Straker founder wins in prestigious Matariki Awards
Grant Straker, CEO and co-founder of Bailador portfolio company Straker Translations, has been honoured at New Zealand's Matariki Awards celebrating those making a difference within their community.
The awards commend outstanding commitment to Aotearoa and kaupapa Māori – with winners demonstrating a high calibre of Māori success and accomplishment by helping to nuture and support the growth of the language and culture in Aotearoa and worldwide.
Grant took home the Te Tupu-ā-Nuku Award for Business and Innovation, which recognises inspiring New Zealanders whose game-changing discoveries, research or innovations are a driving force in the country.
Straker Translations uses a unique technology platform combined with over 40,000 crowdsourced translations to deliver quicker and more accurate translations. The company was founded in New Zealand in 2000 by Grant and Merryn Straker, who is COO. The firm now employs 50 people at its Albany head office, with further production centres in Barcelona, Denver and Dublin and sales offices around the world.
Grant is a prominent advocate for Māori in technology and Straker Translations was founded on Kiwi values. He hopes Straker’s success can motivate other Māori to choose technology as a valuable and rewarding career path.
Straker Translations offers an internship programme giving school leavers, students and graduates an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the technology sector. Straker started its Coding for Kids programme in 2014, helping Auckland schools teach the fundamentals of computer coding.
Click here to read more and watch Grant's acceptance speech.