Octana.io Raises $1.5M Pre-Seed Round to Accelerate the Adoption of Headless Content Management Systems Around the World
- : Octana.io
- : 10/11/2022 10:00
Auckland, New Zealand, November 10th 2022, Octana.io today announced their NZD $1.5m Pre-Seed capital raise led by local innovator, Hillfarrance Venture Capital.
Octana, which was spawned in mid 2022 from award winning digital agency Apolinar, helps organisations adopt headless Content Management Systems, such as Contentful, by giving them a simple, quick and easy way to build, manage and maintain complex websites on top of any headless content management system.
Headless platforms, like Contentful, are becoming increasingly popular as organisations are impacted by the maintenance, scalability and security issues associated with legacy monolithic platforms such as WordPress. However, without an app like Octana in their technology stack, they can easily run into complexity and content management issues that can prove very costly to solve, in part due to the constantly changing nature of website projects.
Anna Dao, Octana’s Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer said: “This is obviously an important milestone for us and we are delighted to be partnering with Hillfarrance who share our vision and passion for the way websites are built and maintained. This funding will allow us to accelerate our growth and scale our team, creating more technology jobs within the Queenstown Lakes region.”
Anna continued: “We have proven across Australasia that Octana can create huge value for organisations such as UP Education and Dubber, whose marketing teams now have the tools they need to manage their own headless websites without the help of developers. It’s now time to take Octana into marketplaces such as the Contentful App Marketplace in order to drive mass adoption of headless technologies across the world.”
Rob Vickery, Founder and Managing Partner at Hillfarance said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the team at Octana as they set out to transform the way organisations use headless platforms. We have huge conviction in founders that come from the creative industries and the way in which they build businesses, grow teams and use innovative ways to change their customers’ lives for the better.”
He continued: “I believe Octana is the right product at the right time supported by a team with a proven track record of delivery which is why we decided to fund the round in its entirety. We are deeply excited about the innovation coming out from the Queenstown Lakes region and we intend to build a base there in the first quarter of 2023.”
Octana is offered as a stand-alone software app that can be hosted anywhere. It talks directly to the headless platform via APIs and gives organisations the ability to build and maintain beautiful websites quickly and easily using modern design systems. With Octana, marketing teams can create pages, change content, run campaigns and operate at scale without having to engage developers or agencies to support them, which is transforming the way they interact with the web and radically changing the economics of website management.
About Octana
Octana is a software app that gives organisations that have adopted headless content management systems the ability to build and maintain beautiful websites quickly and easily using modern design systems. With Octana, marketing teams can create pages, change content, run campaigns and operate at scale without having to engage developers or agencies to support them, which is transforming the way they interact with the web and radically changing the economics of website management.
About Hillfarrance
Hillfarrance Venture Capital is one of the leading early stage venture funds in New Zealand. Based in Auckland, Hillfarrance invests in audacious entrepreneurs who are solving the biggest challenges that matter in the worlds of artificial intelligence, gaming and content and climate change. The companies they invest in are predominantly focused on international expansion, especially into the US, and pushing the technological frontiers of what is possible in their sectors.
- Anna Dao_founder
- : Tim Nichols
- : CMO
- : tim@proxi.co.nz
- : 0226424657
- : https://octana.io
Lemon.io revealed the list of digital nomads’ safest and healthiest destinations: Australia, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, and Portugal take
- : Lemon.io
- :
Lemon.io, a talent marketplace connecting venture-backed startups with vetted software developers, rolled out the list of the safest and healthiest countries for digital nomads.
Lemon.io analyzed data from two leading indices for health and safety — the Global Health Security (GHS) Index and Global Peace Index (GPI) — to determine the healthiest and safest countries with visa opportunities for digital nomads. Among the leading countries in the GHS Index, which measures every country’s preparedness to deal with public health emergencies like epidemics, are Australia, Germany, New Zealand, France, Spain, and others. As for the most peaceful countries in the world, the countries that topped the list include Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Czechia, and Hungary.
Combining the two statistics, Lemon.io discovered the six countries that should be on any digital nomad’s definitive work destination list, both in terms of health and safety. These are:
- Australia
- Germany
- Hungary
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Portugal
There are also visa-pending states that are likely to be added to the main list as soon as the digital nomad visa issuing starts. These are Italy, Latvia, and Indonesia.
“Currently, there are nearly 40 countries that issue special visas for digital nomads. While many still measure their appeal based on traditional criteria such as cost of living, visa requirements, or infrastructure development, the past years have shown what truly matters: health and security. Having helped 800 remote developers around the world find employment, we at Lemon.io know firsthand how important it is to be comfortable working in different countries and under new circumstances,” — said Aleksandr Volodarsky, CEO of Lemon.io.
To help all the wanderlusts decide on their next destination, Lemon.io has prepared an informational starter pack for each destination option, which includes information on average monthly rent, estimated cost of living, eligibility, visa duration, visa cost, and the required monthly income to live comfortably in their desired location.
See Lemon.io’s full analysis of the top countries in terms of safety and health here.
ABOUT LEMON.IO
Lemon.io is a talent marketplace of vetted software developers created with the big goal of connecting global venture-backed startups with world-class talent from emerging countries. The company is now on the way to providing jobs to a thousand engineers by the end of 2022.
- : Hanna Zasukha
- : Middle Content Outreach Specialist
- : hzasukha@lemon.io
- : 5012640636
- : https://lemon.io
Kiwi Inspires Global Free Assange Human Chain Events
- : Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : 3/10/22
Auckland activist Matt Ó Branáin has inspired a worldwide movement of Human Chains on October 8th to free jailed Australian journalist Julian Assange.
Ó Branáin proposed the idea of a Human Chain to #HugBelmarsh prison, which gained international support, and was retweeted by Julian’s wife Stella Assange. Due to some difficulties surrounding the prison, it has turned into a #FreeAssangeHumanChain of 5,000 surrounding British Parliament.
Now 16 cities around the world will hold Free Assange Human Chains, including Washington DC, Ottowa, Wellington and Paris all on October 8th.Ó Branáin says ‘I feel simultaneously humbled and in awe of what a difference any of us can make, when we inspire others to unite. There’s nothing we can’t do when we stand together.’
Julian Assange is currently in solitary confinement in a UK Supermax Prison, despite not serving a sentence. Top forensic psychologists, a UN expert, and hundreds of doctors say Julian Assange is being ‘tortured’ and is likely to die in the next few months if he is not freed.
‘This is the most crucial Human Rights battle of this Century, because the Right to Know is the master key to protecting all our rights. Every credible authority from the UN to Amnesty International is saying Julian’s imprisonment, and the US charges against him undermine Global Press Freedom. If it’s a crime to tell the truth we can’t solve anything. ‘
Ó Branáin has launched a campaign asking kiwis to help him go and represent Aotearoa at the Chain in London. He will write the names of all who support him on raranga flax ribbons he will take to the event.
‘I know from talking to kiwis everywhere, nobody wants an Aussie journalist to die in prison for telling the truth. We gotta get him out. I’m asking kiwis to get behind me so I can represent them.’Matt is a teacher, media-designer and musician, who became intensely engaged on the Assange case when he read the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer. For two years Matt has devoted the majority of his time to campaigning on this. He formed Aotearoa 4 Assange, and he recently committed to wearing what he calls ‘Gitmo Chic’ every day till Julian is free. An orange Guantanamo Bay style prisoner suit, and sign. ‘It’s been starting conversations everywhere I go. Kiwis are not at all happy when they hear an Aussie journalist is being tortured to death for telling the truth.’
‘Our Government, and Jacinda Ardern, need to urgently engage in diplomatic representations with our allies the UK and US, to ensure Julian’s release. All our rights are imperilled by his imprisonment, and by the US charges against him. There isn’t a bigger threat to the Western Democratic system than this case.’
‘Jacinda Ardern, has criticised misinformation at the UN, but where does she stand on truthful reporting?’
- #FreeAssangeHumanChain around UK
Parliament, London, 1pm October 8th, 1pm - #FreeAssangeHumanChain at the Beehive, Wellington, 12pm October 8th.
- #FreeAssangeHumanChain around UK
- Matt chain
- : https://youtu.be/33TOSTEXzlc
- : Matt Ó Branáin
- : National Co-ordinator of Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : matt.o.branain@a4a.nz
- : 64204382863
- : https://www.a4a.nz/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/a4assange | https://www.instagram.com/aotearoa4assange/ | https://twitter.com/A4Assange | https://www.instagram.com/matt.o.branain/ | https://twitter.com/MattOBranain
Alimetry announces US FDA Clearance for Gastric Alimetry – A Breakthrough Non-Invasive Wearable Device for Gut Diagnostics
- : Alimetry Ltd
- : 15/06/2022
Auckland, New Zealand – Alimetry, a medical device and digital healthcare company, today announced it has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for Gastric Alimetry, a pioneering non-invasive medical device for aiding the diagnosis gastric disorders. Alimetry also announced today the launch of Alimetry Inc., a subsidiary based in Minneapolis, MN, that will market and distribute Gastric Alimetry in the United States.
“Gastric Alimetry is an industry-first and genuine breakthrough in gut diagnostics.” said CEO Greg O’Grady, a Professor of Surgery and co-founder of Alimetry. “Alimetry’s unique technology harnesses the power of stretchable electronics, wearables, digital health, and cloud-based analytics to deliver a completely non- invasive solution. We are thrilled to announce FDA’s clearance of Gastric Alimetry, making this new test available to millions of Americans suffering from chronic gastric symptoms”.
The Gastric Alimetry test is performed in a clinical setting. Recordings are taken before and after a meal, while patients simultaneously log their symptoms into the Gastric Alimetry App. The system performs a high-resolution recording of digestive patterns from the skin surface and delivers clinical reports via the cloud to inform the diagnosis of gastric diseases and support personalized therapy.
The system is indicated for common stomach disorders including nausea and vomiting, gastroparesis, and functional dyspepsia, affecting over 8% of the world’s population, and costing billions of dollars in healthcare expenses.1,2 The test is also currently available in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
“Diagnosing gastric symptoms has been a deeply challenging clinical problem.” Dr. O’Grady said. “Existing tests are frequently unreliable and inconclusive, and patients may undergo months or even years of testing – often costly, invasive, or involving radiation – only to end in confusion and trial-and-error care. Gastric Alimetry is a game-changing tool that will bring improved clarity to field, enabling enhanced clinical outcomes, and safer, more accessible, and less-invasive care.”
Gastric Alimetry is the result of a decade of world-leading science and innovation by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, engineers, designers and scientists.
“FDA clearance of Gastric Alimetry cements Alimetry’s path to leadership in gastrointestinal wearables and non-invasive diagnostics.” Dr. O’Grady said. “Alimetry has an outstanding pipeline of innovation and this is the first plank in a series of innovative new features and products that stand to transform care in disorders of gastrointestinal function”.Gastric Alimetry will be available commercially from July 2022.
For more information on Gastric Alimetry visit www.alimetry.com
About Alimetry
Alimetry was spun-out of the University of Auckland in 2019 from a centre of excellence in digestive diseases. The company was founded by Professor Gregory O’Grady, a gastrointestinal surgeon, and Dr. Armen Gharibans, on the background of a decade of award-winning science.
References
- Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, Ghoshal UC, Simren M, Tack J, Whitehead WE, Dumitrascu DL, Fang X, Fukudo S, Kellow J. Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation global study. Gastroenterology. 2021 Jan 1;160(1):99-114.
- Lacy BE, Weiser KT, Kennedy AT, Crowell MD, Talley NJ. Functional dyspepsia: the economic impact to patients. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2013 Jul;38(2):170-7.
- Alimetry_System_Grey
- : Hanie Yee
- : Chief Operating Officer Alimetry Ltd
- : hanie@alimetry.com
- : 6421651226
- : https://alimetry.com
- https://nz.linkedin.com/company/alimetry-ltd | @alimetry_ltd
‘Kia kaha’: PM Ardern Requested to Join PM Albanese in His Calls to Bring Julian Assange Home
- : Aotearoa 4 Assange
- :
A group of lawyers, politicians, journalists and activists known as Aotearoa 4 Assange have written to PM Jacinda Ardern asking her to ‘stand strong’ with new Aussie PM Anthony Albanese, to ‘secure the freedom’ of Australian journalist Julian Assange. According to the letter Assange’s life is in peril and so are the ‘foundations of global democracy’.
A4A spokesperson Matt Ó Branáin says ‘the election of Albanese is a seismic shift’ for the campaign to free Assange, who is currently imprisoned in the UK and fighting extradition to the US. Unlike his predecessor Scott Morrison, Albanese is a member of the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Group consisting of at least 30 MPs. Albanese has reportedly said ‘enough is enough…I can’t see what’s served by keeping [Assange] incarcerated’.
Green MP and Human Rights lawyer Golriz Ghahraman tweeted ‘the threat to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s freedom is a threat to press freedom around the world.’
Assange has been detained in ‘solitary confinement’ for the last 3 years in the UK and a UN Special Rapporteur has said he is being ‘psychologically tortured.’ A letter from hundreds of doctors says he is likely to die soon if not freed.
The US charges ‘criminalise publishing leaked evidence of US state crimes’. International Human Rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights have said the case is a threat to global press freedom.
The letter argues that there is ‘no chance of justice’ if he is extradited to the US as Assange’s ‘legally privileged consultations with his lawyers were spied on’ and the Espionage Act ‘prohibits any public interest defence’.
Ó Branáin says ‘no one can credibly say justice has been seen in the UK extradition trial’. Amnesty International said the UK extradition trial was a ‘circus’. IBAHRI said ‘with this extradition trial, we are witnessing the serious undermining of due processes and the rule of law.’ Applications to monitor the trial from Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders were declined. A4A’s letter says ‘this is a political case, and political intervention is required’.
UN Special Rapproteur on Torture Nils Melzer says if Assange is extradited to the US he would be detained in ‘conditions that amount to torture’. Ghahraman states that although the UK Magistrate Court has now ordered extradition to be signed ‘the Home Sec must decline’. ‘The UK has an obligation to avoid extradition to a place where he faces ill treatment and torture’. A4A called on Ardern to ‘make representations’ to Ms Patel not to sign the extradition order.
Rt. Hon Helen Clark said ‘you do wonder when the hatchet can be buried with Assange, and not buried in his head by the way?. . . ‘The real issue really is the activities they were exposing, not their actions of exposure.’
Ó Branáin says ‘Australia and New Zealand should call on our allies the US and UK, to end this perilous persecution of a South Pacific journalist, and bring Julian home.’
- Matt-O-Branain---A4A
- : Matt Ó Branáin
- : National Co-ordinator of Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : matt.o.branain@a4a.nz
- : 64204382863
- : https://www.a4a.nz/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/a4assange | https://twitter.com/A4Assange | https://www.instagram.com/aotearoa4assange/ | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Lgvm4ob5_kUS6NIaEXwvg
Julian Assange Permitted to Marry in Belmarsh Prison
- : Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : 14/03/2022
Julian Assange Permitted to Marry in Belmarsh Prison
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been given permission to marry his fiancée Stella Morris in the maximum security Belmarsh prison in London on March 23rd. Stella is a member of his legal team and mother of his two young children. The couple had to fight for their right to marry, even bringing legal action against the UK Government.
Julian and Stella will be dressed by Vivienne Westwood. Julian will wear a kilt, honouring his Scottish ancestry. The couple are said to be very excited despite the severe restrictions imposed on the ceremony. They will be permitted only four guests and have been denied the request to marry in the prison’s Chapel, despite the fact that Julian regularly worships their.
Stella told the Daily Mail that the right to marry is ‘written into law’ in the UK. ‘Of course, the circumstances are not ideal but I am relieved that reason has prevailed and I hope there will be no further interference with our marriage. Julian is not charged with any crime in this country, he is not serving a sentence, his imprisonment serves no purpose at all other than to prolong and make his suffering worse. I hope the injustice of this situation is swiftly brought to an end so that we can enjoy marriage outside of the walls of Belmarsh when he is freed.’
Assange is being held in the notorious Belmarsh prison despite not being convicted of anything. He is awaiting the outcome of a US extradition request to face charges of ‘espionage’ for publishing evidence of war crimes and torture. Press freedom groups warn this unprecedented prosecution would criminalise fundamental journalistic practices.
Assange recently suffered a minor stroke, and doctors warn this will likely lead to a fatal stroke if his conditions are not improved quickly. He is detained in solitary confinement 23 hours per day, which fits the definition of torture under international law. The Australian Government has been criticised for ‘sitting on their hands’ over one of their citizens. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer said The Australian Government as ‘failed to support Julian Assange, and is complicit in his psychological torture.’
Helen Clark recently said ‘You do wonder when the hatchet can be buried with Assange? And not buried in his head by the way. But at some point, could people move on? I do think that the information that’s been disclosed by whistle-blowers down through the ages has been very important in broader publics getting to know what is really going on behind the scenes. And should people pay this kind of price for that? I don’t think so… The real issue really is the activities they were exposing, not their actions of exposure.’
Aoteroa 4 Assange is calling on the New Zealand Government to stand for Assange to protect human rights, the public’s right to know and peace.
- stella rainbow 2
- : https://twitter.com/i/status/1462562408749170689
- : Matt Ó Branáin
- : National Co-ordinator of Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : matt.o.branain@A4A.nz
- : 64204382863
- : http://a4a.nz
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/a4assange | https://twitter.com/A4Assange | https://www.instagram.com/aotearoa4assange/
Alimetry raises $16.3 Million to launch wearable diagnostic device for the gut
- : Alimetry Limited
- : 02/03/2022
Alimetry, a digital healthcare and medical device start-up, announced today it has closed a NZ$16.3 Million financing round led by New Zealand largest venture capital investor Movac. Existing investor partners IP Group, Matū Karihi, and UniServices supported the round, with K1W1 also participating.
The company will use the funding to accelerate the international launch of its first product, a wearable diagnostic device called Gastric Alimetry. Gastric Alimetry uses a stretchable high-resolution sensor to non-invasively map digestive patterns, and delivers clinical reports via the cloud to inform the diagnosis and classification of gastric disorders.
“Chronic gastric symptoms are extremely common, yet many of our patients still suffer from repeated inconclusive tests, trial and error care, and confusion,” said CEO Greg O’Grady, a Professor of Surgery and co-founder of Alimetry. “Gastric Alimetry is on track to deliver breakthrough results in diagnosing gastric symptoms, enabling enhanced clinical outcomes and safer, more accessible, and less-invasive care.”
Gastric Alimetry targets prevalent stomach diseases including nausea and vomiting, gastroparesis, and functional dyspepsia, affecting over 8% of the world’s population and costing billions of dollars in healthcare expenses. The device is currently undergoing clinical trials in 5 countries, with results and further regulatory approvals expected during 2022. Alimetry will also use the new funding to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities and expand its product pipeline.
Lovina McMurchy, a General Partner at Movac who will join Alimetry’s Board, stated: “While Alimetry has only recently come out of stealth mode in New Zealand, the team has made an incredible amount of progress in bringing their product to market globally. They are already working with the top gastroenterology clinics in the world to trial the devices and they are in the approval process with the Federal Drug Administration in the US for full scale commercialization. This is a tremendous example of what our science ecosystem can produce at it’s very best.”
Gastric Alimetry has recently received numerous innovation and product design awards, including Gold from the Australian Good Design Awards, and a prestigious ‘Purple Pin’ at the New Zealand Best Design Awards. The Best Awards judges stated: “This is a tangible example of how New Zealand science, technology and design can work together to produce brilliant results.”
Alimetry was spun-out of the University of Auckland in 2019 from a centre of excellence in digestive diseases. The company was founded by Prof. Greg O’Grady and Dr. Armen Gharibans, on the background of a decade of award-winning science.
To learn more about Alimetry visit www.alimetry.com.
About Movac
Movac is New Zealand’s largest and most experienced venture capital fund, supporting technology founders from early stage through to growth investing. Movac was the first institutional grade venture investor supported by both New Zealand Superannuation and Kiwi Wealth. It currently has $400m funds under management and invests across deep tech, software, hardware and healthtech.
About IP Group
IP Group is a leading intellectual property commercialisation company focused on evolving great ideas and cutting-edge research from its partner universities into world-changing businesses. The Group pioneers a unique approach to developing these ideas and the resulting businesses by providing access to business building expertise, capital, scientific insight, and supporting infrastructure. IP Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IPO), has a strong track record of success and, its portfolio comprises holdings in early stage to mature businesses across life sciences and technology. In Australia and New Zealand, IP Group works in close partnership with the Go8 Universities and the University of Auckland to identify ground-breaking technologies rooted in hard science, which have the most promising commercial potential. www.ipgroupanz.com
About University of Auckland Inventors’ Fund, managed by Auckland UniServices
The University of Auckland Inventors Fund is an evergreen, open-ended $20 million investment fund owned and managed by Auckland UniServices Limited, the commercial company for The University of Auckland. The Inventors’ Fund provides seed capital for ventures started out of the University of Auckland. www.uniservices.co.nz
About Matū Karihi Fund.
Matū is a venture capital fund investing in early-stage science and deep technology commercialisation from education and research institutions and the private sector. Karihi (nucleus) is Matū’s original pre-seed and seed-focused fund, working with start-ups at the earliest stages of their journey. As an open fund it raises capital over time and holds investments through to exit where possible, and therefore invests on a long timeframe. www.matu.co.nz
About K1W1
K1W1 Ltd is an investment company owned by Sir Stephen Tindall. It has invested over a total of $100M Seed and Venture capital into a large number of start-up and early stage businesses from Biotech, environmental technology, high tech, software and other high export potential businesses. The aim is, either directly or as a “fund of funds” to assist young entrepreneurs to grow New Zealand as a leader in the “knowledge economy” and to help create a culture of making New Zealand “cash flow positive” in international goods and services trade.
Attached files: Gastric Alimetry-11
- Alimetry_System_Light
- : https://youtu.be/Tw2sBEDQsPU
- : Hanie Yee
- : Chief Operating Officer
- : hanie@alimetry.com
- : 6421651226
- : https://alimetry.com
- @alimetry_ltd | https://nz.linkedin.com/company/alimetry-ltd
Teams “Yadrava na Vanua” from Fiji and “Not Basic” from New Zealand win the Grand Prizes for Space Challenge
- : SpaceBase Limited
- : 18/02/2022
Christchurch—18 February 2022.
Yadrava na Vanua (Environment Watch) from Suva, Fiji won the Grand Prize today for the Space for Planet Earth Challenge.
Their project focused on integrating satellite data on land cover types across Fiji with ground truth measurements, and refining the carbon sequestration data with machine learning analysis of high resolution satellite images from Planet to generate international standard levels of measurements, reporting, and verification of carbon stocks.
Separately, “Not Basic” from Newlands College, Wellington, New Zealand, won the Grand Prize at the High School level. Their work featured using machine learning analysis of satellite data to predict the conditions leading to coral bleaching as detected within the Allen Coral Atlas with Planet satellite data.
Six teams from New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji competed in demo sessions with a panel of judges, then a Pitch presentation to a live online audience. The winners are awarded cash prizes of $30,000 and $10,000 each, satellite data from company Planet, and mentorship from SpaceBase. Additionally the High School team will receive scholarships from the US Based MMAARS Academy to attend their Level 1 Virtual Mars Programme.
“The presentations that I’ve seen were so amazing…and I was blown away by the ideas and the ability that they’ve shown…Planet is so proud to be part of this competition,” Dr. Tanya Harrison, Director of Strategic Innovation for Planet and a Finals Judge for the competition, said at the event.
The winners were selected by judges from Planet, the U.S. Embassy to New Zealand, Pacific GIS and Remote Sensing Council, Rocket Lab, Callaghan Innovation, ChristchurchNZ, Callaghan Innovation, and Consegna.cloud.
The awards were presented by the NZ Space Agency and the U.S. Embassy.
“I’ve been extremely impressed with the sophistication of the solutions that have been developed, by the approach of looking for different data sources to incorporate into those solutions, to reaching out to other organisations, establishing partnerships to make this more effective, and the quality of the presentations,” said Dimitri Geidelberg, Principal Advisor to the Agency.
The Challenge was the brainchild of SpaceBase founders who leverage incentive prizes and space technologies to catalyse innovation while solving tough problems in the region. “Already, we see the Challenge as pushing the teams to accelerate their research and create opportunities they may not otherwise have been able to realise.” said Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, CEO of SpaceBase. “We think this is only the beginning for these climate change focused innovations, and we hope to continue to support these teams in their progress over the coming months and years.”
For more information about the Challenge and the Winners, go to spaceforearth.org
The Challenge is made possible by a partnership between SpaceBase Limited and Planet. Sponsors include the U.S. Embassy in New Zealand, K1W1, NZ Space Agency, ChristchurchNZ, Consegna.cloud, Clare Foundation, Greenlight Ventures, Namaste Foundation, Engineering Dreams, MMAARS Academy, and Christchurch City Council.
SpaceBase Limited is a New Zealand based education and consulting social enterprise, whose mission is to democratise access to space for everyone. SpaceBase is creating equal opportunity to leverage space technologies to solve problems on Earth, by catalysing space ecosystems in developing and emerging countries, starting in New Zealand. Since its incorporation in 2017, it has collaborated with economic development agencies, local governments, and advocacy groups to deliver over 100 educational presentations and workshops; two national space and aerospace competitions, as well as helping birth space communities and organisations locally and globally. SpaceBase created a platform for the NZ Aerospace Directory and a free course, Catalysing a Space Industry in Your Region, for anyone interested in creating a local space industry. SpaceBase is also the NZ Ambassador for the International Space University.
- Promo Video Thumbnail
- : Emeline Dulce M Paat-Dahlstrom
- : CEO
- : emeline@spacebase.co
- : 0224021936
- : https://spacebase.co
- https://twitter.com/SpaceBaseNZ + https://www.facebook.com/groups/SpaceBaseNZ + https://www.linkedin.com/company/13643678/admin/
Assange raises NZ$80 million through collaboration with crypto artist Pak
- : Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : 11/02/2022
Jailed journalist Julian Assange has recieved a massive boost to his campaign to regain his freedom, raising a record-breaking NZ$80 million in less than a week on the Juice box crypto platform.
Renowned crypto-artist Pak collaborated with Assange, to produce NFT artworks which have been used solely to raise money for Assange’s defence and other press freedom and humanitarian causes.The artwork came in two parts. A 1/1 edition titled ‘Clock’ which counts the days which Assange has spent behind bars, and an open edition titled ‘Censored’ which allows buyers to craft their own unique message which gets ‘censored’ with a line through it.
Assange is fighting against extradition to the US for publishing secret documents which exposed state crimes. This is an unprecedented case that Amnesty International and other human rights groups are warning threatens global press freedom and freedom of information .
Tens of thousands of people have joined AssangeDAO to raise the 16593.05 ethereum used to win the art auction in support of Assange. AssangeDAO moderator JB said in a statement ‘this is tens of thousands of people coming together to show real strength – the Power of the People. In less than one week, we have shown that decentralised and distributed peoples can band together to fight injustice.’
- : Matt Ó Branáin
- : National Co-ordinator of Aotearoa 4 Assange
- : matt.o.branain@a4a.nz
- : 0204382863
- : https://A4A.nz
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/a4assange | https://twitter.com/A4Assange | https://www.instagram.com/aotearoa4assange/
Animal Dermatology Group Applauds Dr. Helen Orbell, New Diplomate with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology
- : Animal Dermatology Group
IRVINE, Calif., January 26, 2022 / — Animal Dermatology Group, Inc. (ADG) congratulates Dr. Helen Orbell on achieving Diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD), the organization accredited to maintain post-graduate training and certification in veterinary dermatology. She joins the ACVD’s 300+ board certified veterinary dermatologists in the US and throughout the world.
Dr. Orbell graduated from the University of Queensland in Brisbane with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) and has practiced in Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and the United States. She currently practices at ADG’s Animal Dermatology Clinic – Palmerston North, in New Zealand.
“My love for veterinary dermatology has continued to grow throughout my career and I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity with ADG to learn from leaders in the field,” stated Dr. Orbell. “The additional challenges during my residency due to my location makes achieving Diplomate status even more rewarding. I am extremely grateful for the support of ADG, my mentors and colleagues, the ACVD, and especially, the love and encouragement of my family throughout this journey.”
“ADG is proud to have supported Dr. Orbell, the first veterinarian to be trained in an ACVD residency program in New Zealand,” said Dr. Rusty Muse, DACVD and ADG Medical Director. “She worked hard to achieve this amazing milestone and we are delighted to have her as part of our world-wide team.”
ADG is the first non-academic organization approved by the ACVD to provide a residency training program and currently hosts the largest ACVD residency class preparing future board certified dermatologists.
Steven Mrha, CEO of ADG, stated “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Orbell as our newest ACVD Diplomate. We strive to create an exciting, dynamic and rewarding environment at ADG, where our growing team of board certified veterinary dermatologists collaborate and support each other as we advance the research, education and clinical practice of veterinary dermatology.”
About Animal Dermatology Group
Animal Dermatology Group is the largest veterinary dermatology business in the U.S., providing the highest quality care to pets with acute and chronic skin conditions. ADG has over 40 primary and satellite locations where its veterinary dermatology specialists are actively involved in providing clinical care, research and academic training. For more information, please visit www.animaldermatology.com.
Contact:
Juan Mena: jmena@adcmg.com- : Juan Mena
- : Marketing Director
- : jmena@adcmg.com
- : 18166465046
- : https://www.animaldermatology.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/animaldermnz/