Daniel Inglis, the man behind On2It Electronics, says it was when his cousin expressed how frustrating this time of year could be for beekeepers, that the idea for an electronic hive monitoring and automation product was germinated.
“Taking care of bees can be a manual, time consuming and often laborious process, complicated by the remote location of many hives.”
“We put our heads together and came up with AutoBee, an electronic way to save the beekeeper time in the field, bees from unnecessary stress and ultimately increase the amount of honey they produce.”
Inglis is on to something.
Apiculture is one of the foundations blocks of the community in Northland. The upper North Island has the largest number of beekeeping enterprises in New Zealand and the second highest number of hives in the North Island.
Bees are an important part of the economy in the Far North and Inglis believes AutoBee is a game changer because no other systems exist here or overseas, to monitor or control hives in this way.
The Top Energy Business Development Fund will help Daniel to develop a working prototype into marketable units that will grow their market and generate employment in the region.
Top Energy Chief Executive Russell Shaw commends the innovation and commitment of local businesses and entrepreneurs to maximise the talent and potential of the Far North.
“On2it’s business plan, vision for their product and the apiculture industry in the Far North, made their application stand out from the rest. As a community owned business, it is a privilege for Top Energy to assist in supporting local businesses to achieve success and growth.”
Top Energy launched their Business Development Fund in 2014. The scheme is designed to encourage and promote economic growth in the Far North. Grants of up to $30,000 are awarded twice a year for local business ideas or initiatives that have the potential to grow or diversify the Far North economy.
The money is either awarded in full to a single stand-out idea or in smaller amounts to several initiatives, depending on the number, quality and merit of the applications received.
For more information about On2it Electronics go to: www.on2itelectronics.co.nz
Business development fund
Our Business Development Fund is a grant for business initiatives aimed at growing the Far North
Find out more