While the nation may feel like it’s time to kick back and relax now that the rugby world cup is over, in the world of business and innovation things are heating up in the Wellington Region.
The region is a hotspot for entrepreneurs and the next couple of months present some fantastic events and opportunities which will see entrepreneurs networking, collaborating and pitching their way to business success.
The finalists of the Unlimited Investment Challenge – with five of the twelve finalists hailing from the Wellington Region, will be put to the ultimate test when they pitch their ideas to investors late October. The challenge (run by Unlimited Magazine) strives to get companies investment ready through workshops, business planning, mentoring and pitch planning.
Early November will see a collaboration of creative minds not seen before in the region. A 54 hour entrepreneurial marathon - Startup Weekend provides developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts an opportunity to come together to share ideas, form teams, build products and launch startups. Startup Weekend is run by a global network of passionate leaders with a mission to bring out the best in local entrepreneurs.
The 2011 Bright Ideas Challengeis set to announce the recipient of the $25,000 seed capital in early November. Last year’s inaugural winner , Lower Hutt company Im-Able, went on to be a finalist in the 2010 Unlimited Investment Challenge and have since secured the backing of US investors.
Mid November will see a small group of entrepreneurs gearing up for JumpStart, a high impact ‘live in’ weekend which is part of the successful Activate programme, designed to give start-ups an intensive, total immersion in business planning and development. Now in its third year the programme has seen a number of successful entrepreneurs completing the Activate journey. One such company being Hutt Valley based Innate. Founded by Upper Hutt resident Carolyn Press McKenzie and business partner Stephanie Fifield, Innate started out as a natural skincare company. Through the intensive Activate programme, Innate were able to focus on how to make their business export orientated and have since pioneered a system for naturally preserving active ingredients in personal care and animal health products. Now a resident business at Creative HQ (Grow Wellington’s business incubator) Innate has grown from a cottage business into a company which is now truly global.
Wellington is a bright point of innovation and businesses like Innate embody the entrepreneurial spirit of Wellington’s business community. Neither Carolyn nor Stephanie are scientists however with some forward thinking, the desire to create a solution and the right support they have turned an idea into a fast growing business.
With its compact size, innovative outlook and collaborative environment, the Wellington Region really is the place for getting great ideas fast tracked to become great businesses.