Could you be Auckland’s next great innovator or entrepreneur?
Innovation-focused businesses typically grow faster, pay higher wages and compete better internationally – as well as being key drivers of economic growth and prosperity.
Auckland provides an increasingly fertile environment for entrepreneurship and innovation to flourish, as evidenced by its rapidly growing technology sector, deep research capability and rich startup culture. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited works to build business capability and create the conditions necessary for innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive.
Need business support?
Contact us
Whether you’re looking to start, grow, innovate or export, our Business Support Helpdesk can help.
We can point you in the right direction to find people, resources and programmes to support your business on its growth journey. Our service is free.
Contact Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Business Support Helpdesk
or call 09 365 0510
Backing New Entrepreneurs
Fresh ideas and opportunities are only as good as the people behind them. Auckland’s thriving entrepreneurial scene includes a range of programmes supporting the development of New Zealand’s next generation of capable, ambitious, innovative entrepreneurs. Auckland’s world-class tertiary education sector plays a leading role in growing the city’s entrepreneurial talent pipeline. Prominent initiatives include the University of Auckland’s Velocity programme, AUT’s X Challenge student entrepreneurship competition and Massey University’s Go Innovate.
Other initiatives building entrepreneurial capability among Auckland’s youth include the ever-popular Young Enterprise Scheme, delivered through secondary schools in conjunction with the Auckland Chamber, AUT’s Co-starters startup incubator programme and DigMyIdea, a digital entrepreneurship initiative for young Maori.
Velocity is Auckland’s most established and successful student entrepreneurship programme. A flagship of the University of Auckland’s entrepreneurship and innovation programme, Velocity sits within a comprehensive suite of entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives including a new accelerator and makerspace initiative – VentureLab.
Rapidly emerging as an exciting new contributor to Auckland’s student entrepreneurship scene, X Challenge aims to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of all students. The competition format includes an accelerator element that culminates in a pitch event for finalists.
Fostering a new generation of young Maori entrepreneurs, DigMyIdea is a national competition aimed at nurturing and developing new Maori digital startups. The programme enables participants through training and ongoing support and includes in-kind and cash prizes for winning entries.
How we can help
If your business is looking to develop a new product or service with the potential to disrupt and drive competition in the market, our Business and Innovation Advisors can help. As Auckland’s economic development agency, we’re connected to thousands of businesses, organisations and individuals who can help you innovate your business.
We can:
- give you free and independent advice on innovation and R&D strategy
- facilitate government funding and services on behalf of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Callaghan Innovation
- help you find investors and commercialise your product or service
- find events, programmes, facilities and other innovation opportunities suited to you and your product or service, including business incubators and innovation hubs
- connect you to the right networks and contacts, including research expertise and innovative communities.
We provide these services with the help of the Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network – a network of organisations dedicated to helping New Zealand businesses grow.
Upcoming events
Can office furniture increase productivity? According to Blair McKolskey, Managing Director at IQ Commercial, yes it can.
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