The final prize pack and sponsors for the overall winner of Hackagong 2013 has been confirmed. The winning team with the “most viable business potential” will receive $5000 cash thanks to both Pactera and Tibra, including desk space at iAccelerate‘s StartPad incubator, professional pitch training, business advice and consulting from Spoon Consultancy, as well as legal advice.
Last year’s Hackagong winners, Giftling, were able to benefit from their winnings by using the funds, desk space and support to establish a flourishing new startup in the Illawarra. We’re hoping this prize pack will give the same freedoms to the winners of Hackagong 2013.
At its core, Hackagong is about building cool and innovative stuff, but we also want to help teams to turn those innovations into viable and globally scalable businesses that can continue to solve problems for others and spread awesomeness throughout the world.
I’d just like to spend a moment to thank our sponsors for this prize. Without them Hackagong would not be possible, and I truly believe they are the champions of the development of the maker and startup culture in this region…
Tibra generously sponsored the major prize for the inaugural Hackagong in 2012, and is back again to support the development of this community. Tibra is a diversified global financial services company which was started in the local area (office in Austinmer) in 2006, but now employs over 220 people worldwide. Among other financial investment and management offerings, they develop incredibly advanced technologies and computer algorithms for trading securities and derivatives. They have a reputation for employing the absolute best and brightest programmers and mathematicians. Huge thanks to the awesome Tim Berry, Adrian Swain and the rest of the Tibra team.
Pactera is a global IT consulting and services provider employing over 24,000 worldwide. They are soon to open a near-shoring facility (a new office) in Wollongong at the Innovation Campus and are looking to hire around 40 people by the end of the year, particularly from the pool of talented graduates coming out of the university. The regional director, Michael McCann, is an awesome bloke who really wants to support the local community and help put Wollongong on the map as an IT and entrepreneurial hotspot. If you’re looking for a job in a fast-paced new IT business in Wollongong, definitely get in contact with Michael.
The University of Wollongong’s iAccelerate program was also an inaugural sponsor of Hackagong and has been an incredible supporter of the local startup ecosystem; establishing the first incubator/accelerator in Wollongong (StartPad), and the first student club to encourage entrepreneurship in Wollongong (UOW Entrepreneur Club). They are now moving into offering professional mentorship and educational programs to guide entrepreneurs from idea to successful, scalable businesses. Of particular interest to students, is their recently launched UOW PITCH competition. Huge thanks to Melissa Ryan, Deon De Saldanha, Elizabeth Eastland, Joanna Halios-Lewis and the rest of the team.
Spoon Consultancy is a new digital consulting startup with a focus on mobile that is being launched by Greg Dodd, of Dodd Accounting, an accounting firm based in Market Street that has been helping businesses for the last 22 years. Greg is a massive supporter of the local startup community and young entrepeneurs. The prize pack for last year’s winners, Giftling, didn’t have any business setup and advice component which they desperately needed. So about a week back, I asked around for potential sponsors, and within 5 minutes Greg had put his hand up. Champion.
Thankyou to these and our other sponsors for your support!
Ready for an epic weekend Wollongong?
Cheers, Nathan Waters
Hackagong + DemoDay Founder
