The Otago Network for Entrepreneurship (ONE) brings together people interested in novel value creation of many different kinds. We promote a broad definition of entrepreneurship. Our research supports programmes that help develop entrepreneurial capabilities and Entrepreneurship Nurturing Organisations (ENOs).
We are leading a project for MBIE and Aotearoa New Zealand measuring how individual-level entrepreneurial capabilities affect firm-level productivity, revenue, internationalisation and job creation – and thereby improve our standard of living, wellbeing, social cohesion and environmental sustainability.
What is entrepreneurship?
An entrepreneur is someone who envisions new ways of producing value-added and then works like mad over the course of weeks, months and years to realise what they envisioned.
Famous entrepreneurs often made break-through discoveries and innovations after failing many times and hitting a brick wall. Therefore, to measure and grow one's entrepreneurial capability involves grit, self-efficacy, adaptability, tolerance for uncertainty and social networks with high degrees of trust.
Study Entrepreneurship
If you have passion and drive, you're already half-way there – however, we'll help you develop your ideas and turn them into reality.
Entrepreneurial capital (EC)
Measure your entrepreneurial capital with the ECAT survey.
Measurable dimensions of entrepreneurial capital
The importance of a nation's entrepreneurial capital
Experimentation and learning from mistakes are venturing behaviours that our programmes help you develop. Studying entrepreneurship develops your powers of concentration ('flow'), flexibility, leadership and time management.
Programmes to develop entrepreneurial capital
The Māori Entrepreneurship Programme: Konaki Internship is a one-semester placement at Innov8HQ, a smart hub and collaborative workspace. Students work in teams, supported by an Innov8HQ mentor, to help launch, activate or accelerate a small startup business.
Audacious – a student focused programme to build entrepreneurial skills
Accelerator programme – The Challenger Series
Co.Starters – a facilitated nine week programme aimed at teaching people how to start a business
Momentum - student-led investment committees
Startup Dunedin facilitates, connects and co-ordinates the growth of the Dunedin startup ecosystem. It is a not-for-profit trust that believes Dunedin can be one of the most entrepreneurial cities in the world.
Ignite – students work in teams helping not-for profit organisations deliver impactful work, expanding social value in our community.
Cheeky startup founded by Otago students
Cheeky Tea are revenue-positive with major retailers selling their product.
Entrepreneurship at Otago
Strategic planning, feasibility analysis and revenue/cost projections are some of the tools you can use to realise your vision. You'll learn practical skills like protecting IP, hiring staff and raising finance for your venture.
We work with business students, arts students, science students, medical …students from all academic disciplines. Passion is the prerequisite. Growing your mana -- as you undertake business for social good -- is the result.
Alums of Otago's entrepreneurship programmes tell us: how valuable these skills turned out to be… how much the networking with other students opened doors…and how deepening and broadening the complementary experiences of learning from academics and from successful startup founders turned out to be.
Diane Ruwhiu is both. Diane owns a business and lectures in strategic operations and supply chain management at under and post-graduate levels.
Paul Hansen is both. Paul co-founded GoSkills and 1000Minds, and lectures in economics.
Dunedin's Startup scene
Dunedin's rising stars in tech, fintech and gaming include Rocketwerks, Animation Research, Timely, PocketSmith, and PledgeMe, founded by Otago Master of Entrepreneurship alum, Anna Guenter.
Dunedin has a world-class maker's economy with global exporters like Escea fireplaces, metalworks and robotics manufacturers like Scott Technologies, Farra and Bison, and AD Instruments.
We have ag-tech stars like TracMap, TracPlus and Abacus Bio, and pharmaceuticals and therapeutics coming out of Otago's science labs being spun off into high-growth startups.
The creative and performing arts are another key part of Dunedin's entrepreneurial scene: painter Ralph Hotere, novelist Janet Frame, the Dunedin Sound, Six60 ... and much more.
Startup Dunedin free startup check in
Startup Dunedin's Distiller Incubator
Co-working spaces
Dunedin offers multiple co-working spaces that are home to some of the city's most exciting startups and numerous entrepreneurship meet-ups. Check out PetriDish, Startup Dunedin and Innov8HQ , New Zealand's first Maori-owned business co-working space.
Innov8HQ
Petridish
Regus
Startup Dunedin
The Distiller
Contact us
Professor Nathan Berg
Dunedin City Council Chair in Entrepreneurship
Otago Business School and the Department of Economics
Tel +64 3 479 8648
Email nathan.berg@otago.ac.nz
Dr John Williams
Director
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship
Email bentr@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Conor O'Kane
Programme Director
Master of Entrepreneurship
Email conor.okane@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Jing (Annie) Zhang
Lecturer
Minor in Entrepreneurship
Email jing.zhang@otago.ac.nz
