A panel of supply chain and hardware experts will discuss the biggest challenges faced by NZ Hardware companies
Thu 19 May 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
In person
27 Drake Street, 27 Drake Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010
Supply chain issues have been the hot topic of 2022. A panel of supply chain and hardware experts will discuss the biggest challenges faced by NZ companies exporting and importing goods. Hear their experiences and tips and tricks to building global hardware companies successfully from New Zealand, whilst also mitigating any delays without impacting your company in the long term.
The panel is conformed of Steve Saunders, CEO of Robotics Plus, Niamh Given, Investment Manager at WNT Ventures, Sean Molloy, Founder of NZ clean tech company Avertana and Michael Woffindin, CEO and Founder of Hairsense.
Whether you are a first-time founder, a business owner, or a senior executive, the panel's experiences will bring valuable insights into overcoming supply chain difficulties and building tech that scales.
After the session, there will be an opportunity for networking over drinks.
CEO/Founder - Robotics Plus and Founder WNT Ventures
Steven Saunders Ag entrepreneur, 35 years’ experience in the agriculture field.
Steven is the CEO and founder of Robotics Plus ltd (Named in the Thrive top 50 global AgTech Companies, RBR50 most innovative Robotic companies in 2020 and Forbes Asia top 100 companies to watch 2021).
Founder and Director of WNT Ventures, a tech incubator and a founding member of PlantTech Research Institute, both Private sector - Government initiatives.
Steve is the co-founder of Newnham Park Innovation Centre in Tauranga New Zealand, an active Angel investor, a shareholder Director of many privately-owned companies and tech startups.
A founding shareholder and Director of Rockit Global (Rockit apples), Miro Limited (Berry production) and MPAC (kiwifruit post-harvest).
Investment Manager - WNT, Director - Gait Intl
Niamh has a deep background in tech startups and extensive experience driving strategic growth. She spent over a decade in China, working in the dynamic and fast paced product development and manufacturing industry, working with both Fortune 500 companies and with startups helping them to bring their products to the global marketplace. During that time, she also co-founded her own online wine startup in China.
Niamh then spent two years working at Nest.vc in Hong Kong, responsible for all their corporate accelerator programmes across Asia. These programmes helped later stage startups launch into the Asia market and focussed around smart cities, retail tech, health tech and fintech.
Relocating to New Zealand three years ago, she worked as an advisor to a portfolio of companies, focussing on marketing and market penetration. She also continued her passion to support startups through joining the team at Soda Inc, helping early stage startups build out their business models and raising capital.