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Innovation Programmes and Challenges

22 Feb 2023

Startups tackling waste win big at Orion Energy Accelerator pitch event

With $30,000+ in prizes on the line, the Orion Energy Accelerator public pitch saw two clean energy startups take the grand prizes Two startups with novel ways of converting waste into energy have won...
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22 Feb 2023

Orion Energy Accelerator 2023 Demo Night Gallery

Orion Energy Accelerator’s demo night was a smashing success. Read about the event, who won the awards, and more in this article. Enjoy these photos from the event!
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24 Nov 2022

Christchurch transformed thanks to Ministry of Awesome

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15 Nov 2022

MoA 10 Year Anniversary

On Thursday, the 10th of November, 2022, we gathered together in the Te Ōhaka space to celebrate 10 Years of Ministry of Awesome. Established in 2012, MoA began with an ambition to create an...
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11 Oct 2022

The growth in opportunities for female funders and founders

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11 Oct 2022

Opportunity in the Auckland female venture ecosystem

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20 Jul 2022

Healthtech Startup Vibration Action wins innovation prize at the Healthtech Challenge Demo Night.

From smelter to workplace safety innovator, Jason Johnstone was awarded the Te Papa Hauora Innovation Prize at the Healthtech Challenge Demo and Awards Night in Christchurch on 12 July. Powered by ChristchurchNZ and delivered...
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04 Jul 2022

MSD Start Me Up Programme Completes Another Successful Year

Start Me Up powered by Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and ChristchurchNZ and delivered by Ministry Of Awesome and ThincLab Canterbury, wrapped up its second year and this sequel did not disappoint. A larger cohort than last year, the...
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01 Jun 2022

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel: No other place on the planet has a Ministry of Awesome

Christchurh's innovation eco-system embraces start-ups and is a rich breeding ground for creativity and fresh ideas. But what they don't know is that we have something no-one else has, and that is a Ministry...
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26 May 2022

$250m in research and development grants to help 500 businesses

Hundreds of businesses stand to benefit from $250 million in research and innovation grants over the next four years.
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26 May 2022

National Startup Advisors Council Announced

Ministry of Awesome Chief Executive, Marian Johnson, appointed among first delegates of government backed national startup council including council members Phil McCaw, Suse Reynolds, Imche Fourie, Carl Jones, and Grant Straker.
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27 Apr 2022

Nine Startups Join the HealthTech Supernode Challenge

From a startup creating a nutritional game for tamariki to non-invasive ventilation support technology for people with Covid-19 and other Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) conditions, nine startups with innovative healthcare solutions have been...
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21 Apr 2022

Meet the Woman Founders of Electrify Accelerator

Ten women entrepreneurs have been selected to join the Electrify Accelerator, an initiative led by Ministry of Awesome to answer long-standing gender inequality issues in the high growth startup world.
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14 Apr 2022

Unleashing the power of startups and entrepreneurs to ensure NZ thrives

As a representative of the Startup Leadership Group, Ministry of Awesome was part of was part of presenting recommendations to the government
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31 Mar 2022

Women in Business: New Zealand’s Female Founders Are Carving Out New Ground

In 2019 a report showed New Zealand's universities produced more female founders of startups than any other country at 13.4 percent. So, who are some of the New Zealand women changing the narrative in...
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11 Mar 2022

Women founders and wild hearts

More women should be founding startups. Out of approximately 2,000 high growth startups in New Zealand, only 400 (about 20%) of them are founded by women.
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08 Mar 2022

NZ’s first women-only business accelerator open for applications

A new business incubator is aiming to address the tech sector's long-standing diversity problem.
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22 Feb 2022

Mentorship programme hopes to bridge gender discrepancies in start-up sector

A new mentorship programme for women has been launched to help address long-standing gender inequality issues in the start-up world.
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18 Nov 2021

Off the press: 1News – Two startups win awards for residential solar energy ideas

Orion Accelerator Winners, Empower Energy and Red Phase featured on 1News. Hear all about their journey through the accelerator and next steps towards commercialising their startup.
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01 Nov 2021

FoodStarter Winner Launches in New World Stores Nationwide

New World shoppers across Aotearoa are now able to enjoy one of New Zealand’s most innovative new products from FoodStarter winner Kaitahi As One, whose award-winning range is launching into stores nationwide this week.
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29 Oct 2021

Two solar startups win the Orion Energy Accelerator Grant

Leni Maiai | Oct 29 2021 Two energy companies focused on very different parts of the solar industry won at the inaugural Orion Energy Accelerator pitch event hosted virtually from Christchurch last night. On...
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27 Sep 2021

Minister Woods meets with energy innovators from the Orion Accelerator

As the clean energy revolution gathers speed, the future of New Zealand’s energy economy is being reshaped from the ground up.  Earlier this year, Orion Group partnered with the Ministry of Awesome and Ara...
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29 Jul 2021

Orion Energy Accelerator startups come to Taranaki

The Orion Energy Accelerator national competition teams are coming to Taranaki for a two-day intensive boot camp with the support of the new energy centre Ara Ake to refine their ideas to reduce New...
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28 Jul 2021

Electrify Aotearoa announced, a rallying call for women startup founders

The all-day 17 February, 2022 Christchurch conference will feature several of NZ’s top women founders to inspire and connect with the next generation of women-led startups July 26, Christchurch Women will start, shape, and...
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28 Jul 2021

Only 20 per cent of high-growth startup businesses have women founders

Ambitious women with great business ideas are being urged to attend a one-day national conference that aims to supercharge the number of women founders of high-growth startups.
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21 May 2021

Workforce Innovation Sprint helps tackle food and fibre workforce issues

Over the past five weeks, Ministry of Awesome has had the pleasure of working with four teams from various NZ food and fibre sector companies to develop new ideas aimed at tackling workforce issues...
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06 May 2021

And…we have a winner!

It’s been a huge week of startup success stories for Ministry of Awesome, ChristchurchNZ,  Ara Institute of Canterbury, and the startups based out of our Te Ōhaka – the Centre for Growth and Innovation...
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07 Apr 2021

Ministry of Awesome joins the Hillfarrance Scout troop

Our Chief Awesome Officer, Marian Johnson, has been invited to be a Hillfarrance Scout on behalf of MoA. This means that high growth startups coming through the MoA and Te Ōhaka pipelines could have...
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31 Mar 2021

Ministry of Awesome to launch the Orion Energy Accelerator alongside Orion Group

The Ministry of Awesome and Canterbury electricity lines company, Orion, today launched a national competition calling for new ideas to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions. The Orion Energy Accelerator offers two Start-up Grants worth...
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25 Feb 2021

Asia Innovation Series: HealthTech Opportunities in Asia

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting our first  webinar in our brand new Asia Innovation Series about HealthTech Opportunities in Asia. Big thanks to our speakers Tam Hankinson, Gabe Rijpma, Alistair Crozier...
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16 Feb 2021

Ministry of Awesome to deliver Ara’s new business and innovation courses

This year for the first time Ara Institute of Canterbury is offering learners the opportunity to enrol in courses designed to develop their own business and innovation ideas.  The two courses – ‘Business Accelerator’...
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03 Dec 2020

How To Finance Your Startup Business

If you’re planning a new business and need some expert help to be ready for launch, this article looks at some of the fundamental things you need to do in terms of capital raising...
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23 Nov 2020

FoodStarter competition supersizes providing boost to supplier community in 2021

New World and Ministry of Awesome have started the search for New Zealand’s food and beverage product superstars, this year with an additional category for small suppliers and a supersized prize package which includes...
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23 Oct 2020

Health innovation challenge winners announced

  Richard McCulloch from NextStep was crowned as the Best Startup Team and the Overall Winner of the Challenge Winners of the inaugural HealthTech Supernode Challenge – a national innovation challenge powered by ChristchurchNZ,...
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16 Oct 2020

TOP 8 finalists announced in the HealthTech Supernode Challenge 2020

From virtual reality  that could repair brain damage, to artificial intelligence  that detects diseases,22 of the country’s most innovative and life changing healthcare ideas and initiatives have been whittled down to just eight. And...
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29 Jun 2020

Challenge aims to position Christchurch as NZ’s centre of health innovation

Ōtautahi Christchurch aims to become the home of health tech innovation in New Zealand with the HealthTech Supernode Challenge, opening Monday 29 June. With a total prize pool across multiple categories valued at over $340,000,...
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27 May 2020

7 Practical tips to help your startup through Covid19

Like every small business in the world right now, New Zealand’s early stage startups are so vulnerable. Short runways, little or no cash, investors slowing up, early sales falling away it’s all happening right...
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27 May 2020

COVID-19 Startup Information Pack

Thank you to our friends at Startup Dunedin for sharing these resources and to Mackenzie Dowson for her excellent work in creating them! Table of Contents New Zealand Business Support Package Working Remotely Cash Flow...
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19 May 2020

How can your business provide exceptional customer experience?

Innovation. The focus of last week’s Coffee and Jam was customers and how to keep them close which is always relevant but even more so right now as we make our way through the...
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18 May 2020

Into the Unknown: Leadership strategy for uncertain times

At last week’s Startup Breakfast Club, we gathered an influential group of speakers together to discuss what it means to be a leader in times of crisis. We’d like to extend a special thanks...
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08 May 2020

Leading through uncertainty

This article was inspired by the Innovation Bay seminar, which took place on the 22nd of April 2020. A huge thank you to Innovation Bay, as well as to the speakers: Nick Crocker, Jane...
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29 Apr 2020

Same storm, different boats, shifting perspectives, and seizing opportunities

Shifting perspectives were a central theme of this week’s Coffee and Jam, with our speakers emphasising a multi-faceted approach to enduring and thriving as individuals, businesses, and communities amidst COVID.  Read on for some...
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21 Apr 2020

Financial Forecasting: Understanding the Basics

Financial forecasting can help startup companies future-proof their business, especially at times of crisis. This article will cover two topics: why it’s important for companies at every stage and the basics of how to...
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20 Apr 2020

How to spot opportunity, pivot, and thrive.

At this week’s Coffee and Jam, we asked Ben Kepes, founder of Cactus Outdoor, long-running startup investor, and influential tech blogger;  Tip Piumsomboon, Principal at Blackbird Ventures; and, Laura Reitel, Callaghan Innovation’s Startup Programme...
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15 Apr 2020

Capital raising for startups in hard times

Embrace your options, rise to the challenge. Focus on long-term sustainability rather than rapid growth. Don’t give up too much capital and choose the right investors. It’s all about embracing your options and rising...
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09 Apr 2020

Covid-19: A Crash Course in Video Conferencing Tools

Covid-19 is sure to have a lasting impact on how, when, and where we work. Luckily, offices big and small from around the globe are already well equipped to work from home. Online communication...
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08 Apr 2020

YieldTec robots to end labour shortages in orchards

New Zealand startup YieldTec wants to introduce robots to fruit picking. Growers should be able to end seasonal labour shortages and save up to 60 per cent on costs with its technology. Some big...
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07 Apr 2020

The Government Support Package as Applicable to Startups

While wage subsidy material available online is directed to businesses of all sizes and shapes, they’re especially relevant for startups during this uncertain time. It’s designed to support businesses across NZ so that they have the...
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07 Apr 2020

What startups should do while in a bubble

The other day we caught up with Krissy Sadler Bridge, MYOB’s national marketing manager.  She and her team create solutions for the problems that small to medium-sized businesses face in New Zealand.  Krissy spoke...
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06 Apr 2020

How to handle WFH right now

Remote work isn’t new, our current situation is. With billions of people asked to stay home, what was before a rarity became the day-to-day. We now have to work from home; it’s the right...
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04 Mar 2020

Should startups use Business Model Canvas or Lean Canvas?

Where the Business Model Canvas tries to provide a complete model which encapsulates many types of business, the Lean Canvas focuses more on customer problems and solutions. “Most startups fail, not because they fail...
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13 Feb 2020

Christchurch startup & innovation fixture moves monthly

  Kia ora Coffee & Jam whanau! We have an announcement to make. From now on, Coffee & Jam will be a monthly event instead of weekly. And each event is scheduled to be...
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30 Jan 2020

9 Grants for Startups in New Zealand

Running out of cash is the second biggest reason that startups fail. Therefore, ensuring that your cash reserves are robust is critical to the survival of your business. This means founders not only have...
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22 Nov 2019

Reading: Source of Knowledge and Entertainament

  THE AIM: To promote an appreciation and love of reading as a source of knowledge and entertainment by bringing literature to public spaces and in people’s daily activities. “Creating a temptation to read, creating...
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22 Nov 2019

Validating startup ideas – 10 things to remember

Earlier this month, at Startup Breakfast Club, we caught up with Courtney van Beek from Assurity, Shelley Magic of MYOB, and Ashley Bass from Jade Software to discuss startup validation. These were the top...
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22 Nov 2019

The single most critical step to take before you start your business.

By: Jacob Varghese, Startup Activator You are an ardent moviegoer who makes the weekly pilgrimage to the nearest cinema but it’s a hassle for you to check all the different cinema websites for times and...
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22 Nov 2019

Trans Tasman Collaboration sets startups up for success

Tasman collaboration sets innovators up Christchurch’s Ministry of Awesome has just inked a startup exchange partnership offering NZ startups a New South Wales beachhead and introductions to established networks that can help them crack...
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22 Nov 2019

10 Digital Marketing Tips for Startups

At last month’s Startup Breakfast Club, we caught up with Krissy Sadler-Bridge of MYOB, Jen Heuett from Altitude Media and Luke Eason from Harvey Cameron. Each provided a valuable overview of digital marketing in all its...
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22 Nov 2019

The Brothers Green: A Sustainable Hempire

“Hemp seeds are safe to eat, nutritious, and do not have a psychoactive effect,” said Food Safety Minister, the Honourable Damien O’Connor, in a Beehive press release in November 2018, regarding changes made to...
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22 Nov 2019

An awesome enterprise: Q&A with the Ministry of Awesome’s Chief Awesome Officer Marian Johnson

A social enterprise established in the dark days post-quake to encourage positivity, collaboration, activation and support for a city that was struggling to survive, the Ministry of Awesome is a creative crew making some...
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22 Nov 2019

Fundamentals of Startup Funding

“Raising capital takes twice as long, is twice as hard, and costs twice as much then you think it will so plan for this.” – Bridget Unsworth – Investment Director, NZ Venture Investment Fund...
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22 Nov 2019

AllGoods is Awesome

AllGoods is a marketplace that makes buying and selling online cheaper, faster and more fun for Kiwis. It’s free for casual sellers, easy for businesses to get set up, and fun for buyers to browse...
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22 Nov 2019

Ministry of Awesome and Ara create new innovation hub

Ara Institute of Canterbury to become more Awesome. Establishing an ecosystem that will nurture dynamic start-ups, entrepreneurs, and innovators is critical for Christchurch, and Canterbury to strengthen its standing as a region of opportunity....
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22 Nov 2019

10 Legal Tips for Starting Your Startup

Whether you’re sitting at your kitchen table or moving into your first commercial space, you must take your startup seriously from the outset and establish the legal foundations you need to protect your future...
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18 Sep 2019

FoodStarter 2019 launches 16 September

The Brothers Green, aka Brad Lake and Brendon McIntosh who have now been joined by Michael Burnett, won last year’s FoodStarter competition – a partnership between Ministry of Awesome (MoA) and Foodstuffs South Island. ...
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26 Jun 2019

Awesome Bulletin #4

At last month’s Startup Breakfast Club, we caught up with Krissy Sadler-Bridge of MYOB, Jen Heuett from Altitude Media and Luke Eason from Harvey Cameron. Each provided a valuable overview of digital marketing in all its...
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15 May 2019

Awesome Bulletin #3

Earlier this month, at Startup Breakfast Club, we caught up with Courtney van Beek from Assurity, Shelley Magic of MYOB, and Ashley Bass from Jade Software to discuss startup validation. These were the top ten takeaways...
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17 Apr 2019

Awesome Bulletin #2

  Startup Legals 101 Whether you’re sitting at your kitchen table or moving into your first commercial space, you must take your startup seriously from the outset and establish the legal foundations you need...
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12 Mar 2019

Funding Advice From a Local Startup

Emily Blythe began her first startup at 16 years old. Since then she has run three startups, funding various companies through a combination of friends and friends investment, grants, and angle investment. Q: Where...
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12 Mar 2019

Ten Takeaways on Startup Funding

We recently caught up with startup investor and influencer, Ben Kepes; Canterbury Angels chairman, Paul Claridge; experienced business banker and financial advisor, Dave Armstrong; and Bridget on the subject of funding. Here’s their ten...
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12 Mar 2019

Fundamentals of Funding

Fundamentals of Funding “Raising capital takes twice as long, is twice as hard, and costs twice as much then you think it will so plan for this.” – Bridget Unsworth – Investment Director, NZ...
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12 Mar 2019

Awesome Bulletin #1

Fundamentals of Funding “Raising capital takes twice as long, is twice as hard, and costs twice as much then you think it will so plan for this.” – Bridget Unsworth – Investment Director, NZ...
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20 Feb 2019

Why Startups Matter for Christchurch

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to finally launch that dream startup and fulfill your goals and ambitions then 2019 is a great year to make it happen. Startup fever has gripped...
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13 Feb 2019

Firm financial foundations for startups

✓ No matter what the reason for going into business – you’ll need to underpin it with sound financial planning and management.  You need a budget, you need to forecast, and you need to stay...
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23 Jan 2019

Five Takeaways From the Jumpstart Your Startup in 2019: Breakfast Club Event

Bright and early on the 6th of December, 60 people from around Canterbury came to the Kahukura building at Ara to hear from three panelists expert in their industry; Amy Kimber, the Tax Manager...
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30 Nov 2018

The End Game that Startups Need to Think About

Written by Catherine Harris from Stuff NZ, in partnership with Deloitte. It seems strange when starting a business to think about the day you’ll leave it, but many experts believe it’s vitally important. Company founders...
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16 Aug 2018

Ministry of Awesome and Ara create new innovation hub.

Ara Institute of Canterbury to become more Awesome. Establishing an ecosystem that will nurture dynamic start-ups, entrepreneurs, and innovators is critical for Christchurch, and Canterbury to strengthen its standing as a region of opportunity....
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18 May 2018

Could Christchurch be a self-sufficient ‘Fab City’?

Could Christchurch join Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam to become a self-sufficient “Fab City”? Eighteen “Fab” cities around the world aim to eventually become self-sufficient, sharing code to 3D print everything they need. Now Carl Pavletich has co-founded Fab...
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17 May 2018

Eight leaders named for Government’s digital advisory group

Broadcasting, communications, digital media and government digital services minister Clare Curran has named eight out of 14 members of the Government’s digital economy and digital inclusion advisory group. Frances Valintine, the founder and chair...
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20 Apr 2018

Steven Moe: Talking Purpose

Seeds: Talking Purpose Podcasts Welcome to seeds, a weekly show where Steven talks purpose with inspiring people making a positive impact with their lives.  With a particular interest in social enterprises and entrepreneurs. Listen to them reflect...
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21 Mar 2018

Status Green: How much water do you use?

A scheme to monitor residential water use in Christchurch has won an innovation incubator event and could be awarded local government funding. The Future City Activator ran over the weekend, a tech hackathon focused on...
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14 Dec 2017

Awesome Story #3 Feat: Andrew Moss

Andrew was a former computer engineer and high school technology teacher. He moved to Christchurch from Canberra about two and a half years ago with his family. The reasoning behind the move to Christchurch...
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30 Oct 2017

Awesome Story #2 Feat: April McLennan

“We’ll each work 80,000 hours in our lives – imagine what we could do with that time.”  Q: What inspired you to start Limitless?  A: I started Limitless after doing a Social Enterprise Accelerator (Live...
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12 Sep 2017

Awesome Story #1 Feat: Magda Lorenzo

THE AIM: To promote an appreciation and love of reading as a source of knowledge and entertainment by bringing literature to public spaces and in people’s daily activities. “Creating a temptation to read, creating...
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