Stick

‘Fire engine envy’ + time = sales

Peter Kerr • Apr 01, 2014

• contract writer,
• development,
• entrepreneur,
• fire engine envy,
• fire engines,
• Fraser Engineering,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• Lower Hutt,
• Martin Simpson,
• proprietary,
• Prototyping,
• Sciblogs

Fire engine envy. No, I never knew that such a condition existed, though it kinda makes sense if you happen to be involved in the fire fighting business. But fire engine envy is one of many factors that’s assisted Lower … Continue reading → … Read More

A trial with zero percent success proves trap’s worth

Peter Kerr • Mar 18, 2014

• A24,
• contract writer,
• development,
• goodnature,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• pest control,
• rats,
• Sciblogs,
• stoat,
• Stu Barr,
• Sustainability,
• writer for hire

 Any business that gets itself into a financial position to employ others is, by default, doing OK. If that operation starts with a completely new product, to survive long enough to (at least) thrive, is even better. So it is … Continue reading → … Read More

Driver of Callaghan accelerator services to put pedal to the metal?

Peter Kerr • Mar 04, 2014

• Angel investment,
• Callaghan Innovaiton,
• Chris Somogyi,
• CI,
• entrepreneur,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• Sciblogs,
• Science policy,
• start-up,
• writer for hire

We’ll make the assumption that Callaghan Innovation’s new GM of Accelerator Services isn’t there for the money. Chris Somogyi’s come relatively unannounced to the crown entity whose role is to accelerate the commercialisation of innovation by NZ firms. Softly, softly … Continue reading → … Read More

Finding the fruitful intersection of ideas and organisation

Peter Kerr • Feb 18, 2014

• contract writer,
• development,
• Handbook of Management and Creativity,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• Sciblogs,
• start-up,
• Stephen Cummings,
• writer for hire

 Ultimately this blog is a plug for Stephen Cummings handbook of ways that business can fruitfully marry management and creativity. Along the way it is also an endorsement of the Professor of Management at Victoria University’s Business School, and in … Continue reading → … Read More

We’re getting over our notions of shame around business failure

Peter Kerr • Dec 10, 2013

• Angel investment,
• business failure,
• contract writer,
• Dead Startup Society,
• entrepreneur,
• innovation,
• Lightning Labs,
• Market validation,
• Prototyping,
• Sciblogs,
• start-up,
• TIN 100,
• writer for hire

I’m putting the proposition out there that we’re getting over our collective Kiwi hang-up about startup and business failure. That is, whereas in the past we’d write somebody off for having tried, and been not successful in a new business … Continue reading → … Read More

KiwiNet and the sell of commercialisation

Peter Kerr • Nov 26, 2013

• andrew coy,
• Commercialisation,
• contract writer,
• Early stage science,
• entrepreneur,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• Kiwinet,
• Magritek,
• Market validation,
• Prototyping,
• Ruth Richardson,
• Sciblogs,
• start-up,
• university,
• writer for hire

There’s always something to learn at commercialisation workshops. KiwiNet, the group-hug of university and CRI commercialisation units held a Wellington-based forum around understanding customers. So, here’s couple of interesting bits and pieces from the day – of which I was … Continue reading → … Read More

‘Always be pitching, looking for feedback’ – Wipster’s Rollo Wenlock

Peter Kerr • Nov 19, 2013

• Angel investment,
• cloud computing,
• contract writer,
• development,
• editing,
• entrepreneur,
• innovation,
• Market validation,
• private equity,
• Rollo Wenlock,
• Sciblogs,
• start-up,
• video,
• Wipster,
• writer for hire

“Get your idea out there as much as possible, pitch it to everyone, even to strangers in a cafe, see what happens. If it doesn’t resonate, you probably don’t have anything.” That was Wipster head sherang’s advice given at Wellington’s … Continue reading → … Read More

High tech bible also delivers insights into business disposition

Peter Kerr • Nov 12, 2013

• awards,
• entrepreneur,
• greg shanahan,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• Jo-Anne Hazel,
• Sciblogs,
• TIN 100,
• writer for hire

The TIN100 Report aims to be an authoritative, dispassionate look at the high tech manufacturing, ICT and biotech industries of New Zealand. Through a thorough process, TIN100 founder Greg Shanahan, and research and publication manager Jo-Anne Hazel have put together … Continue reading → … Read More

Plenty of traps along the way for pest eradicators

Peter Kerr • Oct 29, 2013

• contract writer,
• development,
• Early stage science,
• entrepreneur,
• goodnature,
• high tech,
• innovation,
• pests,
• possums,
• proprietary,
• Sciblogs,
• Stu Barr,
• Sustainability,
• writer for hire

No one ever said that creating and perfecting a resetting, toxin free pest trap was going to be easy. The guys at Goodnature would be the first to agree, but, 12,000 or so sold traps later, the Wellington company that … Continue reading → … Read More

Making a green stand – literally and figuratively

Peter Kerr • Oct 22, 2013

• contract writer,
• entrepreneur,
• Flexibihition,
• innovation,
• Intouchdesign,
• Juliet Cooke,
• Prototyping,
• Sciblogs,
• Sustainability,
• writer for hire

Here’s an example of a simple idea being good, and a good idea being simple. It’s also pretty green in the scheme of these things as well as being a “why didn’t I think of that.” ‘Flexibition’ is the brainchild … Continue reading → … Read More