A recent Women in Entrepreneurship evening explored the highs and lows of founding a business, as experienced by the founders of two local companies. The importance of building yourself, your confidence and your networks were some key takeaways from the event.

Medtech-iQ Aotearoa is a national collaboration of innovation with the purpose of accelerating the success of the New Zealand MedTech sector. It is a virtual national innovation hub that is linked to a backbone of four physical regional hubs in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland, Poneke Wellington, Otautahi Christchurch and Otepoti Dunedin. According to a recent Deloitte report, Medtech-iQ Aotearoa is a “world-first” initiative that aims to capitalise on the global medical device and digital health market estimated to have a value of US$815 billion. A strategic, coordinated approach helps leverage a significant opportunity for New Zealand, which will have a positive impact on the economic and physical health outcomes of all New Zealanders.

The inaugural biennial Pūtaiao symposium for 2023 was hosted by Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science earlier this month. Pūtaiao can be loosely thought of as “science” although it also incorporates Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems). The symposium centred around acknowledging the past to inspire future pathways for Māori in STEAMx3 (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Medicine, Math, Maatauranga Māori). Academic and professional staff from across the University were invited to speak and connect, including Matt Broughton (Ngāpuhi), Programme Coordinator at the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).

Robogals is a global volunteer student-led organisation founded in 2008 with the goal of inspiring, engaging and empowering young women into engineering and related fields. The University of Auckland’s Robogals is an active chapter of this global network, and this year ran the annual Science and Engineering Day (SED) with great success at Kura Matahuna – Unleash Space, one of the innovation hubs managed by the University of Auckland Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).

Alice Wang is a high achiever; her resume is stacked with qualifications and awards, including the elite honour of being selected as a Rhodes Scholar and completing not one but two master's degrees during her time at Oxford. Currently residing in Sydney, Alice is the acting General Manager, Global Strategy at Xero, alongside volunteer roles as a Trustee for Chamber Music New Zealand and Deputy National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarship in China. Despite all her accomplishments, Alice admits she has grappled with imposter syndrome at times, but by aligning herself with great leaders and allowing herself to be guided by her curiosity, she has cultivated both her confidence and a diverse career path.

Professor Christine Woods has been an entrepreneurship educator for more than 20 years, balancing teaching, research and advocacy through her role as an academic as well as involvement with organisations such as the Icehouse and the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). Many describe Christine as a woman of action, but she is careful to remind herself and others, “Do not mistake motion for progress.” To ensure she is making progress, Christine believes the key is “pausing and reflecting”.  

Kiki, a sub-letting start-up formulated by its founder while studying at the University of Auckland, has gone on to raise US$6 million in seed capital - an amount thought to be the biggest in New Zealand seed capital history. CEO Toby Thomas-Smith is beyond ecstatic with the result that enables the first big step in his master plan to “change how the world lives”.

Entrepreneurship deserves to be centre stage as we head toward the election in October. While not top of mind for many, entrepreneurship is pivotal to addressing Aotearoa – New Zealand’s biggest challenges, from improving its lagging productivity to social inequality, healthcare and confronting climate change. Our nation must transform its economic and social systems, and our rangatahi needs an entrepreneurial spirit and the skills to lead the way.

The 15 finalist teams for the Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s Velocity $100k Challenge have been announced. This year a record-breaking 108 venture ideas were submitted, indicating that entrepreneurial energy is pulsing strongly throughout the University of Auckland. But only 15 could be selected to qualify for the next stage of the challenge.

The 2023 Pasifika Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talanoa was hosted recently in Kura Matahuna Unleash Space, The event was the result of a collaboration between Auckland University Pacific Island Student Association (AUPISA) and CIE’s Velocity entrepreneurship development programme. The evening featured a panel of three speakers who shared stories from their diverse entrepreneurial experiences, with their strong common thread of Pacific heritage woven throughout. It was an inspiring evening filled with authenticity, advice and plenty of laughter.