TINTalk: Successful Early-Stage - Lessons Learnt with AUT

Greg Shanahan

Presenter and MC

As captain of the TIN team, Greg’s dedication for the technology sector led him to establish Technology Investment Network (TIN) in 1999. His in-depth industry knowledge is underpinned by his role as co-founder and MD of high-tech medical device company Veriphi. Greg will present findings of the TIN research team and facilitate the discussions. 

Steve Corbett

CEO - AUT Ventures

Steve’s role is to further develop AUT’s commercialisation capability into a tightly focused, highly effective delivery platform that is sustainable, economically viable and socially responsible. His expertise is working with entrepreneurs who are looking to develop a global business, and where technology is a key component and can be a differentiator – ideal attributes for AUT Ventures, which is focused on translating smart ideas into practical business models, products, and services. Prior to joining AUT, Steve was CEO at Massey’s eCentre Incubator since its inception in 2001 and has a strong track record in commercialising early-stage technology along with networks across New Zealand’s innovation eco-system and beyond.

Mike Jenkins

Director - The Instillery

Proudly Ngāti Raukawa, Mike was born in Wellington and raised in the mighty Waikato where he still resides. Following a Degree and a Postgraduate study at AUT and Portsmouth University (UK) and a professional career with IBM and Cisco, Mike founded The Instillery in 2013. Eight years on, following rapid growth and supported by a merger & acquisition including Vo2, Origin IT & TwoBlackLabs, The Instillery is recognised as Aotearoa’s leader in Cloud, Next Generation IT Managed Services & Privacy.  

Mike’s personal accolades includes CEO of the year at the Westpac Waikato Business Awards while The Instillery was recognised as the fastest growing privately owned tech business and an EY10 companies to watch in the 2020 TIN awards. Mike also Chairs the boards of Be Intelligent andKnode and isa trustee to the Cultivate and Elevate Aotearoa's Future trust.

Jack McQuire

Partner - Icehouse Ventures

Jack is a Partner of Icehouse Ventures, an investment group backing brave kiwi founders. Icehouse Ventures has invested $260m in 280 kiwi startups to date. Jack joined in 2013 with a focus on growing their investor community and actively working alongside founders, most closely working with Ask Nicely, Joyous, Genoapay (Acquired by Latitude FS), Pyper Vision and Komodo Wellbeing.

Garth Sutherland

CEO - The Insides Company

Garth Sutherland is at the helm of The Insides Co, an award-winning health tech company that provides gastrointestinal medical devices to surgeons for the treatment of patients who have intestinal failure. Garth previously founded digital health company Adherium and grew the company through to IPO. He has established operations and built teams in NZ, the UK, Europe, and the Bay Area. He is a member of the NZ Institute of Directors and has received education at MIT, UCLA, and the University of Waikato.

Wendy Thompson

Founder & Co-CEO - Socialites

AUT alumni, Wendy Thompson, is a marketer and experienced entrepreneur. She founded Socialites, a social media marketing company in 2010 and has grown it to be a multi-million dollar global business with international clients such as Microsoft, Amnesty International and Kimberley-Clark. Along with growing Socialites and managing teams across Asia and Australia from their Auckland head-office, Wendy is passionate sailor and foodie (that can sail but can’t cook). She has two teenage daughters and doesn’t believe in work-life balance – its’ all life.

Bex Rempel

CEO - Zerojet

Bex Rempel is the CEO and co-founder at ZeroJet, a high-tech company aiming to remove the need for combustion engines on small boats.  ZeroJet’s turnkey electric jet propulsion system allows boat builders to electrify their range of boats with minimal hassle. Bex is a Chartered Accountant and has been growing companies in the marine space over the past 7 years. 

Tim Wixon

Head of Technology Industries - BNZ

Tim heads up BNZ’s technology industries portfolio and proposition, working with over 35 bankers across New Zealand who focus on financing and supporting software, software-enabled, high tech manufacturing and biotech businesses.Tim has been with BNZ for 7 years and spent most of that time building BNZ’s capability around financing tech companies and is progressively working on more thought leadership both inside and outside the bank to try and help build NZ’s tech industries for the benefit of the industry and NZ.