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RISE UP
Seed grant and pre-accelerator programme for ambitious female founders
At Soda we are passionate about supporting women in business, particularly those tenacious enough to start their own business.
We created RISE UP in 2021 to encourage more women to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career, to lift the capability of female founders and champion female entrepreneurship in Aotearoa.
RISE UP 2023
RISE UP is a seed grant and pre-accelerator programme for globally ambitious female founders. We will select five ambitious female founders to go through a series of founder-focussed workshops, culminating in a pitch night where the winner will take away $10,000 cash!
Finalists & Pitch Night info
Our 2023 RISE UP finalists are:
- Sophie Stanley and Rachel Smith - Bounsa
- Kitti Bradley - Mother Trucking
- Gina Urlich - Norish
- Candace Kisner - Vester
- Melanie Lynn and Niamh Buchanan - Well Now
Read more about our 2023 finalists.
RISE UP 2023 PITCH NIGHT TICKETS
Join us at our RISE UP Pitch Night on 29 August in Hamilton to watch our five finalists pitch their business to try to win $10,000. Find out more and get your FREE ticket here.
Important Dates
1 June 2023 Applications open
23 June 2023 Applications close
3 July 2023 Finalists confirmed
17 July 2023 Pre-accelerator programme starts
29 August 2023 Pitch night
WANT TO KNOW MORE? CHECK OUT RISE UP 2022
Our six finalists pitched their business to a public audience and panel of high-profile judges at Wintec House in Hamilton on 17 August 2022.
The winner of RISE UP 2022 was Finery. Read more.
Check out all the event photos.
Watch our 2-minute highlights video.
Watch the recorded livestream of the event.
Our Sponsors
If you are interested in sponsoring RISE UP 2023, please contact Anna Devcich.
PLATINUM SPONSOR
GOLD SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSORS
EVENT / IN-KIND SPONSORS
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