Challenge Network

The Challenge programme will involve partners located in New Zealand and across the United States.

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is an independent body of industry experts providing guidance to NZTE as the architect and key stakeholder of The Challenge. Find out more.

Judges

Our international judging panel represents the top echelon in their fields of expertise, both in the United States and New Zealand. Find out more.

Corporate Network

The Corporate Network includes United States and New Zealand health and health technology companies who may review and provide feedback to the business plan finalists from a partner perspective. Some members of this network will host a delegation at their facility and/or investigate possible partnering opportunities within their organisation. Find out more.

End User Network

The end-user network is comprised of United States and New Zealand healthcare providers, payers, and patient groups. Different members have agreed to help participants in different ways. End-users could participate by:

Providing information on areas of unmet medical needs or specific problems that require solutions.
Hosting a delegation at their facility.
Connecting the participants with employees who are interested in helping to develop the solution.
Providing feedback to the ten finalists on their business plans and how they might improve them from an end-user standpoint.
Serving as a pilot site for one of the finalists if any of the solutions are relevant.

Find out more.

Investor Network

The investor network includes United States and New Zealand companies, entities or individuals interested in funding health companies and technologies. Members of this network will provide feedback to the ten finalists from an investor perspective. Find out more.

Mentors

Mentors include experienced healthcare industry and business professionals who will advise the participants through Round Two of The Challenge.

Participants

Participants include New Zealand individuals, early stage or established businesses, health organisations, and academics who successfully entered The Challenge (entries closed on 31 August 2009).

Partner Organisations

Partner organisations are not-for-profit or industry organisations that are conduits to the health industry and act as The Challenge champions. Find out more.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is made up of employees from NZTE and IDC. The Steering Committee’s main duties will be to supervise the smooth running of The Challenge, enforce the policies and procedures which govern the competition and act as an escalation and conflict resolution mechanism.

In this section

The Challenge Organisers

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise(NZTE)

NZTE is the architect and key stakeholder of The Challenge.

NZTE will help facilitate, encourage, promote and bring to market the successful participants.

NZTE is the government's trade and economic development agency formed to stimulate and grow the international competitiveness, profitability and capability of New Zealand businesses. It does this by facilitating and coordinating access to a comprehensive range of resources, information and training, and by acting as an advocate for businesses and industries with high growth potential. For more information refer to www.nzte.govt.nz.

IDC and Health Industry Insights

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting services and events for the information technology industry. Health Industry Insights, an IDC Company, is an integrated, coordinated research team of analysts with deep health industry experience which provides research-based advisory and consulting services that enable healthcare and life science executives to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy.

IDC and Health Industry Insights are partnering with NZTE to advise and assist with the structure and operation of The Challenge. IDC’s main responsibilities will include facilitating The Challenge workshops, providing guidelines to the mentors and judges, and managing the awards ceremonies in New Zealand and the United States.