Timaru Start-Up Gems Joins New Zealand’s Founder Catalyst Programme

The New Zealand start-up Gems, co-founded by Kenny Au and Manuele Messeri, has been selected as one of 12 start-ups to participate in this year’s Ministry of Awesome Founder Catalyst programme. This initiative aims to enhance the growth of early-stage companies across the country, providing essential support over a six-month period that emphasizes practical learning, real-world application, and expert mentorship.

Significant Milestone for Timaru

Notably, Gems is the first company from Timaru to achieve this recognition. According to Zach Warder-Gabaldon, Chief Innovation Officer of the Ministry of Awesome, the programme has seen participation from 300 companies, with only 54 hailing from regions outside of Auckland, Christchurch, or Wellington. Since its inception in October 2020, the initiative has facilitated over $207 million in funding for its companies, leading to the creation of more than 800 jobs. Remarkably, only 11% of the companies involved have shut down, while 28% have successfully raised private capital.

Au and Messeri, originally from Malaysia and Italy, respectively, have made Timaru their home. Au highlighted their complementary perspectives, stating, “We approach problems from different angles, much like how Italians innovated with spaghetti.” He emphasized that their platform aims to tackle modern challenges in manufacturing and utility asset management, intending to shape the future of the industry.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The founders have a personal commitment to making Timaru a vibrant community where their children can thrive. Messeri and his wife first visited New Zealand two decades ago on their honeymoon and decided to settle down after falling in love with the country. They later moved closer to healthcare facilities in Timaru, which offers vital amenities such as a hospital, port, railway, and highway.

Messeri noted that New Zealand’s manufacturing sector has become increasingly confined to niche markets, hindered by outdated practices and rising operational costs. He criticized the prevalent “fail then fix it” approach, stating that it has stifled innovation and growth within the industry.

Despite modest growth projected for manufacturing in early 2025, Au pointed out that large portions of the sector remain fragile and under-invested. “The infrastructure still follows a reactive model, waiting for failures to occur,” he said, expressing frustration with the current state of the industry.

In response to these challenges, Au and Messeri have developed a next-generation asset management platform designed to integrate seamlessly with core management systems. Utilizing technologies such as Big Data, IoT, and large language models, their platform offers businesses real-time visibility and predictive insights. This approach enables companies to identify and address issues proactively, rather than reactively.

With pilot programs ready to launch, Au expressed a desire to partner with utilities to commercialize their innovative solution. He emphasized the economic impact of infrastructure failures, stating, “Every power outage, delayed shipment, or uncompetitive product translates to lost revenue and increased stress for individuals and businesses alike.” He believes that proactive measures in infrastructure and manufacturing can significantly benefit New Zealanders by saving them time, money, and frustration.

“World-class innovation can emerge from anywhere, even Timaru,” Au concluded, reinforcing the potential for local enterprises to drive meaningful change in New Zealand and beyond.