How It Works
The Digital Industry Forum first met as a group on 2 December 2009, organised and led by SODA Inc, in association with its other funding partners New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Hamilton City Council, and Opportunity Hamilton. Attended by over 100 digital leaders in the field, that initial event created the momentum to develop this new regional digital cluster. Since 2009 SODA has also established and manages the following:
- Leadership Group that includes over 40 leaders from business, education, government and the community who meet regularly at SODA on a monthly basis to oversee the regional digital industry agenda, and to generate projects to promote the Waikato as a centre of excellence in digital technologies.
- Communications Taskforce is made up of world-class marketing and communication experts who meet regularly at SODA to work on a structured marketing and communications programme. Through this we aim to increase global sales opportunities for our participating members as well as increase the overall visibility and recognition of the Waikato as a centre of digital excellence.
- Membership Taskforce is made up of respected Waikato business leaders who meet on a regular basis at SODA to guide the growth of the Digital Industry Forum.
- DigiCoffee Group is organising a special entrepreneurial business start-up challenge that will first take place in November 2011. The group meets at SODA on a weekly basis.
- SODA Labs are a new value-added service for Digital Industry Forum members and other constituents of the regional digital industry.
- LinkedIn Group, which now hase over 290 active members
SODA Inc., Hamilton’s business incubator & digital cluster developer, plays an instrumental role in developing, leading, hosting, managing and coordinating all these activities. SODA established and manages the forum, its website, it's programmes and all activities, and has organised FORUM 2011 that took place at The Wintec Atrium, Hamilton, NZ on 05 July 2011.
