On Wednesday 18 June, the Parnell Business Association hosted a B2B networking event at Icehouse to celebrate our inaugural Parnell Innovation Awards. We launched these awards to celebrate outstanding innovation within our community and invited emerging businesses based in Parnell to showcase their innovative projects and their positive impact on our area and beyond.
To be eligible for this award the business needed to be based in Parnell. Innovations could be at any stage, from proof of concept to market-ready. We really wanted to focus on start-ups, so the business needed to be 2-5 years old, or if the actual business was older, it needed to substantiate that the current innovative project they were submitting aligns with those timelines. The award was open to businesses in various industries, including technology, sustainability, healthcare, and more.
In terms of the criteria, we were looking for ideas which:
- Introduce a new approach to achieving positive change in your chosen area of focus.
- Inspire others, whether individuals or organisations, to adopt new perspectives and actions.
- Address an issue typically overlooked by businesses.
We weighted our judging on originality and uniqueness, market need and practicality, impact & relevance, measurable benefits, vision, leadership and growth potential and of course the “Wow” factor.
Our judging panel consisted of PBA Chair Brad Jacobs, independent judges Jillian De Beer and Josephine Rudkin-Binks, and Director of Outset Ventures Mat Rowe. There were so many incredible entries, making our judges’ job incredibly difficult!
WINNER
The overall winner was Neocrete, who are revolutionising concrete.
With cement responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions, Neocrete has developed a groundbreaking additive that activates low-carbon materials, such as volcanic ash, strengthening their binding properties, so they can replace cement in concrete. Their innovation can replace up to 60% of cement in concrete, cut costs, reduce emissions, and even allow the use of seawater instead of fresh water in production.
The judges felt that the proposition was outstanding—clear, concise, and highly engaging. From their environmental breakthroughs to their commitment to global leadership, Neocrete stood out for its vision, impact, and execution. And the submission and presentation gave an excellent understanding of the relevance and impact of the product.
As their prize, Neocrete will receive $6000 from the Parnell Business Association, 10 hours of coaching or mentoring from one of the Icehouse coaches, a consultation for a start-up in the deep tech sector from Outset Ventures, a 2-hour ‘Know Your Numbers’ session courtesy of Cahill Accounting, and will be profiled in online magazine NZ Entrepreneur courtesy of Founder Media Group.
RUNNER-UP
Our runner-up was Reactory, a Kiwi deep-tech startup that ages spirits like whiskey and rum in days, not decades, using an eco-reactor originally built in a garage and now operating at scale internationally. This is not a small improvement—it’s a total reimagining of an ancient process. This innovation addresses urgent challenges in the global spirits industry—reducing costs, enabling rapid flavour testing, and unlocking sustainable growth for distilleries worldwide. They already working with some of the world’s largest spirit producers, with upcoming trials in Europe and America.
The judges felt that Reactory represents the spirit of radical innovation—literally. Born in a Kiwi garage, their journey from basement experiments to global industry disruptor is a powerful example of Parnell’s innovation ecosystem in action. The judges praised their progressive mindset, sustainability focus, and strong commercial potential.
As their prize, Reactory will receive $4000 from the Parnell Business Association, a 2-hour ‘Know Your Numbers’ session courtesy of Cahill Accounting, and will be profiled in online magazine NZ Entrepreneur courtesy of Founder Media Group.
FINALISTS
We also wanted to offer our congratulations to our other three finalists, listed in alphabetical order:
- Kitea Health: For developing the world’s first implantable brain pressure sensor—a breakthrough for people with hydrocephalus and other chronic conditions. Their device enables real-time remote monitoring, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and improving quality of life.
- State of Charge: They have developed Heatr—a smart, AI-powered switch that transforms traditional electric hot water cylinders into intelligent, load-shifting energy devices. It enables energy-optimised homes and neighbourhoods—with no change required from the resident. The aim of their innovation is to save consumers money by lowering energy bills, encouraging renewable energy and deferring the cost of billions of dollars in network upgrades.
- The Experiment Company: An emerging biotech startup, pioneering new analytical testing for kānuka honey. As the first in New Zealand to develop this kind of innovative technology, they’re setting new standards in speed, precision, and performance—and transforming the future of honey testing in Aotearoa.
All finalists will receive a R&D 30 minutes online funding session from Ernst & Young. The session will be tailored to the specific project of the business and focused on evaluating the project’s eligibility for the R&D Tax Incentive and other schemes.
Congratulations to our finalists and winners, and thank you to everyone in the Parnell business community who came and celebrated with us.
We would also like to thank all of our sponsors: Icehouse, Outset Ventures, Cahill Accounting, Founder Media Group, Ernst & Young, and The Paddington.
