Ideas are swapped during the 2013 Social Enterprise Startup Weekend in Wellington. Photo / Mark Tantrum
Ideas are swapped during the 2013 Social Enterprise Startup Weekend in Wellington. Photo / Mark Tantrum
A new business accelerator has been launched for social entrepreneurs in New Zealand.
Got a great business solution to a social or environmental problem? The Launchpad is Akina's (formally known as the Hikurangi Foundation) new programme to get social enterprise ideas off the ground. With six months of intensive supportand coaching, the newly named foundation, will turn 10 inspired social enterprise ideas into thriving, self-sustaining businesses.
Akina offer development support to people with ideas for social or environmental change. For the past few years, they have been running an incubator programme that is designed to support established but early-stage social enterprises who are looking to grow and develop their business to create transformational impact. Akina assists them with business mentoring and hands-on development support.
The Launchpad, co-financed by Contact Energy and the Department of Internal Affairs, has been designed to support people with big ideas who need business mentoring and support to get them off the ground.
The six-month programme will be running from October 2014 to March 2015. It will provide participants with: high-quality business mentoring and coaching; theory, tools, access to networks, markets and investment; and a window into the reality of what makes a successful social entrepreneur.
To apply for the Launchpad, participant teams need a business idea that could make a big social or environmental impact, a lot of ambition, and a lot of drive. Participants will need to commit to spending at least two days a week on their idea for the duration of the programme. They will need to be prepared to be challenged by their mentors and supporting team - no one ever said changing the world was going to be easy!
Ten teams will be selected via a competitive process involving online submission, workshops and interviews. At the end of March 2015, the Launchpad will deliver a cohort of promising social enterprises, ready to create something meaningful for our communities and country.
Element Advertising Promotion: If you have a great business solution to a social or environmental problem, or are interested in supporting the programme, go to contactlaunchpad.org.nz. Applications open on Monday 26 May and close on Sunday 29 June.
