On Friday, October 11, 2024, our Co-founder, David Hallett, was invited to speat at the Waikato Regional Growth Summit at Zealong Tea Estate hosted by Regional Development Minister, Shane Jones.
The event brought together CEOs, senior leadership, and regional leaders from Waikato councils and gave all who were present the opportunity to hear from the businesses and people that were making an impact on the communities and the regions they served while highlighting strategies to foster regional economic development. Notable presenters included:
- Shane Jones – Minister for Regional Development
- Pamela Storey – Waikato Regional Council
- Richard Jefferies – Tainui Group Holdings
- Gina Rangi – Tuaropaki Trust
- David Hallett – Company-X
Speaking on our behalf, David Hallett’s presentation highlighted Company-X’s decade+ long journey as a leader in the tech sector. From its humble beginnings in the SODA Incubator to its current position as one of New Zealand’s leading software development agencies, the story of Company-X’s evolution has been deeply grounded in its strong Waikato origins while driven by bold global ambitions and a mission to create software that runs the world better.
A balance of strategic hires, intelligent business acquisitions, and capability investments in software development and virtual reality training has enabled the creation of partnerships and leading innovations for the University of Waikato, the Road Efficiency Group, New Zealand Transport Agency, The Stream, and The Royal New Zealand Navy.
Underpinning the opportunities in economic development was a theme of addressing challenges in the transport, water, and environmental sectors. David shared insights on how we are helping solve significant challenges in those areas through bespoke software solutions and digital twin technology. One standout achievement discussed was our involvement in the world’s first national roading insights platform—an innovation that delivers evidence-based decision-making tools to improve infrastructure investments across New Zealand.
We are proud to be a part of the Waikato region’s thriving technology and innovation ecosystem. Events like the Waikato Regional Growth Summit and initiatives like Tech in the Tron are a testament to the forward-thinking approach of regional leaders, businesses, and government bodies working together to accelerate progress and create opportunities for all.
