The 2018 Velocity $100k Challenge qualifiers have been announced and now it is an intensive eight weeks for the teams as they go through the Launch Pad programme to further develop their ideas and prepare their business plans and pitches for judging. There will be a first place winner, a runner-up prize and three category winners.

This year, Velocity received the highest number of entries ever for the Challenge with 95 entries ranging from car parking solutions to high-end medical devices.

“In 2014 Velocity (formerly Spark) was touted by MIT as the ‘beating heart of entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland.’ Four years on, Velocity is achieving more than ever before, continuing to grow our programme, and increase our impact,” Velocity CEO, Matt Canham says.

“This year we had an astounding 95 entries into the $100k Challenge, the most in Velocity’s history. What’s more is that these entries were of an extraordinarily high standard. Our team of 43 judges spent hours deciding who should make up the 16 qualifying teams, which was no easy task. The teams that were selected all have the potential to move their respective industries forward and ultimately leave their mark on the world—we’re honoured to be a part of their journey.”

Velocity is the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s globally renowned entrepreneurship programme. Over the last 15 year, participants have gone on to ignite more than 120 ventures, attract over $221 million in investment and create more than 600 jobs in more than 35 countries. Velocity alumni have achieved incredible success.

Guest speaker at the qualifiers prize-giving event was inspiring entrepreneur Lilian Grace – CEO and Founder of Figure.NZ who gave an honest and insightful account of her entrepreneurial journey and what she has learnt along the way. Figure.NZ is the first organisation in the world to make numbers truly accessible for everyone, not just the experts. Lillian brings a new perspective on data, one where data is a language in which everyone can be fluent. Lilian provided qualifiers and other budding entrepreneurs at the prize-giving a shining example of what you can achieve when you believe in your idea, follow through on your vision and continually keep open to learning along the way.

The Velocity $100k Challenge Qualifiers for 2018 are:

New ventures category

AVASA – AVASA brings together a unique multidisciplinary team comprising clinicians, engineers, designers, and business experts. Adopting a cross platform approach, we address unique healthcare challenges and innovate novel solutions to reduce morbidity, mortality, cost and restore the human experience.

Planta – Planta enables vineyard growers to detect diseases early with high accuracy via a combination of multi-spectral imaging technology and machine learning. Our solution allows for better disease management, empowering growers to achieve a more sustainable, higher quality product.

Hypebeat – In the age of digital music, streaming and social media, ‘making it’ as a musician requires good music, but excellent strategy. Hypebeat unlocks the strategies that work, so your songs stand out from the 200 million others.

NanoGene Lifesciences (NGL) Ltd – NanoGene Lifesciences develops a disposable diagnostic kit for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The current method of definitive diagnosis is made only after a post-mortem examination. Early detection would allow a personalised treatment before brain damage occurs, and has the potential to reduce the healthcare cost on the NZ economy.

Electroclear – Fouling is a headache for both boat owners and regulatory authorities. Anti-fouling products available today have a limited lifetime, negative impact on the wider marine ecosystem and/or are not sufficiently effective. Electroclear is developing a permanent solution to inhibit fouling organisms in close proximity to a vessel’s hull.

MOCHIYO – The venture is about developing and commercializing MOCHIYO: a unique mochi product filled with fruity frozen synbiotic yoghurt that contains a probiotic strain and NZ Manuka honey with beneficial metabolites. When combined, these food components can synergistically enhance gut-health for consumers and act as a novel ‘diet supplement’.

Shwoop – We’re Shwoop, and we turn cities into playgrounds. By utilising versatile emerging tech, we’re creating a platform to enable scalable city gamification in the form of guerrilla marketing. At the same time, we’ll utilise our platform to ignite authentic human connection – attempting to create a physical social media.

Social Entrepreneurship category

Enliven Co. – As a result of Enliven’s hemp milk, customers who are wanting a non-dairy milk substitute can finally have a creamier, natural, plant-based milk, sourced from local New Zealand farmers.

CultureNation – CultureNation is an educational action role-playing game for children with a focus on exploring the different cultures in NZ and the world and aims to catalyse difficult conversations in the classroom in an easy, engaging, and interactive format.

Together for Good – Together For Good is an expert-led, evidence-based course designed to help couples develop the skills necessary to navigate the challenges that long-term relationships inevitably face. Together For Good empowers couples to ‘insure’ their relationship against difficulties that arise, while also offering wider benefit to the community through charitable donations.

University Research category

FlexiPrint – A platform technology enabling the use of silicone or similar materials in 3D printing.

Nebula – We inspire our clients with fascinating network displays that reveal the hidden information in complex online media systems.

Marc Up – Marc Up will help to achieve the long-term sustainable management of New Zealand’s grape marc waste through production of high-value products using this raw material.

KgZap – KgZap is a venture developing a novel treatment for obesity by reducing appetite, improving satiety and restricting food intake. KgZap will offer a safer, cheaper and reliable alternative to bariatric (weight-loss) surgery.

The Surgical Canary by H2Heal – H2Heal introduces the Surgical Canary, an innovative new method to detect leaks after bowel surgery. Leaks from surgical joins remain the most feared and deadly problem during recovery from these surgeries. Our device has the potential to save both lives and costs of care.

ZENNO Astronautics Ltd – Our solution is a high-precision orbital mechanics engine driven by a machine learning algorithm. It is an economically viable, globally available service tailored specifically for satellite orbit lifetime estimations. We alleviate the requirement for appropriately designed machines, customer-side time commitments, and access to professionals while delivering results with short lead-times.

The winners of the 2018 Velocity $100k Challenge will be announced on Wednesday 17 October 2018. Read more about Velocity at www.velocity.auckland.ac.nz