This week geeks on a plane ( #GOAP) are visiting Auckland for a pitch competition. This is a big deal for local technology led startups and similar businesses looking to accelerate.
While here they will be at the Icehouse for a Rocket Pitch competition.
“Fourteen high profile investors, entrepreneurs and executives will make their way from Silicon Valley to New Zealand to engage with the start-up scene down here. Among the fifteen geeks are Dave McClure, Founding Partner of 500 Startups and representatives from top US start-ups, VC firms and corporates.
An earlier list of who is on the trip is as follows.
- Dave McClure Founding Partner 500 Startups @davemcclure
- Christen O’Brien Partner 500 Startups @christenobrien
- Jesse Thomas Founder & CEO Jess3 @JESS3
- Todd Sawicki CTO Cheezburger @sawickipedia
- Aaron Batalion Co-founder & CTO LivingSocial @abatalion
- Andrea Zurek Founding Partner XG Ventures @andreazurek
- Katherine Barr Partner Mohr Davidow Ventures
- Charles Hudson Venture Partner Softtech VC @chudson
- Paul Marcum VP Digital Marketing GE @jpmarcum
- Peng Ong Partner GSR Ventures (+ Founder,Match.com)
- Ryan Lawler Writer TechCrunch @ryanlawler
- Robert May Ceo, Founder Ringz.tv @robertleemay
- Sundeep Ahuja Investor @sunrock
- Wesley Chan @weschan
Organized by 500 Startups, Geeks on a Plane is an invite-only tour for start-ups, investors, and executives. They travel to the most exciting international start-up scenes with the sole mission of uniting geeks and exploring cross-border opportunities.
In association with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Geeks on a Plane will be visiting New Zealand from 10 – 14 December 2012.”
The Rocket Pitch competition combines a pitching competition and a kiwi barbeque. Go to NZ Rocket Pitch Competition for more details.
Update: December 18th – here is a clip from the competition
A couple of years back I wrote a post on The evolution of venture capital which was based around an essay by Dave McClure. This post from Dave is a favourite of mine.
Fear is the Mind Killer of the Silicon Valley Entrepreneur (we must be Muad’Dib, not Clark Kent):– Dave McClure – makes a lot of very good points – caution -this post uses very forceful language which might get stopped by your firewall – but its passion and essence is right on.