Greg Cross says young Kiwi entrepreneurs tend to be hesitant about bringing in outside expertise at the beginning. Photo / Dean Purcell
Young New Zealand businesspeople are shy about getting external advice that could boost business results, says a serial entrepreneur.
Greg Cross, chief executive of technology firm PowerbyProxi and chairman of the University of Auckland Entrepreneurs' Challenge, says, based on his observation, the first thing young US entrepreneurs do when starting
a business is "raid" whatever contacts and networks they have to bring in a high-powered external adviser.
"That's a key part of the start-up phase and here, for whatever reason, we don't have enough of that culture."
Cross is set to match young entrepreneurs with a world class adviser through a new category being offered by the annual Entrepreneurs' Challenge.
The EC-35 fund gives a Kiwi entrepreneur, aged 35 and under, up to $100,000 to bring on board an adviser or director. It complements the existing $1 million Entrepreneurs' Challenge, which offers high-growth companies the funding to turbo-charge their business.
