Soda Inc. is excited to announce a new name for its biggest event, previously known as Innes48, NZ Startup Bootcamp is going to be huge.
The weekend long business bootcamp will provide a platform for participants to test their entrepreneurial skills, test and validate an idea they’ve had or get feedback and exposure on a startup they’re building from talented mentors and business legends.
The bootcamp will be held at the Wintec Atrium in Central Hamilton over May 17 – 19.
Soda Inc. Head of Operations, Rachel Adams, is encouraging people with innovative business ideas or a startup to register their interest for a place in the 20 available team spots to participate in the weekend. There are two categories; Best Startup and Best Idea. Both have a cash prize of $10,000 and services for the winning teams.
Registrations of Interest are open now and applications for a team spot will open on March 18.
Rachel said that even though Soda had changed the name and categories, the bootcamp would still pay homage to Mary Jane Innes as per Soda’s Whakapapa story.
“We wanted to open the event up to both people with ideas and to people who are already in business and want to use this platform as an opportunity to get feedback and test their business model over an intensive weekend.
“We want to attract national participation and we are currently looking for flight sponsors so participants can get to Hamilton,” She said.
There are other sponsorship opportunities still available. But the Best Idea and Best
Startup category sponsorships have already been snapped up by Gallagher and ASB, as well as other key sponsors such as Xero, Deloitte and Wintec coming on board.
The bootcamp will start on Friday afternoon and end on Sunday evening, the teams will first hear from inspirational speakers about their successes, failures and learnings as an entrepreneur. Up to 20 teams will then have 48 hours to participate in workshops, build business models, get feedback from mentors and validate their ideas and business models.
At the end of the weekend the teams will pitch their new ideas or existing startups to a panel of high profile judges and an audience of 300 people. These judges will select a winner for each category – Best Idea and Best Startup.
The opening and closing ceremonies are packed to capacity with contestants, investors, sponsors, mentors, judges and national business leaders.
WHEN & WHERE: 17 - 19 May 2019 // The Atrium, Wintec House, Hamilton
CATEGORIES: Best Idea = $10,000 cash prize // Best Startup = $10,000 cash prize