MASSEY UNIVERSITY?S ECENTRE PLAYED HOST to the ?Startup Weekend? business innovation event on the weekend of 15 June at the Albany Innovation Campus.
The event was sold out, with nearly 90 people pitching business ideas. Some 12 groups then formed around the 12 best-received ideas, and the 54-hour marathon to create a Startup business was on.
Many ideas were based on social media and mobile apps. The weekend was also trending on Twitter and a simultaneous Startup Weekend was streaming live from San Diego. It was truly a social media event.
Event organiser Jessica Gillon said beforehand that drama was expected. By Saturday morning tension was already starting to build, with some team members even defecting to other groups.
However, groups then re-established with their new members and activity was running smoothly once more.
Mentors were also available to help direct the different groups. The mentors had training and success in areas such as marketing, business, and law. Mentors were both physically present, as well as virtually, with entrepreneurs available via Skype from San Diego, Copenhagen, Trondheim, Washington DC, and Fes.
Businesses were then pitched again before lunch on Saturday. The new pitches, based on the 12 original pitches, were more purposeful and defined. Group members had a clearer direction on what they wanted to achieve.
Groups were then left to continue with development, customer validation, and further mentoring throughout the afternoon.
Updates were given on the Saturday night, with business prototypes made, and even some customers already acquired. Head Coach and co-organiser Alan Froggatt said teams were ?on timeline? and ?settled?. This continued well into the night with one team operating until past 3am despite the venue being closed at 1am.
A hitch on Saturday night saw the lighting go out while groups were still operating. This didn?t seem to deter operations, though, as everybody seemed to be in high spirits.
Sunday morning provided the final countdown for the weekend.
Global Facilitator and co-organiser Dave Moskovitz said that everybody was ?under tremendous pressure and responding really, really well?. The teams? ideas were ?outstanding?, and with help from the mentors to ?crack the whip?, the teams worked hard and well to create viable business plans and products.
On the Sunday afternoon, teams finalised plans, products, and presentations in preparation for the judging panel that night. The panel consisted of four New Zealand business gurus: Candace Kinser, CEO of NZICT; Nick Gerritsen, Owner at Cripstart Ltd; Brett Roberts, CEO of Wharf42; and Misti Landtroop, Country General Manager at Pitney Bowes.
After all 12 teams presented their ideas for innovative businesses, the panel deliberated for a long time.
Coach and co-organiser Mike Zeff felt that due to the quality and potential of each presentation, it would be a ?tough call for the judges?.
In the end, the winning team was SmileToday.co, an innovative charity business with a social entrepreneurship aspect. First prize included a space on the ecentre sprint programme (valued at $4500), an MYOB start-up services package (valued at $1000), a StartupPack? of legal services from Lowdnes Jordan (valued at $2000), and a $500 cash prize on company formation.Following the Startup Weekend, 12 potential businesses were formed, with four receiving prizes to ensure their formation and continuation.
Source: http://www.massivemagazine.org.nz/blog/2012/07/23/innovative-businesses-find-their-stride/
resurrection masters tickets one direction tulsa news scalloped potatoes the ten commandments charlton heston
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.