We’ve had a fantastic year at the NZSA in 2014 with membership growing by 50% and more importantly our members saying they’re receiving real value from attending the monthly events. One member says it’s been “his most valuable source of networking this year”.

Some highlights of the year have been:

• A new sponsor, Ubiquity, providing access to their data-driven marketing platform
• Launch of our new logo and website
• A new membership level, Small Company Member, allowing up to 2 people from one company to attend as members
• A sell-out “Angel at My Table” event in August attracting over 80 attendees and 5 early stage companies seeking investment
• A growing LinkedIn group and increasing activity and engagement on Twitter
• Tremendous speakers including:
  • Mike Riley sharing the Endace story
  • Hal Josephson with 8 strategies for export success
  • Scott Bradley on VMob’s global expansion
  • Ben Casse outlining Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s agile development approach
  • Shane Mercer from Aviarc
  • Graeme Frost detailing Keystone’s UK expansion success
  • Frances Valintine, preparing youth for tomorrow’s world
  • Josh Daniell on equity crowdfunding
  • John-Daniel Trask on Mindscape’s fast growth with Raygun

I look forward to welcoming you at the next event in December on how to grow sales in the USA. 

Tomorrow, we’ll be as American as apple pie! At this final NZSA event of 2014, we will dive into the challenges and opportunities for Kiwi software companies to achieve commercial success in the USA.

According to NZTE, the number and profile of New Zealand technology companies in the US is growing, and increasingly attracting the attention of American venture capitalists and corporate investors – particularly with the support of programmes like Beachheads and the Kiwi Landing Pad. Come ready to pose your questions to our speaker panel of seasoned industry experts:

• John Blackham, Minnesota-based CEO of enterprise process planning software provider XSol
• Kevin Ptak, former Global Communications Manager of network management company Mako Networks, recently returned from Silicon Valley
• Richard Wells, Sales Director at New Jersey-based migration software and services company Valiance Partners
• Owen Scott, Managing Director at Concentrate and publisher of the Market Measures report, which looks at how companies secure leads (vs USA benchmarks) and how they make their sales process more efficient.

Where? Glengarry Victoria Park, 139 Wellesley Street, Auckland, Auckland New Zealand

When? Tomorrow, December 9, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm

How do I register? Click here to register

NZSA is always looking for interesting articles to add to our website and this newsletter. Whether it is related to a recent business success, or a significant project commissioned or completed by your company on an international scale, we would like to hear from you.

Similarly, if you have any suggestions for speakers that you would like to see presenting at our events, please let us know.

Contact Gavin Lennox at president@nzsa.org.nz

Continuing with its mission of providing networking opportunities for its members, NZSA is carrying out promotions at a number of events with the aim of getting some fresh faces to NZSA’s dinners.

IBM has announced its Global Entrepreneur Program for Cloud Startups. This program is designed to help entrepreneurs harness the power of IBM Cloud, connect with enterprise clients, consultants, IBM Innovation Centres, VCs, Accelerators, Incubators & more.

The new program is the Industry's leading one for both benefits and value

• Only major cloud vendor to offer a formal program to connect entrepreneurs & enterprise clients
• One of the most extensive global networks of technical expertise
• Technical Breadth - a full suite of Cloud services, including mobile and security!
• Highest value Cloud Startup Offering in market! Up to $US120k of Cloud credits to eligible startups
• A leading vendor to offer go-to-market and mentor advice to entrepreneurs

The program includes cloud usage credits for both IBM's Bluemix PaaS consumable services and SoftLayer IaaS for innovative entrepreneurs who are building born-in-the-Cloud apps. To find out more and to discuss your entrepreneurial ideas, please contact Kerry Frith at kfrith@nz1.ibm.com