The Vodafone xone Partner Series aims to help scale and grow Kiwi startupsthat have a digital offering for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is a revamped version of the Vodafone xone programme, which has been running since 2016, says Vodafone NZ CEO Jason Paris. Paris says the accelerator programme has supported 29 startups, some of which have taken their products and services globally. Previous xone participants include Aware Group,an artificial intelligence business now signing big global partnerships; virtual sportscasting studio Spalk; and Wine Grenade, a wine oxygenation device winning national agritech awards. The new format of Vodafone xone sees the digital services company working with corporate customers to deliver each round of the new accelerator programme. Each Vodafone xone Partner Series round puts three to five tech startups through an intensive three-month programme of mentoring, workshops and unique testing environments to develop the product or service offering to the point a corporate partnership or commercial deal is possible. This is not the first time the Vodafone and Bank of New Zealand have delivered joint programmes. Vodafone has named BNZ as one of its three co-creation partners it is working withto innovate with 5G. Bank of New Zealand CEO Angie Mentis says she is thrilled that the bank is the first of Vodafone’s partners to co-deliver the xone programme. “At BNZ we absolutely know that SMEs are the backbone of New Zealand and we’re delighted to be aligning with Vodafone on this important initiative to really accelerate the growth of early stage businesses and connect them with the markets that matter to them,” says Mentis. The Vodafone xone Partner Series is accepting applications until the end of November. The team will then invite a shortlist of applicants to pitch to a panel of experts from Vodafone and BNZ. Vodafone NZJason Paris Sign up for CIO newsletters for regular updates on CIO news, career tips, views and events. Follow CIO New Zealand on Twitter:@cio_nz Related content feature 4 remedies to avoid cloud app migration headaches The compelling benefits of using proprietary cloud-native services come at a price: vendor lock-in. Here are ways CIOs can effectively plan without getting stuck. By Robert Mitchell Nov 29, 2023 9 mins CIO Managed Service Providers Managed IT Services case study Steps Gerresheimer takes to transform its IT CIO Zafer Nalbant explains what the medical packaging manufacturer does to modernize its IT through AI, automation, and hybrid cloud. By Jens Dose Nov 29, 2023 6 mins CIO SAP ServiceNow feature Per Scholas redefines IT hiring by diversifying the IT talent pipeline What started as a technology reclamation nonprofit has since transformed into a robust, tuition-free training program that seeks to redefine how companies fill tech skills gaps with rising talent. By Sarah K. White Nov 29, 2023 11 mins Diversity and Inclusion Diversity and Inclusion Hiring news Saudi Arabia will host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh By Andrea Benito Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe