Launch Club: Success metrics, legal foundations and next steps Workshop
Launch Club is Ministry of Awesome‘s Startup Activation programme tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs who want to spend focused time developing their venture and defining their pathway to success. The programme is heavily interactive with each workshop led by sector experts on key business topics. Having a grip on your success metrics is key to running…
Startup Breakfast Club: Jumpstart Your Startup in 2019
The Breakfast Club is your monthly morning caffeine hit where you’ll find valuable social networks, gain business insight, and find the critical support to power your venture forward. As 2018 draws to a close, it’s time to reflect on the hard-work, successes (and perhaps failures) that saw you through the last 12 months, and…
Tech Activator Sessions #37
Ministry of Awesome’s Tech Activator Sessions are made up of 20-minute mentoring sessions where tech entrepreneurs of all sizes and stages talk through their tech startup, venture or idea and get focused feedback from our Startup Activation Coordinator and a veteran panel of tech experts. This is your opportunity to use their expertise and networks to…
Brother-sister duo build crypto investment platform
Source bizEDGE Sara Barker A brother and sister team is behind one of New Zealand’s newest cryptocurrency exchange platforms designed for everyday investors. Alan and Janine Grainger, who are seasoned cryptocurrency investors, came up with the concept after discovering that friends and family were also interested but they simply didn’t know where to begin. “We…
Get ready for the biggest tax changes in a generation
Source bizEDGE Sara Barker The biggest tax changes in a generation are coming, and they will affect almost every business household and business across the country. Inland Revenue is about to ramp up a major public information and awareness and campaign to explain the changes, ahead of the April 2019 tax year. “For the first…
The social enterprise sector comes of age
From businesses doing good to charities running businesses and everything in between, social enterprise as an industry is growing up and holding its first national conference. In 1942 the New Zealand poet Allen Curnow wrote: “Simply by sailing in a new direction, you could enlarge the world.” He was talking about the first European explorers…
Innovation Ecosystem Breakfast – 2 November 7-9 am
The 2nd annual Christchurch and Canterbury Innovation Ecosystem Breakfast is now scheduled for 2 November, 7-9AM, at MoA’s new location in the Kahukura Building off Moorhouse Ave. Please make sure you grab yourself a registration now via the Eventbrite page which is located here. What’s the secret to high-growth startup success? If you’re deep in the…
Connect with Unreal Engine on Sunday 21st October in New Zealand
Following up on recent stops in Melbourne and Adelaide, Epic Games is excited to announce that developers in both New Zealand and Australia can connect with us next week during special events designed to equip devs with tools to get started and grow in UE4: David Stelzer, Epic’s US-based Unreal Engine licensing manager; Chris Murphy,…
SLI-Systems celebrates with a “carnival”
Yesterday the staff held a carnival. A gazebo was erected and festooned with lights, stuffed animals and confectionery galore. If you had a sweet tooth it was your dream come true. With a candy floss machine ably manned by Wayne producing pink and blue candy floss we remember from our childhood, a popcorn machine was…
Remote working: The ticket to happier and healthier employees?
Businesses that allow employees to work remotely also reap the benefits of increased employee productivity, happiness and health, according to a new survey commissioned by LogMeIn. It found that many New Zealanders and Australians are opting to work remotely, and the concept of a standard eight-hour shift is on the decline. The survey polled 1000…
Cyber criminals using lookalike online shopping domains to phish buyers
Machine identity protection provider Venafi has released research on the explosion of lookalike domains, which are routinely used to steal sensitive data from online shoppers. Venafi’s research analysed suspicious domains targeting the top 20 retailers in five key markets: the US, UK, France, Germany and Australia. As the rate of online shopping increases, customers are being…
NZTech’s Graeme Muller on the R&D tax incentive
NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller has stated that the new research and development tax incentive introduced today by the government will ‘go a long way to helping inject even more growth into the tech sector’. His full statement follows: “Given the aim of introducing an R&D tax incentive was to support a broader range…
Launch Club: Startup Activation Programme
Commencing 25 October Dates/Time and Where Thu, 25/10/2018, 5:30 PM – Thu, 29/11/2018, 7:30 PM – Where? Kahukara Building, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch Launch Club is Ministry of Awesome’s Startup Activation programme tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs who want to spend focused time developing their venture and defining their pathway to success. The programme will include: Six 2-hour…
Christchurch Antarctic Ignite talk – by ‘Changemakers’
If you love everything Antarctica you’ll love our launch event for Antarctic Season Opening: THE CHRISTCHURCH ANTARCTIC IGNITE TALK by ‘Changemakers’ DATE AND TIME Thu. 27 September 2018 at 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Add to Calendar LOCATION La Vida conference Centre, 34A Hansons Lane,Upper Riccarton,Christchurch View Map It’s FREE, so head on down to Upper…
Start-up key issues (includes structures for social enterprises, governance, key documents and other common questions…) in Podcasts
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/podcast/seeds/id1281908185?mt=2&i=1000419480861 Seeds is a Christchurch podcast telling good stories with dozens of interviews featuring entrepreneurs, start-ups, tech leaders, academics, social enterprises and charities on their journeys, what they do and why….. www.seeds.libsyn.com
Ministry of Awesome – This week’s Startup Breakfast Club-
Friday 21 September- 7.00am Ministry of Awesome’s STARTUP BREAKFAST CLUB powered by MYOB is your monthly morning caffeine hit where you will find valuable social networks, gain business insight, and find the critical support you need to power your startup business forward. At this month’s Breakfast Club, we’ll explore Growth Hacking with our panel of experienced growth…
Makeover of 2 Meeting Rooms at EPIC
We have had a makeover on two of our meeting rooms known as Room C and Room D, and now known as Room C (Lazoplod) and Room D (Colonel Jack) . Each room has been freshly painted, had a window installed fitted with a blind, a 49 inch TV Screen with Chrome Cast and new…
Tickets for TEDxYouth@AvonRiver 2018 go on sale tonight at 7pm!
Like TEDxChristchurch, TEDxYouth@AvonRiver is independently organised and produced by volunteers; however, these volunteers are youth, producing an event specifically for youth. If you missed out on TEDxChristchurch tickets (or even if you didn’t, you lucky duck!) and you’re 25 or younger, this TEDxYouth@AvonRiver event is for you! Tickets will be released tonight at 7pm at this…
The search for New Zealand’s most innovative and promising food and beverage start-up is underway.
Does your new food or beverage product have what it takes to fly off supermarket shelves? If the answer is “YES!” – then this is the competition that will change your life. If you win: 1. Your product will be stocked on New World supermarket shelves across the South Island AND 2. You’ll get a…
Kiwi kids and parents work together to create a safer internet
hough parents may sometimes feel the internet is a dangerous and unknown place for their children, the reality is that the Internet is an integral part of New Zealand kids’ lives. Kiwi kids spend up to 33 hours a week online outside of school, using the internet as an encyclopedia, a movie cinema, a games…
Artificial intelligence: Marketing’s new best friend?
SARA BARKERSEPTEMBER 07, 2018 Could artificial intelligence (AI) be marketing’s new best friend? According to sentiment at this week’s AIMCON event in Auckland, AI could bring enormous value to marketing as an enabler that helps people, not one that takes away their jobs. AIMCON brought together marketers with the aim of inspiring people to…
Technology workshops at 3 Christchurch Schools!
I LOVE Christchurch! Just ran Technology workshops at 3 Christchurch Schools! Received this incredible email from the Principal of Diamond Harbour: “The session was very different to what some of the girls had expected. They were surprised to find that instead of ‘just going to hear someone speak’ the facts and information was interspersed…
Immigration changes bring welcome booster to NZ’s regional businesses
SARA BARKERAUGUST 29, 2018 (bizEdge NZ) Recent changes to immigration settings for international students mean there are now many more opportunities for New Zealand businesses to reach for the global stage. That’s according to ChristchurchNZ, which believes that businesses in Christchurch and other regional centres can now harness international student talent. This month the…
One & Done – Community101
Come and network with the community101 members. Finish the week on a fun and positive note with your colleagues. This event is held every Friday fortnightly, (next event 31 August) for members who have booked in to use community101. https://www.facebook.com/community101chch
Christchurch: The city & its graduates undergoing tech transformation
SARA BARKERAUGUST 20, 2018 Source bizEDGE NZ If there’s one city in New Zealand that has been in a constant state of transformation, Christchurch stands out – and it’s shaping graduates’ lives in the process. As the new generation of talent joins the central city workforce at a time when Christchurch is shaping its…
How open source is driving innovation in A/NZ
JACQUES-PIERRE DUMASAUGUST 21, 2018 Source bizEDGE NZ Recently IT Brief had the opportunity to talk to GitHub executive Paul St John about their acquisition by Microsoft, A/NZ expansion plans and their vision for open source. Can you tell me a bit more about GitHub’s relationship with Microsoft? We’ve always had a relationship with Microsoft and…
Legal Mashup is back!
Hosted By Parry Field Lawyers Sep 04, 2018 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Exchange Christchurch – XCHC, 376 Wilsons Road North, Christchurch, New Zealand, 8011 RSVP TO stevenmoe@parryfield.com The Legal Mashup is back!! With a focus on social enterprises, not-for profits and charities, Parry Field Lawyers will be having another free evening of discussions…
Christchurch’s Ara Institute is about to get ‘awesome’
The Ministry of Awesome and Ara Institute of Canterbury are combining their powers to launch a joint innovation hub in Christchurch. The hub will launch on October 15 and it promises to bring mentorship, education, resources, pitch opportunities, networking, and many other opportunities. According to the Ministry of Awesome, Christchurch and Canterbury need an ecosystem…
Govt forms Small Business Council to drive SME growth
SARA BARKERAUGUST 14, 2018, bizEDGE NZ The government has announced the appointment of a Small Business Council that will make it easier for small businesses to connect with government, large businesses, and research institutions. Last week Small Business Minister Stuart Nash announced the Council and its 13 appointees, which will advise the government on…
NZ and Aussie tech girls become superheroes in Silicon Valley
SARA BARKERAUGUST 14, 2018..Source bizEDGE NZ The next generation of New Zealand and Australian female entrepreneurs had the chance to pitch their apps to Silicon Valley’s top executives and engineers. Five teams of schoolgirls from regions including Invercargill, Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney travelled to Silicon Valley as part of the Brisbane-founded Tech…
NZ/AU research to uncover how SMEs can harness the digital economy
SARA BARKERAUGUST 14, 2018 Source bizEDGE NZ The New Zealand Productivity Commission will work with its Australian counterpart on a new research project that will look at how both countries can grow the digital economy and provide more opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government has asked the New Zealand and Australian Productivity…
Virtual reality could be the future of market research
SARA BARKERAUGUST 14, 2018 Source bizEDGE NZ Massey University PhD candidate Alexander Schnack says virtual reality (VR) might be the future of marketing research – and he created his own business to take advantage of it. As part of his doctoral thesis Schnack wanted to measure consumer responses to product packaging, but couldn’t find…
Lightning Lab Govtech Accelerator Bootcamp Launches in Wellington today.
The Accelerator Bootcamp will help teams prepare for the inaugural Lightning Lab GovTech, launching Monday 20th of August 2018. [Wellington, New Zealand, 13 August 2018] Creative HQ is bringing together teams made up of local, central, and international government agencies for the Lightning Lab GovTech program – a structured and methodology-based experimentation environment for breakthrough innovation…
The Startup Breakfast Club…hosted by Ministry of Awesome
The Startup Breakfast Club is your monthly morning caffeine hit where you’ll find valuable social networks, gain insight, and find support to power your venture forward. WHEN: 30 Aug 2018 7:00 AM WHERE: Awesome HQ, 192 St Asaph Street. HOW LONG: 1 hour 45 minutes This time, we’ll explore the importance of financial planning and goal setting,…
Tech Activator Sessions #34
Ministry of Awesome’s Tech Activator Sessions are made up of 20-minute mentoring sessions where tech entrepreneurs of all sizes and stages talk through their tech startup, venture or idea. You’ll get focused feedback from our Startup Activation Coordinator and a veteran panel of tech experts whose only aim is to help you towards success with…
NZ’s game development industry is booming – and it needs you
Source FutureFive NZ New Zealand’s game development industry is booming, with both exports and employment in the sector climbing rapidly over the last year. Not only has employment in the sector grown 10% to 550 full-time roles, but game developers have also earned a ‘record’ $143 million in the last financial year. According to the…
Community101- One & Done
One & DoneHosted by Community101 3.30-4.30pm Come and network with the community101 members. Finish the week on a fun and positive note with your colleagues. This event is held every Friday fortnightly, for members who have booked in to use community101. Register here https://www.facebook.com/events/916569271857400/?active_tab=about
Community101 Lunch and Learn
Lunch & Learn Aug 2, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch & Learn is a free workshop for professionals, held the first week of every month. This is an opportunity to find out tips and gain professional advice from experts in other fields. The workshops are designed for start-up companies, small business owners, and freelancers…
Tech Activator Sessions #34
Ministry of Awesome’s Tech Activator Sessions are made up of 20-minute mentoring sessions where tech entrepreneurs of all sizes and stages talk through their tech startup, venture or idea and get focused feedback from our Startup Activation Coordinator and a veteran panel of tech experts. This is your opportunity to use their expertise and networks…

Limitless Conference 2018 1/2/3 August
The Limitless Conference was launched in 2016, as the flagship program of the Limitless Charitable Trust. Limitless exists with a mission to equip young people to lead lives of passion and purpose, doing work that aligns with their strengths and values. Since beginnings in 2016, we have built content in partnership with some incredible…
Three ways of addressing the IT ‘skills gap’ in New Zealand
As we all know, recruitment in New Zealand is notoriously difficult, particularly in the technology industry. New Zealand needs to educate or import thousands more information technology workers each year if it is to close a growing skills gap in the industry, according to a government-backed report. The Digital Skills Forum study found the ICT…
From local to global: Verizon Connect celebrates its Christchurch roots
From its roots as a local Christchurch business to a multinational enterprise, tech firm Verizon Connect says Christchurch will always be its home. Verizon Connect, formerly called Telogis, has offices in 15 countries including the US, UK, and Australia – a story that all began back in 2000 with a dream to improve the way…
Be part of the change — Duncan Cotterill invite you to join us at our breakfast panel to discuss social enterprise as a vehicle for sustainability
Thursday 2 August, 7:30am – 9:30am Duncan Cotterill, 148 Victoria Street, Christchurch We are excited to be joined by: Rebecca Mills Founder/Managing Director of The Lever Room Samantha Jones Founder/CEO of Little Yellow Bird Anton Matthews Co-founder of FUSH Fraser McConnell Co-founder of Squawk Squad & Choice to Pay Jo Blair Founder of Brown Bread…
Hi-Growth Launch Programme 2018 – Showcasing extraordinary business talent by ChristchurchNZ
DATE AND TIME Tue. 24 July 2018 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm NZST LOCATION -The Piano -The Philip Carter Concert Hall, 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch Central July 24 will be an occasion to remember as we celebrate innovative, entrepreneurial thinking across our city of exploration. We’d love you to join us as the ChristchurchNZ 2018…
Effectus announces new General Manager
For the last 11 years Effectus has built a strong presence in IT Management & Governance Consulting throughout New Zealand of which I am very proud. When we celebrated our 10-year anniversary I reflected on how much had been achieved, including founding the EPIC Innovation Centre, and I predict another fulfilling decade ahead of us…
EPIC Westport – NEM Blockchain Developer Event
NEM Blockchain Training event 26th & 27th July 2018 (2)EPIC Westport Blockchain Event We have Senior NEM members and Engineers from Malaysia holding a training event in Westport at the end of July. Its a really good opportunity to learn about developing in blockchain and there is also a have a go Hackday! You just…
The Philippines could be NZ’s next big export market, says tech entrepreneur
Kiwi businesses that are on the path to expanding their export potential overseas are missing out on a wealth of potential if they overlook the Philippines, says one New Zealand based entrepreneur. Rachel Strevens, who is co-founder of cryptocurrency investment platform Invsta, says that few New Zealand businesses are harnessing the Philippines’ potential. Strevens was…
Hi-Growth Launch Programme Graduation evening
Join us to find out more about the 2017 Hi-Growth Launch Programme graduates. The evening will feature tradeshow exhibitions, presentations from the graduating businesses and keynote speech ‘Every brand has a story to tell. What’s yours?’ by renowned advertising guru Andie Spargo. Date: 28 June 2017 Time: 6pm to 9pm (registrations open at 6pm for a 6.30pm…