital startups have presented their company pitches at Icehouse’s annual Demo Day event.

The startups have completed the Lightning Lab Auckland Programme, an intensive four month programme designed to support the latest entrepreneurial talent, helping them to validate their product and launch their digital startups to market in order to secure investment.

Jeff Mann,Lightning Lab programme director, says this year’s companies are disrupting a range of industries such as cultural, education, tourism and security.

“We brought the teams together, in one space, to work alongside each other, to learn the principles of Lean Startup methodologies, gain access to quality mentorship and fast-track introductions to domain experts,” says Mann.

“The success of this year’s Demo Day is really a testament to how effective this programme has been,” says Mann, in a statement.


Digital guru, Steve Sammartino, on why big companies must learn from startups and the new players disrupting them.

The 10 Lightning Lab teams who pitched at the 2016 Demo Day event:

  • Dexibit: Is an emerging market leader in analytics for the cultural sector with client traction in NZ and USA. Provides a cloud solution that detects onsite visitor presence and behaviour within the culture centre and blends this with data from digital channels.
  • Foodcourt Online: Provides a platform for ordering and delivery from multiple restaurants clustered in virtual foodcourts. The platform relies on unique scheduling technology, and targets both busy working families with teenage children and corporate workers.
  • KitSet.io: Is a system that allows a non-technical business owner to quickly generate a fully branded quality mobile app or website to engage with their customers.
  • Phoenix Audio: Provides audio software designed to identify and smooth fluctuations in your hearing to ensure a deeper musical experience.
  • Reyedr: Is a heads-up GPS display for motorcyclists for safer and smarter riding.
  • SeekStock: Provides software which tracks customer demand for out of stock products through reports and real-time staff feedback, filling in the missing part of the stock visibility puzzle.
  • Slick Software: Is an education software that teaches languages through immersive content. Watch a movie or tv-series and learn the language at the same time.
  • Sonnar Interactive: Is introducing a new form of entertainment: interactive storytelling, providing an engaging, auditory experience that evolves through the user’s personal choices.
  • WayWiser: Is creating a new online club for adventure sports enthusiasts, making it easier to find, create and go on outdoor adventures with the right people.
  • Wireless Guard: Has developed and designed Hatch, a small, low cost security device which detects if doors and windows are left locked or unlocked, open or closed and syncs to your mobile phone.

Send news tips and comments to divina_paredes@idg.co.nz

Follow Divina Paredes on Twitter: @divinap

Sign up for CIO newsletters for regular updates on CIO news, views and events.

Join us on Facebook.