Agri innovators face panel of business best at Fieldays 2015
Fieldays and SODA Inc. are proud to announce eight finalists that will face the Dragons at the 2015 Fieldays Innovation Den.
The finalists include Ezy Cups – a brace which links two milking cups together, allowing the milker to ‘double cup’; Check-up – a diagnostic tool used to identify a bacterial udder infection in cows; Pastoral Robotics – a urine detection and spray system that can prevent grass deterioration; Liquidstrip – a filtration system designed to separate liquids and solids from waste effluent; Carry-mate – an electric fence carry system, Jet Stop – an automatic water control system, Click – a mobile temporary race fence, and The Mobile Mini Milker – a mobile cow milking system for lifestyle farmers.
"We are really looking forward to seeing all the innovations this year and these finalists will be ones to watch in the market place," says SODA Inc. CEO Dr. Claire McGowan.
These eight finalists, along with over 55 other innovations, will be on display in the Fieldays Innovation Centre from 10 June.
"The Fieldays Innovation Centre attracts thousands of visitors and is the perfect platform to launch and grow an agri-innovation" says Fieldays CEO Jon Calder.
"We’re excited at the growing ecosystem Fieldays has developed with the Den, Accelerator and Centre."
The Fieldays Innovation Den – powered by SODA Inc., is an initiative set up in 2013 to provide innovators with a rapid learning experience in order to help turn their innovations into valuable businesses. Innovators will also be exposed to business leaders and mentors through the process. Additionally, successful innovators have the opportunity to win cash and in-kind prizes.
A selection panel shortlisted 20 agri-innovators from around New Zealand to take part in a workshop series run by SODA Inc.
From there, the top eight were selected based on the information they submitted that detailed their innovative approach, stage of development, market opportunity, business viability, and team capability.
Winner of the Brilliance in Simplicity prize at the 2014 Fieldays Innovation Den and top 8 finalist for 2015, Greg Morgan, Founding Director of LiquidStrip, has built on the success from last year and will be launching a new commercial prototype in the Innovation Centre at Fieldays.
"The Fieldays Innovation Den is a great pathway to commercial success, the networks you make and the exposure you receive are invaluable," Greg says.
This year the finalists will face a high profile panel, including Rob Heebink, Research and Development Executive (R&D) at Gallagher; Craig Stephen, Chief Investment Officer at Tainui Group Holdings; Emma Blott, Fonterra’s General Manager for Science and Technology; and Nicole Buisson, Head of Customer Innovation at Vodafone.
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