"We want to hear from people interested in starting their own enterprise, entrepreneurs with ideas to develop, and entrepreneurs in the early stages of getting started. It's a great opportunity for active, engaged and invested entrepreneurs and business owners in Taranaki and we encourage them to apply. The only cost will be people's time and commitment. We are covering the rest."
After the initial eight weeks, participants can decide whether to continue on their journey, and develop their pitch for the opportunity to be a top five finalist and the chance to take home $10,000 cash to kickstart their idea or start-up.
History has it that undertaking the workshops will serve you well in earning a place in the finals. Four of the five finalists earlier this year had gone through the initial workshop programme, which supported them in developing their business pitch.
Venture Taranaki will be putting out the call to Taranaki entrepreneurs again in March 2022, asking people for a two-minute video pitch that sells their bright idea, in return for a chance to be one of the five finalists.
"People who may be more developed with their enterprise or idea can still on-ramp into Kickstart without having completed the 8-week business planning series. This on-ramp to enter directly into our pitching stage will be opening 21 March 2022, and will see the best and brightest in Taranaki all vying for one of five finalists' spots and the chance to take home the cash prize," says Michelle.
The top five finalists of PowerUp Kickstart will then benefit from a mini accelerator experience where they'll receive advice, mentoring, and seed funding, before they pitch in front of a live audience and judging panel in June 2022, in a bid to take home the $10,000 to kickstart their enterprise.
"We are excited to see the applications starting to roll in. Each year we're blown away by the calibre of innovative ideas and enterprises. We're very proud of our passionate and entrepreneurial-spirited region," says Justine Gilliland, Venture Taranaki chief executive.
"PowerUp plays an important role in building a strong culture and ecosystem of entrepreneurship, which is critical to the region's long-term resilience and equitable prosperity. We look forward to supporting more enterprises, entrepreneurs, and start-ups accelerate their growth."
■ Applications are now open for the PowerUp Kickstart and will close Tuesday, January 25 2022. For more information and to apply, www.venture.org.nz/enterprise-and-entrepreneurship/entrepreneurship/power-up/kickstart-registration-form/.