Hi-tech, world-class firm, Dunedin style

Igtimi Ltd director Brent Russell packs GPS tracking equipment in Dunedin last week. It  will be...
Igtimi Ltd director Brent Russell packs GPS tracking equipment in Dunedin last week. It will be installed on the super-multihulls to be raced by Oracle and Alinghi, to track them for Animation Research's Virtual Eye graphics system. Photo by Craig...

When Brent Russell and Kylie Robinson first based their technology business from their Mornington home, a courier van driver was one of their regular visitors.

Curiosity eventually overcame him and he asked what they did. Ms Robinson said they made tracking devices and invited him in to see data streaming live from the America's Cup.

"He couldn't believe such a big thing was being done out of a funny little house in Mornington," she laughingly recalled.

The couple's company, Igtimi Ltd, started from that suburban house in 2008, although they have since moved to office premises in the Imperial Building, overlooking Queens Gardens.

Igtimi is an electronics and communications technology development house, with its forte being specialised GPS telemetry, control and communication solutions. Its systems have been used at the highest level of sailing regattas. The technology is now being taken to a grass-roots level.

Born and raised in Dunedin, Ms Robinson studied computer science at the University of Otago before working as an animator at Animation Research Ltd for 10 years.

Mr Russell was born in Christchurch, raised in Auckland and moved to Dunedin for his university studies, studying physics, maths and electronics.

After graduating, he worked at the university before joining Animation Research for about three years.

It was after Ms Robinson returned from her "OE" that the couple decided it was time to do something new.

Animation Research had been providing graphics for America's Cup races since 1992 and previously had to use equipment from other companies.

When the couple decided to set up their own business, they decided to make the "perfect tracker", meaning Animation Research could produce graphics with reliable data.

The company was still their main client and, as well as the America's Cup, their trackers have been used for the likes of the Volvo Ocean Race and Med (Mediterranean) Cup.

Latterly, they have been working with High Performance Sport New Zealand developing tracking devices for Yachting New Zealand.

Coincidentally, Mr Russell used to be a keen sailor and, in his teens, was in the same club with now Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker.

"Twenty years later, I'm suddenly at events bumping into him."

Owning a business brought additional responsibilities and challenges but the couple embraced them.

"It's the variety, the spice-of-life thing. You can't keep doing the same thing forever. New challenges keep us vital."

There was huge potential for the business and the challenge was to tap into that potential, Mr Russell said.

They had technology no-one else had, and it could be applied to other industries, not just sport. One example was watering metering on farms.

They had spent the past two and a-half years on research and development. Ms Robinson said a recession was the best time for this. When the economic situation improved, "you're there with your product".

The University of Otago had been a great resource and the couple had taken on three interns for the summer through the Sexy Summer Jobs initiative.

Ms Robinson started an entrepreneur course through the school of business at the university this year. She described it as a "must" for anyone running their own business.

It had been an interesting three years and they were both excited and nervous about the future.

"It's a bit of a slog sometimes but it's very creative," Mr Russell said.

Working in a creative field was also "really sapping", so time to relax was important.

The couple agreed there were "pros and cons" for basing their business in Dunedin. With most of their markets in Auckland or overseas, the location was a disadvantage. But for the couple and their 18-month-old son, life was simple here.

"I've been enough places to know every time you come back, it's just easier," Ms Robinson said.

"We're pretty well-travelled and know how to appreciate what we've got," Mr Russell added.

Living in Dunedin, there was a lifestyle choice even though work was "squishing that a bit" at the moment.

The drive to the office was five minutes, and it took even less time to drive to a fly-fishing spot. Dunedin was a great place to live, they said.

There were also a lot of quiet but impressive things going on in the business scene in Otago that largely went under the radar.

"Dunedin people don't jump up and down and show their stripes," Mr Russell said.

 

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