Bill Buckley's company Buckley Systems is a finalist for the top award. Photo / David White
Bill Buckley's company Buckley Systems is a finalist for the top award. Photo / David White
Two software companies, Xero and Serko, as well as manufacturing firm Buckley Systems are in the running for the top prize - Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2013 - at this year's New Zealand Hi-Tech awards.
The finalists were announced last night.
Xero makes cloud-based accounting software, and Serko createsonline corporate travel booking software. Buckley Systems manufactures electromagnets, charged particle beam line systems and high-vacuum equipment.
The awards are in their 19th year and the winners of each of the 12 categories will be unveiled in May. The 12-person judging panel for this year's awards include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Kiwi expat and Google director of Engineering, Craig Nevill-Manning.
Chairman of the Hi-Tech Trust Wayne Norrie said "amazing new companies" had emerged in this year's entries.
"This year's finalists range from companies in their infancy through to some of our biggest and most high profile high-tech companies," Norrie said. "New Zealand technology companies have a unique flavour that extends well beyond the realms of traditional ICT.
"It is great to see such a range of entries across the board and so many companies entering who are just embarking on their big journey."
PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year 2013 • Buckley Systems • Serko • Xero
Cisco Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year 2013 • EROAD • GreenButton • HydroWorks • Living Cell Technologies
MBIE Science, Skills and Innovation Group Hi-Tech Start up Company of the Year 2013 • BIMstop • Carnival Labs • Oritain Global • RedSeed
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) Hi-Tech Pre-Commercialisation Company of the Year 2013 • Performance Labs • Sensagrid • Solar Bright • Timely • Trigger Happy • Veritide
Telecom Business Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Product 2013 • Carnival Labs • ikeGPS • KlickEx • Mobi2Go
Fronde Hi-Tech Young Achiever 2013 • Robert Bell • Guy Horrocks • James Robertson • Sam Talwar
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Best Contribution to the NZ Hi-Tech Sector from a Multinational Company 2013 • Microsoft • Navico • Sprint International
