Gallagher Smart Technology Award goes to worthy winners

Here at Gallagher, we’re all about simple, effective solutions to pesky problems - it's a mindset which began with Bill Gallagher Senior and his horse Joe. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Gallagher Smart Technology Award at the New Zealand Young Enterprise Scheme Awards.

Recently, first place went to Fa’amalosi 'Say it Right' – a company dedicated to resolving an everyday issue faced by many members of the Māori and Pasifika community.

The Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) is an annual programme which inspires high school students to get creative and unleash their business potential. Each year, thousands of young innovators from around the country team up to create and run their own company, before battling it out Dragons'-Den-style to see who will be crowned the victors at the National Awards Ceremony. But YES is more than just a competition – many of the products and services thought up by its talented participants have gone on to change people’s lives. YES is a chance for our brightest sparks to get a head-start in the business world.

The Gallagher Smart Technology Award is presented to the company that best solves a problem or creates new value for a customer using technology such as AI or an intelligent digital platform.

Fa’amalosi’s winning product takes the form of a website which teaches subscribers how to correctly pronounce Māori and Pasifika names. The site’s clever interface allows users to search for any name on the database and listen to an audio of its correct pronunciation with just a few simple clicks. If the name they are searching for is not yet on the site, the user can upload it so it can be added.

Unfortunately, the mispronunciation of their names is something many Māori and Pasifika people experience daily. As well as causing embarrassment and anxiety, this can have detrimental effects on a person’s sense of cultural identity and self-worth. Fa’amalosi’s subscription service aims to encourage learning and enhance respect for the names which make us who we are. Although educators are the target market, the site is also a valuable tool in the corporate world – improving cultural understanding in both the classroom and the boardroom.

Second place for the Gallagher Award went to EZSoil, a company which created ‘Sprout’ – a smart plant monitor. Sprout measures plants’ vitals (such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture) to help growers keep them alive, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Gallagher is proud to support young entrepreneurs and their fledgling businesses. The products created by this year’s winners cultivate respect, diversity, and sustainability – all of which closely align with our purpose and values.

We look forward to watching these start-ups grow into successful businesses. As Gallagher has proven, all it takes is a simple idea, a bit of Kiwi ingenuity, and a lot of hard work!

If you're keen to join a company that gives back to the community, join us! Take a look at our current opportunities here.

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Gallagher Smart Technology Award goes to worthy winners

Here at Gallagher, we’re all about simple, effective solutions to pesky problems­ - it's a mindset which began with Bill Gallagher Senior and his horse Joe. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Gallagher Smart Technology Award at the New Zealand Young Enterprise Scheme Awards.

If you're keen to join a company that gives back to the community, join us! Take a look at our current opportunities here.

Here at Gallagher, we’re all about simple, effective solutions to pesky problems - it's a mindset which began with Bill Gallagher Senior and his horse Joe. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor the Gallagher Smart Technology Award at the New Zealand Young Enterprise Scheme Awards.