About

Wared Seger is a pertinent example of the new breed of graduates taking full advantage of The University of Auckland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He’s the CEO and founder of Parrot Analytics, which uses pioneering technology to provide real time global consumer behaviour information for digital content industries.

The company has attracted interest from investors such as Sir Stephen Tindall’s K1W1 and business from international digital content players.

“As a student with global aspirations, an entrepreneurial pathway was always my preferred first step; particularly in the technology space,” Wared says.

While completing his Bachelor of Science he focused on neurobiology, and went on to do a Master of Bioscience Enterprise, a programme which focuses on taking IP in life science to market.

Throughout his studies Wared was involved with [Velocity] and more so with its sister organisation Chiasma, where Wared served as CEO and Chair in 2011 and 2012.

Chiasma’s mission is to foster connections between science and business, connecting university students to the life science and biotech industry in New Zealand.

“The key message… that I really got out of [Velocity] was anything is possible, so if you can dream it you can make it happen.

“Through [Velocity]  you keep hearing these stories and learning from these great and successful entrepreneurs and amazing Kiwis that went on to build successful ventures, so I guess that inspiration factor was for me the most important take-home message as well as the lessons I learnt about developing ventures.”

Wared has drawn on many aspects of The University of Auckland entrepreneurship ecosystem including Velocity, Chiasma, The ICEHOUSE and ICE Angles to launch Parrot Analytics – all these organisations that didn’t exist around a decade ago.

In April 2013 Parrot Analytics was one of four New Zealand start-ups to travel to the Kiwi Landing Pad in San Francisco, which helps tech companies establish and grow their businesses in the US.

Wared had the opportunity to pitch the business plan to a group of US-based Kiwi entrepreneurs as well as presenting at the global 2013 Angel Capital Association Summit.

The seed funding round closed in August 2013 and the company is now looking to raise a Series Around in 2014.