Past Ventures

Trade Me is the place where Kiwis buy and  sell on-line.  Sold to Fairfax in 2006, Trade Me had been New Zealand’s fastest growing business – Unlimited / Deloitte fast 50, 2004. The Trade Me Group today includes Trade Me - New Zealand’s largest on-line auction site; FindSomeone - the on-line dating site for sincere and genuine singles; and Old Friends - the place to get in touch with lost friends.

Trade Me, created and founded by Sam Morgan, was supported in its early years by Movac directors (via eCentric Ventures), who provided initial facilities, resources, and seed capital. A Movac Director was active on the group’s board up until it was sold.

www.trademe.co.nz, www.findsomeone.co.nz, www.oldfriends.co.nz

The Movac directors founded their first venture, amr consulting, then known as Abbott McCaw Richter & Associates, in 1998. A management buy-out was facilitated in 2005 and the company rebranded as Maven in 2007.  Today Maven is a leading provider ofbusiness and information technology consulting services in the Wellington market.

www.consultmaven.co.nz

EdPlus represents the quality choice for international students seeking education plus care and fun in New Zealand. EdPlus look after the welfare and wellbeing of students while they are studying in New Zealand.  EdPlus ceased trading in 2005.

Ecentric was started by Movac in 2000 and sold to Intergen in 2005.  Ecentric was an ebusiness specialist that developed an exciting track record of making ideas and business work online. They were a Microsoft Certified Partner, that specialised in designing, developing, hosting and supporting ebusiness solutions. Their client included NZ Army; NZ Dairy Foods; The Treasury, NZI and IAG NZ. Ecentric’s areas of expertise were: Ebusiness and web strategy consulting; Online marketplaces and communities; Taking business processes online; Starting an internet business; Creating and upgrading websites; and Running online promotions and competitions.

Ecentric was instrumental in launching a number of web businesses / market places including – eCargo (freight), PartsTrader (car parts), AceTrader (Fish Quota).

eCargo is Australasia’s leading provider of on-line freight management tools.

eCargo improves the efficiency and reduces the costs associated with managing freight transactions between shippers and single or multiple freight carriers.

eCargo commenced life as a joint venture between eCentric SPV, Carter Holt Harvey Ltd, Direct Capital Private Equity and a private individual.  In July 2005 Carter Holt Harvey (Rank) Company purchased the business outright.

www.ecargo.co.nz