Powering UP the Taranaki innovation ecosystem
PowerUp is all about growing, connecting, and supporting ideas and capability, and harnessing the expertise and passion required to develop Taranaki’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. Enterprises, ideas, and individuals will be supported and enabled as PowerUp connects them with a range of new and existing services and opportunities, helping to grow their capability, and broaden their understanding of what they thought possible. We’ve built PowerUp to bring together Enterprise and bright ideas, and we’re working to build smart, connected communities, so ideas, entrepreneurship and innovation can continue to thrive in Taranaki. We’re keeping it simple; as easy as one, two, three, with our Grow, Connect, Tell approach.
You can keep up to date with all of our PowerUp activities below, as well as register for events and masterclasses, and even sign up to our PowerUp email, at the bottom of the page, so you’ll never miss a beat.
Powered by Venture Taranaki. What is it? Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Do you have an idea that you think could grow into an innovative enterprise or do you want to develop your entrepreneurial skills? Are you an early-stage start-up wanting to take it to the next level? Our PowerUp Ideas Competition could be your chance to make it happen. The PowerUp Ideas Competition will give you the tools needed to help turn your ideas into action. The programme is simple and spilt into two parts: Part 1: Co.Starters Workshops
Keep reading for further details or if you're ready to go, start your journey by completing the simple application here:
Who is it for? Do you have a great business idea, do you want to develop your entrepreneurial skills, or maybe you have an early-stage start-up business in Taranaki that you're wanting to take to the next level? If you've answered yes to any of these questions, then this programme is for you.
How much will it cost? We are hunting for people with ideas to develop, people who want to be entrepreneurs but don't necessarily have the idea yet, and early stage start-up’s in Taranaki. If this is you, it will cost you your time and commitment. Venture Taranaki will cover the rest.
Stage one Co.Starters programme requires a time commitment of 3-6 hours per week to attend the practical workshops as well as your own time to work on your idea. Your time for big rewards.
Co.Starters workshops will run from 2 February 2021 to 9 March 2021. The programme consists of eight workshops as follows: Workshop 1: Knowing Yourself Tuesday 2 February 5:30pm – 8:30pm (in Person) Workshop 2: Knowing your Customer Thursday 4 February 5:30pm – 8:30pm (Zoom Call) Workshop 3: Getting the Relationship Right Tuesday 9 February 5:30pm – 8:30pm (Zoom Call) Workshop 4: Discovering your Bottom Line Tuesday 16 February 5:30pm – 8:30pm (in Person) Workshop 5: Accounting for Growth Thursday 18 February 5:30pm – 8:30pm (in Person) Workshop 6: Strengthening your Business Structure Tuesday 23 February 5:30pm – 8:30pm (Zoom Call) Workshop 7: Planning for The Future Tuesday 2 March 5:30pm – 8:30pm (Zoom Call) Workshop 8: Pitch Feedback Session Tuesday 9 March 5:30pm – 8:30pm (in Person)
Video Pitch Pitch your idea to join the PowerUp Customised Programme. All participants on the Co.Starters workshops have the opportunity to submit a video pitch about their business or social enterprise idea to enter the PowerUp Customised Programme – five business ideas will be chosen to go onto the next stage.
PowerUp Customised Programme The PowerUp Customised Programme will run from 6 April to 6 June 2021, and is tailored to the needs of each participant to help move your business forward. The selected five participants* will receive:
*Founder or founder and team **Seed Funding to be used on growing your idea/ business during the course of the two-month programme.
PowerUp Ideas Competition Finals Night Each of the PowerUp Customised Programme participants will pitch in front of our judges for the chance to win $10,000 cash to spend on your start-up. There will also be potential investors in the room, as well as a number of other prizes to be won.
Key dates
14 December 2020: Applications open 29 January 2021: Applications close 2 February 2021: Co.Starter Programme Starts 9 March 2021: Co.Starter Programme Ends 10 March 2021: Video Pitch application opens 19 March 2021: Video Pitch application ends 4 April 2021: PowerUp Customised Programme starts (for top 5) 6 June 2021: PowerUp Customised Programme ends 16 June 2021: Top 5 Pitch to Win $10,000.00
How do I enter?
We’re glad you asked. It's simple, complete the two-minute application here:
View the PowerUp Ideas Competition terms and conditions here.
Venture Taranaki has teamed up NZ Entrepreneur Magazine to showcase Taranaki entrepreneurs and innovators. NZ Entrepreneur Magazine has been sharing inspiring stories from around the country, showing that the Kiwi entrepreneurial and innovation spirit is thriving across all corners of Aotearoa. NZ Entrepreneur caught up with the below Taranaki enterprises:
Check out the stories below
The O2E Business Academy is run by local business coaches Craig Oliver & Donna Yeats. It is a 6-month business growth programme for business owners who want to scale up and commit to creating a successful and dynamic business. Using it’s unique 3 tier structure of Monthly Masterclasses with some of New Zealand’s leading Subject Matter Experts, Facilitated Peer to Peer Support, and 1:1 Business Coaching, the Academy members are set to gain business knowledge and confidence, and receive real life practical and actionable steps to implement into their businesses that will help them grow their businesses.
The Growth Project is designed for small/early stage business owners that are ready to take their businesses to the next level by using the collective experience and skills of like-minded business owners. The Growth Project is a 6-month facilitated group mentoring programme that will combine group workshops and one-on-one coaching. The Growth Project is about utilising the diverse skills of like-minded business owners to: • solve business challenges • leverage opportunities • create accountability
Businesses may be eligible for co-funding to support up to 50% of the cost of programmes. Please get in touch with a Venture Taranaki Enterprise Adviser to find out more.
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