IBM Launches SmartCamp for Entrepreneurs in Australia and New Zealand

SYDNEY, Australia, 10 July, 2012, IBM (NYSE:IBM) today announced the inaugural SmartCamp has opened for submissions. Facilitated by IBM, the exclusive event will create a local IT ecosystem for innovative early stage start-ups, connecting entrepreneurs with IBM technology, mentors, venture capitalists and industry experts to help build a Smarter Planet.

SmartCamp is part of a larger IBM initiative to help entrepreneurs build their business by providing support and resources.

"Innovation from the start-up community is critical to building a Smarter Planet. SmartCamp Sydney offers local innovative start-ups the opportunity to present their business to some of the most visible IT experts in our industry, and to also provide access to IBM technology in order to grow,” said David Mast, regional manager, ISV and Developer Relations, IBM Australia. "As an example, we help talented start-ups like the recent Boston SmartCamp winner Skyfoundry to help build a network of valuable contacts that can enable them to grow and take their technology business to the next level. Despite having only three and half employees, IBM sees big potential in its technology to help solve some of society’s most pressing challenges.”

SmartCamp forms part of IBM’s Global Entrepreneur Program and aims to support the next generation of entrepreneurs that hope to capture emerging business opportunities in fast-growing industries such as healthcare, public sector, natural resources, utilities and telecommunications. The contest culminates into an exclusive event for the top start-ups to present their business idea to a panel of experts.

"There is a real opportunity for the ICT industry to create a positive environment for home grown IT start-ups to thrive,” said Suzanne Campbell, Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) CEO. "We welcome and support initiatives like SmartCamp that builds an ecosystem connecting entrepreneurs with industry experts, ensuring the future of these IT start-ups.”

Applications for SmartCamp Sydney are now open and will close on 15 August 2012. Finalists will be announced on 22 August 2012 and will be asked to present their business idea in front of a panel of IT experts at the SmartCamp event in Sydney on 6 September 2012. The A/NZ winner will receive three month mentorship from IBM, as well as the chance to progress to the regional SmartCamp event in Beijing.

In 2012, there are 13 IBM SmartCamp events including, Miami, New York City, Munich, Bangalore, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Moscow, Paris, Istanbul, London, Cape Town, Mexico City and Dublin. Winning companies from these events will have the opportunity to participate in one of the four regional SmartCamp events in Boston, Beijing, Berlin and Sao Paolo. The winners of the SmartCamp events will further move on to participate in the 2012 Global Finals and be named IBM Entrepreneur of the Year.

For more information on the Global Entrepreneur Program visit: https://www-304.ibm.com/partnerworld/wps/servlet/ContentHandler/isv_com_smp_startup

For registration and full details on the SmartCamp, start-ups may visit: bit.ly/smartcampsydney

# # #

About IBM

For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com

For more information:

Ofa Fitzgibbons

External Relations

0424 031 639