Latest news with #SamuelVye
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Tauranga drone company wins big at tech awards
Tauranga based drone manufacturer Syos Aerospace won the top prize at the Hi-Tech Awards last night in Wellington. The company makes uncrewed vehicles for land, sea and air and recently won a big UK defence contract. CEO and founder Samuel Vye talks to Susie. Samuel Vye Photo: Supplied / Matthew Power
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Drone-maker Syos Aerospace wins top honour at NZ Hi-Tech Awards
Founded in 2021, the company develops and manufactures heavy-lifting drones and autonomous boats and ground vehicles. It recently signed a $66.8 million supply contract with the British Defence Force to supply drones for Ukraine. The Syos team comprises more than 50 industry-leading engineers, with research and development operations in Mount Maunganui and a production site in Britain. Judges said Syos showed a company could build 'big things' in small, pleasant places. 'The company sells its products to government and commercial customers for security, border patrol, surveillance, disaster response, delivery logistics support, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. 'They have made the 'jump' overseas that is critical to getting Kiwi companies to global scale.' More than 80 local and international judges contributed to deciding the awards. Syos Aerospace chief executive Samuel Vye told the Bay of Plenty Times before the awards that what set Syos apart was how quickly it had grown. Until only a couple of months ago, it had 'flown under the radar', relentlessly focused on 'rapid development'. 'Our reputation has been built on customer delivery and growth. We are pushing hard, growing hard, and we're setting up production here in the Bay of Plenty.' Vye said Syos had its sights set 'pretty high' as to how big it could grow. 'We really are focusing on growing New Zealand in the tech space and trying to put New Zealand out there as a technology country. 'Our relentless growth isn't pausing,' he said. Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale congratulated all the Tauranga-based winners and finalists. Drysdale said Tauranga was being increasingly recognised not just for its lifestyle, but as a serious contender on the national stage where businesses could scale globally from a regional base. Advertise with NZME. 'This is a phenomenal achievement and testament to our region's growing reputation as a hub for innovation and strong influence on New Zealand's tech and innovation landscape.' A company based in Waikato that has worked on significant projects in Tauranga won Māori Company of the Year. Deep Dive Division is a robotic diving company founded in 2018 by Tua and Courtney Karalus. It has worked on everything from salvage and biosecurity to films (including Avatar: The Way of Water) and creating artificial reefs in the Tauranga Harbour. 'It's really cool to pave the way as a Māori Pacific business,' Courtney Karalus said. She said it was important to work with excellence, but also to be inspirational for the future, knowing that anything is possible in their community. 'It's also badass to look after the environment while you're doing it, because everyone loves the water.' Tua Karalus said he just wanted people to 'embrace the water'. 'We're out there, we're doing it, and there's a really bright future in the environmental space.' Best Software finalist Carepatron, which helps medical practices manage appointments in person and online, was highly commended in the Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution section. Tauranga's Jenny Rudd was a finalist in the Inspiring Individual category, but missed out on the win. She founded Dispute Buddy, a software program that supports people with the Family Court process by helping them find and extract texts, emails and messages needed as evidence. Bay of Plenty finalists for Best Manufacturer – wearable lymphatic therapy company Flowpresso and pH-measuring device maker Bluelab – also missed out. New Zealand Hi-Tech Trust chair Marian Johnson said she saw the achievements of the tech sector as something all of Aotearoa could take pride in after the challenging past couple of years. 'We continue to see exceptional growth of both our largest tech companies and burgeoning ecosystem of start-ups,' Johnson said in a statement. 'We're witnessing an industry that is continuing exceptional growth as well as innovation and matching it with the best in the world.' 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year Syos Aerospace Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Luke Campbell (co-founder & CEO of VXT) Spark Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good Optimation Consult Recruitment Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector Talent RISE Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Datacom Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual Lee Timutimu Aware – an HSO Company Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution Kitea Health Poutama Trust Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year Deep Dive Division Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Tait Communications Flying Kiwi Sir Peter Beck NZX Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution The Village Goldsmith Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution Winner: Toku Eyes Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Highly Commended: Carepatron Braemac Most Innovative Hi-Tech Manufacturer of the Year The Village Goldsmith Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future Cleanery NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution Advertise with NZME. Mindhive Global Punakaiki Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year Mindhive Global ASX Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year Winner: Projectworks Highly Commended: Calocurb
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Syos wins company of the year at Hi-Tech Awards, Sir Peter Beck named Flying Kiwi
The contract meant Syos' Tauranga-based founder, Samuel Vye, will now fulfil his prediction that revenue would jump from $4m to more than $55m this year. His firm's website says Syos drones have 'proven operational success in conflict zones'. Willis said Syos was 'creating some of the most world-leading drone technology, and they are literally helping fight the conflict in Ukraine - because they do it better than any other country in the world, from Mt Maunganui.' The British deal was announced when Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met his counterpart Sir Keir Starmer in April, when the countries' joint efforts to train Ukrainian forces were on the agenda. Last September, Vye was on an Aerospace New Zealand summit panel covered by the Herald, where a strong theme was that NZ is too squeamish about defence contracts. 'Silicon Valley VCs are happy with defence and dual-use investing. New Zealand is behind, in my opinion. We're still allergic to anything that could be considered used by the Navy or Army or Air Force – whether it's got 1080 on it or it's got guns on it,' Vye said. 'You could say we just make Toyota Hiluxes ... and then the payload goes on it.' Syos drones were also used for agriculture and environmental monitoring. Vye also told the Christchurch summit: 'We couldn't raise from New Zealand VCs because every single group – well, most groups – couldn't invest in dual-use technology because it was against their investment criteria and ESG [environmental, social and governance] policies so hence we went down the high-net-worth individual route.' After Syos' banner 2025, more options are likely to open up. Total immersion Deep Dive Division, a robotic diving company founded in 2018 by Tua and Courtney Karalus, was named Māori Company of the Year. The company is based in the Waikato but has done a significant volume of work in Tauranga, including laying artificial reefs in Tauranga Harbour as part of Cyclone Gabrielle restoration work. Deep Dive Division's founders joked they were 'social housing for crayfish'. It bills itself as NZ's only Māori and Pacific-owned commercial and scientific diving company. Its services range from hull cleans and biosecurity to film production – including work on blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water. Beefy AI Wellington's Mindhive Global won the start-up and agritech categories. It uses AI to detect 25 types of defects in cowhides within seconds, combining machine learning, image recognition, and industrial hardware in a way that's technically robust and commercially viable, the award judges said. Mindhive has recently landed business in Brazil and Italy, the home of leather. The Most Innovative Tech Solution and Most Innovative Manufacturer gongs were picked up by The Village Goldsmith - which is also disrupting a long-standing industry with its development of a unique platform, developed over 17 years and many lasers, that allows diamonds to float without visible prongs, claws, or clasps. It was an innovation the judges said was recognised globally as the most significant change in diamond solitaire ring design since 1886, leading to a deal with Tiffany & Co. Beck joins 'Flying Kiwi' hall of fame Sir Peter Beck was recognised as the 2025 Flying Kiwi and inducted into the NZ Hi-Tech Hall of Fame. He received the honour for taking his company Rocket Lab from a start-up 20 years ago to the multibillion-dollar company it is today, while at the same time contributing to the development of the Kiwi aerospace industry and personally investing in a slate of homegrown start-ups. Watch Beck's pre-recorded acceptance clip below: The 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Award winners PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever Winner: Luke Campbell (co-founder & CEO of VXT) Advertise with NZME. Spark Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good Winner: Optimation Consult Recruitment Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector Winner: Talent RISE Datacom Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual Winner: Lee Timutimu Winner: Kitea Health Poutama Trust Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year Tait Communications Flying Kiwi Winner: The Village Goldsmith Advertise with NZME. Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution Winner: Toku Eyes Highly commended: Carepatron Braemac Most Innovative Hi-Tech Manufacturer of the Year Winner: The Village Goldsmith Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future Advertise with NZME. Winner: Cleanery Winner: Mindhive Global Punakaiki Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the Year Advertise with NZME. Winner: Mindhive Global ASX Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year Winner: Projectworks Highly commended: Calocurb
1News
27-04-2025
- Business
- 1News
Inside the Tauranga drone company with a $66m UK defence contract
Amongst cluster of warehouses in Tauranga's industrial zone, there's a large shed with no signage. Inside are workers developing some of the world's most technologically sophisticated and revolutionary modes of transport. It's the head quarters of Syos Aerospace, a drone manufacturer that has just signed contracts with the UK's Ministry of Defence worth $66.8 million dollars. Syos Aerospace CEO and founder Samuel Vye spoke to Q+A the day before he left to the UK for the announcement of the deal. While he was unable to divulge the details of the deal, he was happy to talk about the work of his robotics company. The Tauranga warehouse is Syos's development and research hub. The prototypes are trialled in New Zealand but manufactured in a facility South East of London. UAV's or unmanned aerial vehicles make up the bulk of the work but Syos has also developed, long range uncrewed vessels, helicopters and ground vehicles. Inside their headquarters, an array of aerial drones and parts sit on long work benches. It's the weekend so not many technicians are in but in an adjoining area, an engineering is fine tuning the rotor on an uncrewed helicopter. There are impressive display prototypes in a showroom area. One of them, a missile shaped drone, with retro Thunderbirds vibes, has one role, Samuel Vye explained; to shoot other drones out of the sky. The robotics company has been supplying the British Ministry of Defence with drones and won contracts with other customers up against some of the world's biggest aero-space companies. When Q+A asked Vye about why a small Bay of Plenty robotics company is becoming a go-to drone manufacturer, he replied: 'It's not about the specific drone." "It's about the capability that Syos Aerospace has in rapidly developing the next drone that's needed by the customer. So we're always horizon scanning what the future looks like so at the drop of a hat we can spend six weeks and rapidly develop the next drone systems that a customer might currently need." He told Q+A that it would be keen to bid for contracts when the New Zealand Ministry of Defence puts out tenders for drone supply. The Ministry's recently released Defence Capability Plan indicates it has between $200 million and $450m to spend on drones for maritime and security surveillance and combat. At a UK military base this last week, Vye and his team presented the company's latest drone technology to British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The British Prime Minister made special mention of Syos in when announcing a new UK and NZ defence co-operation agreement. Starmer confirmed that the drone deal with Syos would support Ukraine. Back in Tauranga, the Syos CEO answers questions about how their drones may be used in war. 'We don't stick weapons on any of our drone systems.' 'So we stay away from that controversial subject so all our systems are set up as surveillance, cargo systems to be multi role, multi use by our customers.' On the question of whether the drones provide a platform to be armed, Vye said: "I guess a Toyota Hilux provides a platform to be armed." The systems developed by Syos have a wide range of applications beyond conflict zones. There's a race on to produce long range aerial drones and USVs, unmanned surface vehicles; boats that can surveille and patrol the far reaches of New Zealand's massive EEZ. Other systems can be used for conservation work, fire fighting and search and rescue. Vye said the world will soon look very different. 'Imagine numerous swarming drone systems in the sky, on the ground, in the sea. "The low cost, high volume, mass application of drones is really the future."
