What makes some companies grow at 25% pa and others wither and die? Performance and growth are tightly linked. Technology, development and innovation are engines of growth. How companies respond to and deal with innovation, in the context of local and overseas markets, can be the difference between their success and failure.
Companies with a commitment to growth exceed the performance of all other companies. These companies create value for shareholders, for customers, for employees and for New Zealand. These companies and their founders are the sustainable heroes of the New Zealand economy.

Chad Wilkie and John Cunningham established Ignition Partner in June 2002 to use their practical experience to help New Zealand companies that wish to grow.
Ignition Partner, through Chad Wilkie and John Cunningham, advises and implements. It doesn't just consult and report. Ignition Partner offers pragmatic advice and practical assistance with:

		Company situation assessment and strategies for all stages of company growth
		IP and Technology identification and strategies for innovation
		Project management of company innovation
		Overseas markets and value chain analysis
		Overseas alliance and network introductions and negotiation
		Company shaping for financeability and growth
		Company value and equity negotiation
		Paths to profitable exits.

For teaching institutions and government owned research organisations, Ignition Partner provides advice and practical assistance with the commercialisation process.

Your company will benefit from advice and assistance from John Cunningham and Chad Wilkie through:

		Structured company growth rather than muddling along
		Knowing what stage of growth you are at, and what to expect next
		Access to overseas networks of relevant businesses and real people.
		Understanding the correct export niche for your product or service
		Being financeable and attractive to investment capital and Government grants
		Both John Cunningham and Chad Wilkie have worked with a number of companies, at all stages of growth, and with research organisations seeking to commercialise.

Specific programs that Ignition Partner offers include:


Escalator - Ignition Partner is an accredited broker for Escalator.
This New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) Escalator service is aimed at assisting business growth by providing innovative small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial New Zealanders with skills and assistance to access investment opportunities.
Through the Escalator service eligible participants needing capital to expand, diversify or commercialise a new concept can develop a greater understanding of the issues around funding business growth, learn when additional investment is needed, what the options are and how to progress. Some may also gain help in securing equity investment and/or a strategic partnership from the specialist Escalator brokers.

The Escalator service offers:

		General information and assistance online at http://www.escalator.co.nz/ from a qualified Escalator help desk employee (0800 822 748)
		Assessments of your business/concept and its investment potential
		Investment-specific workshops at two levels (dependent on selected participants' level of investment readiness)
		Brokering expertise and assistance to raise capital up to $5 million (Please note: no lower limit exists.)
		Strategic partnership negotiation expertise and assistance
		Co-ordination, where applicable, with agencies and advisors such as accountants, lawyers, patent attorneys, share brokers, technical experts, government assistance programmes and other funding institutions.

PRIMED! FORMING TEAMS TO CREATE NEW BUSINESS FROM PROVEN PRODUCTS

Few people have all the skills and resources necessary to start and grow a successful business. But being part of a team of people which complementary skills, a sound product idea and business plan, and the support of highly successful technology business developers can help you be successful from the start.

Primed! is a programme from Ignition Partner to help you you build innovation skills while simultaneously building the foundations of a sound business.
Designed specifically for New Zealand people, and supported by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the programme follows proven programmes overseas which have become a recognised way of building successful businesses.
At the end of the 13 week programme you'll have increased your business capabilities, tested and developed a business plan, and be part of a team which is primed for business!

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT
Business and strategic planning

	Product development and manufacturing
	Marketing, human resources, intellectual property
	Business finance, venture capital preparedness
	Presenting your plan

HOW IT WORKS
After an initial weekend workshop. you'll spend one day each weekend attending the programme with your team, making it an ideal way to prepare for business while continuing your work. It also makes sense for an innovation team to accelerate business growth.

MENTORS AND SUPPORT
The support doesn't stop at the end of the programme.
All ventures formed will receive several months of ongoing mentoring from Ignition Partner.
Terms which choose to go into business will be assisted through start-up, plus pitching for capital, strategic alliance, or incubator entry.
These are critical stages in building a successful business, and you'll be guided and supported by the highly skilled and experienced business development people at Ignition Partner. That's an invaluable headstart towards business success.

WHO IS IT FOR

	Entrepreneurs, or employees planning their own business
	Companies needing to build innovation capabilities
	Graduate students wanting an entrepreneurial career
	Recent skilled immigrants needing New Zealand familiarisation
	Woman returning to the workforce

Courses for 2004 &2005
From 15/16 May 2004 Hamilton
From 24/25 July 2004 Hamilton
From 19/20 March 2005 Tauranga
From 23/24 July 2005 Hamilton

WHAT TO DO
CANTACT WAIKATO MANAGEMENT SHCOOL for more information and an application form.
Ph 07-838 4477 or email wmsinfo@waikato.ac.nz

Primed! is funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, from its Enterprise Culture and Skills Activities Fund.

LaunchPad - Ignition Partner participates in this program as workshop facilitators and mentors to participants.
LaunchPad is a high level training programme aimed at high impact/high potential companies to develop vital management capability skills necessary for innovation. It is aimed at companies up to 7 years of age and focuses on their business development growth potential.
Aims of the Programme

		To develop management capability of companies
		To focus on developing product push companies into high growth business
		Development of a business plan that encapsulates and works towards both vision (future) and immediate to medium goals
		Development of a Pitch that fulfils a strategic aim
		Companies complete a capability assessment to identify gaps in the business
		Access to networks
		To be supported throughout the process with high level commercial expertise via the mentoring process
		To companies to discover how important it is to know what they don't know
		For businesses to understand that business is about getting stuff done

Benefits for Participants:

		Access and support from experienced mentors in the IT sector
		Increased understanding of the differences between product development and business development
		Developed clarity of thought around the strategic aims of their business
		Acquire skills necessary to pitch successfully to a potential investor and / or strategic partner
		Identify gaps in their business model and learn strategies to compensate
		Identify the right strategic networks and how to use them to grow their business

Role of Mentors:
LaunchPad has been positively received by the marketplace due to the unique combination of high level mentors with sound commercial experience presenting while sitting in on class time. Their collective and wide ranging knowledge provides a supportive and exceptional encounter for all participants.

Testimonials from some LaunchPad participants include:

"The Launchpad programme - awesome, brilliant! It was beneficial for both of us to come because it highlighted our differences in skill sets and our kiwi attitude. It enabled us to stand outside and have a good look at where we are going. We came here thinking we knew our weaknesses but we did not. This programme provided everything and more that we wanted."
Leanne and Peter Maloney, Helipod

"It (LaunchPad) helped and forced me to work on my business. It was extremely successful because it created a plan and helped me narrow my focus so that the business is a lot clearer now."
Simon Norton, Dancing with Digitals

"LaunchPad was wonderful. It made me focus on what the next step is. I had ideas and it made me look at these ideas realistically, what is achievable and the sequential steps. The mentoring thing was really good and to have someone help me put things into perspective and to create a structure around these ideas is invaluable."
Beth Houlbrook, Backload Moving

For further information about LaunchPad participation:
contact Yola Macken Yola@enterprisewaitakere.co.nz