Thursday 15 March 2018 10:08pm
Angus Pauley (left) and Thor Winx from Startup Dunedin at the launch of the Audacious Challenge this week. Photos: Sharron Bennett.
University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic students are again being encouraged to be audacious in business.
The Audacious Challenge was launched on Wednesday in Te Wao Nui, the new shared space in the Otago Business School.
A feature of this year's launch was an interactive challenge. Tahu McKenzie and Harvey Penfold, from last year's winning team, The PekaPeka Bird Feeder, also told attendees having Audacious running alongside their business proposition helped get their venture off the ground.
"I'd urge everyone to go to the workshops and to get as many learnings out of it as you can," Harvey said.
Audacious, co-funded by the University of Otago Business School, the Otago Polytechnic and the Dunedin City Council, is a programme and a business competition for students who are curious about starting a business now or in the future or are already working on a business idea. It provides an environment that encourages like minds to meet, mingle, motivate and inspire each other, and is well supported by the local business community.
"You don’t need to be studying business; we have seen students from many different disciplines over the years grow ideas into successful businesses."
Audacious is for all current students at the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic, no matter what they study.
Programme Manager Claire Porima would like staff to encourage their students to enter.
“We are looking for creative and energetic students in Dunedin who are keen to expand their horizons. You don’t need to be studying business; we have seen students from many different disciplines over the years grow ideas into successful businesses.”
She says the focus is about nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit.
“It is not just about 'audacious ideas', it is about being audacious by taking up the challenge of starting a business.”
Students are encouraged to come along to develop entrepreneurial skills, and take up the opportunity to be mentored by experienced local business people. They get to use the start-up space, “The Distiller”, on the corner of Forth Street and Leithbank – a space offering desk room, experts to consult with, and invaluable collegial support.
There is also the opportunity to help the community through reverse-pitching – where organisations or businesses pitch a problem they are facing to students who are strategic thinkers and are keen to help solve a problem that inspires them.
Students can enter as individuals or as a team. They develop a business plan during the year and pitch their business in a dragon’s den to judges; they may attract investment support if their business gets the attention of industry experts.
Twelve business concepts entered the 2017 business challenge after going through the programme. Second-year Otago Polytechnic design student Harvey Penfold won a package of business support services with his bird-feeding platform designed to feed native birds.
A member of the Audacious team works with students at the launch.