i n s p i r e | g r o w | l e a d
RISE UP
Seed grant and 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 for globally ambitious female founders. We will select 5 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! Please note that applications for 2023 open on 1 June.
Who should apply
We're looking for globally ambitious female founders who meet the following criteria.
To be eligible you need to be a female founder (or have one female founder) and have:
- a business that is pre or early revenue
- a business that is scaleable or has some unique IP
- a registered New Zealand business
- a business that is less than three years old
- less than five employees
N.B. You must submit a 90 second video as well as filling in the application form below. (Please note applications will open on 1 June 2023).
Important Dates
1 June 2023 Applications open
23 June 2023 Applications close
30 June 2023 Finalists confirmed
17 July 2023 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.
GOLD SPONSOR
Craigs Investment Partners
SILVER SPONSOR
TBC
BRONZE SPONSORS
CFO 4U
Chow:Hill
Cucumber
Debt Free Diva
Deloitte
Frank Risk Management
Hamilton City Council
KPMG
Norris Ward McKinnon
Syndex
Vazey Child
EVENT SPONSORS
Remedy
RocketSpark
Business Growth
We take small businesses away from today's issues and into tomorrow's opportunities.
Co-Working
Let us sort your workspace for you. Flexible options to reside in a comfortable space.