NEWSROOM

Results of the inaugural Auckland Climathon

1 November 2017

On 27-28 October, the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland hosted Auckland’s inaugural Climathon event, thanks to the generous support of Vector.

Joining thousands of participants in over 100 other cities around the world, 155 Auckland participants embarked on a 24-hour ideas-hack, creating solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.

We talked, networked, made friends, tested ideas, pivoted, re-tested, spoke to real customers, pitched, pitched again, and culminated the event on Saturday evening with impressive presentations of our day’s work to a panel of judges. It’s incredible how much can be achieved in 24 hours!

From a collection of over 40 pitches on Friday night, teams formed and refined ideas down to 14 presentations for Saturday night. Teams competed to win for the glory of it, plus a gift box of great reads. Post- event, teams can apply to take part in a follow-up mentoring and support programme to accelerate their ideas to the next level.

And the winners were…

After great debate and conversation amongst our four judges – Kate Beddoe (Vector), Andrew Fraser (Vector), Rebecca Mills (self-employed and sustainability guru), and Wendy Kerr (Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) – a winner and two runners up were selected.

Climathon Auckland Inaugural Winning Team – TrashTag

TrashTag’s mission is to increase recycling rates in New Zealand and reduce the amount of recyclable material that is sent to landfill.

The TrashTag app identifies pieces of trash and lets the user know how to recycle it.

The judges appreciated the amount of work the TrashTag team had put in over the weekend, with a functional prototype produced at the presentation. The judges also liked the team’s detailed analysis of the problem and understanding of the gap in consumer behaviour, and their considered solution bringing together sustainability and culture.

Climathon Auckland 2017 Runner Up (Equal) – The Good Stuff

The Good Stuff team is working to produce an alternative source of renewable energy, and at the same time tackle Auckland’s sewerage problem. They are looking to convert human waste into gas, which can be used as an energy source.

The judges were impressed by the work the team had completed on their impact model validation.

Climathon Auckland 2017 Runner Up (Equal) – Low Carbon Opportunity Fund

The Low Carbon Opportunity Fund team seeks to bring funders and projects together, to encourage businesses to bring forward their plans to reduce carbon emissions and invest in that outcome.

The judges were convinced that this idea could solve a pressing need for New Zealand, impacting a range of customers – from corporates to individuals. They also liked the ‘virtuous circle’ created by this concept.

Other great ideas:

• Eco-credits, creating a healthier community and environment by encouraging use of low carbon transport options
• E-movement, introducing an e-bike sharing scheme
• Greenpower, countering the use of diesel generators by providing an alternative solution to mobile power supply
• Reflections, bringing life to the urban environment through re-purposing roof spaces
• PBCNZ , creating a new channel for battery recycling
• Microbiome Matters, looking at how we rid the earth of toxic chemicals in our soil, and protect the microbiome
• Moove , improving overall health and sustainability for Auckland through increasing cycling
• Propol , providing an alternative solution to internal combustion engines for boaties
• Renewable Renaissance, seeking to reduce consumption of oil-generated electricity with a reliable renewable energy solution
• Seaweed on the rise, creating a solution to New Zealand methane production through use of seaweed as feedstock
• Taniwha, proposing a way to get kids involved in monitoring and looking after their local environment
• The Incentivisers, reducing Auckland’s congestion issues by incentivising carpooling

Congratulations to our winning teams, and to all Auckland participants. We would like to acknowledge the passion and hard work we witnessed from all participants. Collectively the entire group created a fabulous energy and environment to foster new ideas.

Climathon teams now have two weeks to determine whether they want to take their ideas further and, if so, apply for a 12-week programme of follow-up mentoring and support, provided by Akina. One team will be selected for this prize. However, if there are any generous supporters out there who feel inspired to aid another team through this 12 week programme, please get in touch.

If you would like to read about the event from the perspective of one of our Start-Up Mentors, check out Martin Knoche’s blog here.

An event like Climathon brings together a community of people passionate about changing some of the world’s most pressing issues. It leaves one feeling hopeful that there are dedicated, intelligent, energetic people who really want to create solutions to these challenges. It also brings together numerous community groups, organisations and corporates, to collaborate and solve issues together.

A massive thank you to all our fabulous supporters, mentors, coaches, and volunteers who made Auckland Climathon 2017 such a success.

Jenna Ash is Programme Manager for the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship