The Icehouse's Ken Erskine said he had been working New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development to identify deep-pocketed visitors and invite them along.
"We're also asking [local investors who are regulars at pitching events] if they have any colleagues visiting from overseas who they would like to bring along," he said. Investors wanting to attend will have to prove their worth and show they earn more than $200,000 a year or own more than $2 million of assets.
Rather than schmoozing the guests over dinner, the showcase will get straight down to business. "There's no mucking around," Erskine said. "It's in, drinks, and then the pitches."
The companies involved will have 10 minutes to make their case and investors will be able to sign up then and there. "We're trying to do something a bit innovative, so the rule that we have is the companies involved are investable on the evening, so they have a term sheet and a lead investor already," Erskine said.
The event builds on other efforts to promote Kiwi businesses during the cup, such as the REAL New Zealand showcase at Queens Wharf.
"It's an extension of what we're trying to do down at the Cloud. We're saying, that's not all we've got to offer, we've got so much more. There's some great things down at the Cloud, but not all of them need money and there's many more [companies] that aren't there," Erskine said.
The pitching session is part of the Icehouse's wider campaign to get 3000 new internationally capable and competitive businesses up and running by 2020.
The incubator argues this sort of growth is essential to lift New Zealand back into the top half of the OECD.
"The primary motivator or goal is to create foreign exchange income. Generating business offshore, creating jobs in New Zealand and fundamentally profit for New Zealand companies," Erskine said.
The companies involved
The companies pitching at the investment showcase are being picked by the ICE Angels Advisory Board. The ICE Angels is an Auckland-based angel investment network which connects start-up ventures with willing investors.
The group is made up of over 100 investors, who have collectively put more than $30 million in 20 companies.
Companies who will pitch on the night include:
MiniMonos
MiniMonos is an online virtual world for children, that focuses on informing its young users about sustainability and environmental issues. Started in 2009 by entrepreneur Melissa Clark-Reynolds, the website has been growing 25 per cent each month for the past six months.
Nexus6
Auckland's Nexus6 provides data logging, communications and reminder technologies for patients, healthcare professionals and clinical researchers to deal with asthma. Its Smartinhaler devices monitor and report patients' medication usage to their doctors using wireless technology. Nexus6's products are distributed in seven countries, including Britain and the US. The company is a finalist in the 2011 University of Auckland Business School Entrepreneurs' Challenge.
Catch Design
Catch Design is a Wellington-based company that creates websites and online applications. Its clients include Super 15 team The Hurricanes, 2degrees, Whittakers, NZ Post and BNZ.
