Pushpay was the big winner at the 2017 Hi-Tech Awards, snagging the PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year and the IBM Innovative Company Award.
More than 900 snazzily-dressed people packed into the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre last Friday, marking the successes of Aotearoa’s high-tech companies across 13 categories.
In selecting Pushpay as the Hi-Tech Company of the Year, the panel of international judges, unsurprisingly, had some pretty high praise. “Pushpay was first to recognise a worldwide unserved market need: credit and collections help for churches and charities,” they said in their evaluation. “They have combined hi-tech with an innovative business model and quickly gained impressive traction both locally and in America; as a result they are now in a strong position to dominate those markets even as they diversify their product line towards more conventional commercial customers. Pushpay is solidly profitable and a truly great example of nimble, fast-moving Kiwi innovation.”
Nothing better than a @davidguetta feat. @Sia cover after your main course. #htanz @NZHiTechAwards #twnz17 #Techweek17 pic.twitter.com/x0oUdlvHqt
— Idealog (@idealogmag) May 12, 2017
Pushpay seen as a truly great example of nimble, fast-moving NZ innovation #htanz pic.twitter.com/1wDPet2Fj8
— NZ Hi-Tech Awards (@NZHiTechAwards) May 12, 2017
Another big winner was Staples VR’s Aliesha Staples, who won the Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award. Eye care company oDocs was another big winner, edging stuff competition to take home the Quick Circuit Most Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Award.
What better way to kick off #htanz than with a category where 3/4 finalist are female youths. An indication of what's to come in NZ Tech… pic.twitter.com/S8OX0KuHXO
— Kendall Flutey (@kendallflutey) May 12, 2017
Congrats to @odocs on the #htanz win! @NZHiTechAwards #twnz17 #Techweek17 pic.twitter.com/ckmXtNBAfo
— Idealog (@idealogmag) May 12, 2017
Another big winner was RedShield Security, which won two awards: the Duncan Cotterill Innovative Software Product Award and the Kiwibank Innovative Services Award. The judges remarked: “We were impressed with RedShield’s proprietary, patent-pending technology. RedShield uses a clever combination of security shields and consulting services to protect and mask clients’ security vulnerabilities and extend the life of their complex, high-value web applications. This approach allows fast, secure deployment, whilst the underlying security flaws in clients’ core applications can be addressed over time. RedShield’s IP is a complex set of algorithms and processes, which scan and shield web-apps to address both technical and business logic vulnerabilities.”
Meanwhile over the @RedShieldSec table #htanz pic.twitter.com/2Jj6QeMP7n
— NZ Hi-Tech Awards (@NZHiTechAwards) May 12, 2017
The Hi-Tech Awards judges, said the calibre of this year’s entrants was better than ever, making the job of the 50 local and international judges anything but simple.
Spoke at my 8th @NZHiTechAwards on the burgeoning NZ tech sector – always an inspirational night #HTANZ @TechweekNZ pic.twitter.com/251dPSXRGI
— Steven Joyce (@stevenljoyce) May 12, 2017
The awards event also featured the unveiling of the 2017 Flying Kiwi, Frances Valintine, founder and Chair of the MindLab by Unitec and recent founder of the Tech Futures Lab. Although Valintine was unable to attend the event in person, she appeared in a video message to thank everyone.
Frances Valintine.
New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chair Wayne Norrie said Valintine’s achievements speak for themselves. “Frances has achieved so much and is truly an inspiring and passionate individual. She is changing the way people think about technology and the pivotal role that it plays in our lives, not only today, but critically, how important it is to our future as a country. Frances is just an awesome person and a true role model for us all. It’s great that her peers recognise the contribution that Frances is making to New Zealand. She is truly a worthy recipient of the prestigious Flying Kiwi award.”
There be a dance floor, which means we be gettin' our groove on. Cheers again to all the #htanz winners! @NZHiTechAwards #twnz17 #Techweek17 pic.twitter.com/CbokusD8wt
— Idealog (@idealogmag) May 12, 2017
The 2017 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners are:
2017 Flying Kiwi and inductee into the Tait Communications Hi-Tech Hall of Fame
Frances Valintine
Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award
Winner: Aliesha Staples
Highly commended: Kendall Flutey
Qual IT Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Sector Award
Winner: Orion Health & HealthOne
IBM Innovative Company of the year Award
Winner: Pushpay
ATEED Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector Award
Winner: Shotover Camera Systems
Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Maori Innovation Award
Winner: Biolytix
Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Product Award
Winner: RedShield Security
Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product Award
Winner: Adherium
Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Services Award
Winner: RedShield Security
Highly commended: Navilluso Medical
NZTE Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Agritech Sector Award
Winner: Compac
Quick Circuit Most Innovative Hi-Tech Mobile Award
Winner: oDocs EyeCare
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year
Winner: Latipay
Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Winner: Timely
PwC NZ Hi-Tech Company of the Year Award
Winner: Pushpay
