Ticketing solution Dazzle Tickets has been crowned the winner of Launch Pad 2010 in Auckland today.

The event is designed to help 'launch' New Zealand's best start-up business ideas as it attracts entrepreneurial talent from all around New Zealand. This year’s inaugural event was also part of the recent Planet 2010 expo in Auckland.

Chris Smith and Nick Schembri, Directors of the seven-strong Dazzle Tickets operation, received a range of products and services valuing up to $70,000 to be used to support in growing the business the business over the next 12 months.

Telecommunications Industry Group (TIG) CEO, Rob Spray, told us, “We had Planet 2010 which was our show for business and the public and we put a huge amount of energy into it over the last six months. But helping start-ups and growing new businesses in New Zealand is a key part of what TIG is trying to do as well as involving the telecommunications industry in supporting them.

“We decided to create Launch Pad which would be something very specific for start-ups. Just talking to the guys now, they’ve gained much more out of the context of what the press has given them, than they have out of the money. And that’s exactly what I wanted.”

Winner Nick Schembri said that he was confident about winning but said it was difficult because there were so many different business ideas. “Pitching at this competition has been really helpful to us. Our advisory board has helped us a lot with our strategy and which markets we’re going to target first, especially going overseas.

“The support we’re going to get from MYOB and Republik and the legal advice is going to help us secure our foundations before we export overseas.”

Pictured: Nick Schembri and Chris Smith receiving their winnings from HP.