Waikato Business News January/February 2021

From the editor
Kia ora.
My favourite story
this month concerns
two unassuming accountants
based in Matamata.
They are definitely not your
stereotypical entrepreneurs,
but the two Julies - Caldwell
and Blackwell - have come
up with a device that can be
transformational for a huge
number of people.
Often it is the eldest daughter
who takes on the lion’s
share of caring for ageing parents.
That can be an exhausting
job, involving daily visits,
often more than one. One of
those eldest daughters, Julie
Caldwell, realised there had to
be a better way for her mother
to stay in touch and stay on top
of her day to day living.
You’d think out there in the
world there would be something
- an easy to use tablet
for older people with cognitive
decline who find iPads and the
likes too difficult. Older people
who could and should still be
living independently, enjoying
interactions with family and
friends.
There isn’t. So the Julies
invented one.
Interviewing them was a
wonderful experience, thanks
to their down to earth approach
and their open-spirited sharing
of the story. No doubt it makes
“There’s a whole bunch of
things happening. It’s that
perfect maelstrom of stimulation.”
a difference that I have my own
experiences of parents getting
older - and, after all, in time
many of us will, whether as the
adult child or as the parent.
Thanks to them, when we
do, the Kitcal could be there
“Why shouldn’t they [older people] have
the same sort of social connections
that we have just because they can’t
work a blasted iPad? I got angry. And
so I came back and I said to Julie,
‘we’re into this!’”
Kitcal founder Julie Caldwell Story, page 8
to help. It’s a stripped-back
tablet that focuses on the key
things to help keep older people
in touch even when they
are experiencing cognitive
decline.
The journey to get there
was a long one. It involved, as
Julie Blackwell told me, asking
lots of questions and putting
their pride on hold.
It was about starting on
page one and just solving
problems as they occurred,
Julie Caldwell said - always
acknowledging there was a
chance they would hit a wall
they couldn’t get past.
Fortunately, that wall never
arrived. I hope you enjoy reading
their remarkable story in
this issue.
Also this month I talked
to an effervescent Englishman
called Rob Vickery, who
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS January/February 2021
is choosing to headquarter
his new venture capital
fund, Hillfarrance, in Hamilton,
with backing from
Waikato investors including
Company-X.
A $40 million tech fund
could go a long way for
Waikato tech startups, as the
region builds its capacity in
the hugely important sector.
The money is important but
so are the connections, and
to that end Hillfarrance is
also building a good community
of Waikato businesses
to help founders fast-track
their products.
It’s all happening in our
region. Welcome back to a
new year.
Ngā mihi nui
Richard Walker
Editor
“ We’re actually working
with some really
incredible people and
all it takes often is
somebody believing in
them.”
Toni-Anne Lee is helping
Waikato unemployed
get back into work.
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Rob Vickery on supporting the Waikato
tech startup scene. Story, page 4
Story, page 6
25 Ward Street, Hamilton
PO Box 1425, Hamilton, 3240.
Ph: (07) 838 1333 | Fax: (07) 838 2807
www.wbn.co.nz
HIGH BUYER DEMAND, LOW INTEREST RATES & RETURNING EXPATS.
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Civil Infrastructure EBITDA
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