An online marketplace that sidesteps the banks, allowing people to lend and borrow directly with each other, claimed the top prize at the Spark Challenge held at The University of Auckland Business School last month. ‘Nexx’ went home with $20,000 in seed funding and nine-month tenancy at The Icehouse business incubator.
The Spark Entrepreneurship Challenge arms university staff and students with the tools to turn promising research and business ideas into commercial ventures.
Nexx applies the social networking concept of websites like MySpace and YouTube to the world of finance. Borrowers list their financial projects online www.nexx.co.nz and lenders pledge funds and interest rates via an auction, cutting banks and finance companies out of transactions.
Spring Break Fiji: Managing a high-impact tourism experience in the Pacific
Dasha Kuprienko
December 15, 2025
Picture: Tourism HQ Director Richard Henry Running an international experience-led travel event on a remote Pacific island might sound like a logistical nightmare, but for Tourism HQ Director Richard Henry,
