In a move to help entrepreneurs build better businesses, IBM has opened submissions for its inaugural ANZ SmartCamp, an event designed to create a local IT ecosystem for innovative, early-stage start-ups.

"Programs like SmartCamp present massive opportunities for innovative IT start-ups in New Zealand,” says Jane Smallfield, president of the New Zealand Software Association. "It demonstrates a willingness by the ICT industry to get behind our entrepreneurs and to support innovation.

Part of the IBM Global Entrepreneur Program, SmartCamp is aimed at the next generation of entrepreneurs looking to capture emerging business opportunities in fast-growing industries such as healthcare, public sector, natural resources, utilities and telecommunications.

"Innovation from the start-up community is critical to building a smarter planet,” says Phil Sheehan, ISV and Developer Relations, IBM New Zealand.

"As an example, we help talented start-ups like the recent Boston SmartCamp winner Skyfoundry to 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 a half employees, IBM sees big potential in its technology to help solve some of society's most pressing challenges.

Applications for the Sydney event are now open and will close on August 15. Finalists will be announced on August 22 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 ANZ winner will receive a three month mentorship package from IBM, as well as the chance to progress to the regional SmartCamp event in Beijing.

There are 13 IBM SmartCamp events taking place in 2012,: 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 participate in one of the four regional SmartCamp events in Boston, Beijing, Berlin and Sao Paolo. The winners of the regional events will compete in the 2012 Global Finals for the top spot as IBM Entrepreneur of the Year.

Go here for more.