To the victor go the spoils, and Dunedin's Gigatown win is now starting to deliver tangible benefits to the city and its businesses.
Three grants totalling $47,000 have been dished out to three Dunedin entrepreneurs utilising the gigaspeed technology now available in the city.
That money was part of the Chorus/Alcatel Lucent $200,000 Gig Start Fund - a key reward for the Gigatown winner.
Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said the grants were great news for the companies themselves, but also great news for Dunedin as a city.
''And I think that is our future, actually. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do for our community longer term.''
Mr Christie said Dunedin's growing reputation as a hotbed for entrepreneurial success should come as no surprise.
''It makes a lot of sense when you think of what's coming out of the tertiary sector.''
Although 19 businesses applied for the first funding round, the judges decided the three winners put forward the most ''compelling case for funding'', Chorus chief commercial officer Tim Harris said.
''It's inspiring to see so many great ideas coming out of Dunedin making use of gigabit ultra fast broadband. I'm really looking forward to seeing how these entrepreneurial individuals progress their business plans.''
The winners also receive places on a ''Co.Starter'' start up programme this month, to help them develop their concepts, explore their ideas further and turn them into reality, Mr Harris said.
The Gig Start Fund's next funding round opens for applications at the end of this month, and closes at the end of October.
