SLI Systems_

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SLISystems
01  /   The Beginning

E-commerce innovation

SLI Systems is a Christchurch-based company formed in 2001 by serial entrepreneur Shaun Ryan, and is a leader in the development of website search technology for online retailers.

Prior to establishing SLI Systems, Dr Ryan had been a key figure is an earlier NZ startup called GlobalBrain which was sold to US broadcaster NBCi.  He took some of the ideas and people behind that venture to then form the basis for SLI – which stands for ‘Search, Learn, Improve’ - Systems.

SLI's cloud-based software make it easier for customers to find products on online retail websites

01  /  Success

Technology intelligence

SLI's cloud-based software make it easier for customers to find products on online retail websites.  Its search technology “learns” from the behaviour of visitors to websites, thereby improving the chances that users will find what they are looking for more quickly. It matches the search words entered by users with what is actually clicked on. As the effect of this ‘intelligence’ kicks in, the relevance of the hits progressively improves and users don’t have to scroll so far through the results to find what they are looking for.

In 2007, NZVIF invested in it via Pioneer Capital’s first venture capital fund at a time when retailers around the world began investing heavily in their online presence.  This venture capital round helped with the company’s international expanision, during which the company doubled its customer base and its oeprating revenues.