Startup Weekend is a 54-hour event where people come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups!
This event is open to everyone! You don’t have to have a tech idea or tech background to take part and learn the tools we will be teaching, that you will be able to take to your own ideas or projects.
Where: Manifold Coworking & Events Space, New Plymouth
When: Friday 26 July 5:30pm to Sunday 28 July 8:00pm
What to expect…
Pitch an Idea
We will begin with introductions, an overview of the event and some light entertainment. We will then invite those with an idea to pitch to the room - you only have one minute! You do not have to pitch if you don’t want to.
Form a Team
Participants will form teams of minimum 3-4 people, around their favourite ideas, and ensuring a mix of skills are in the team.
Learn From Experts
Our amazing team of mentors and event organisers will be available throughout the weekend to help coach you through the hard problems or support you with any technical issues.
Work Hard & Smart
As always you will have 54 hours to build a product, find customers and work on finances and everything else that comes with it! There are resources and support to help teams quickly form, validate and build their business ideas.
Wow the Judges
Where your hard work pays off! Each team will have five minutes to present their product or service to wow the audience and our panel of judges.
Celebrate & Have Fun
After presentations it's time to celebrate your amazing journey with your new friends and team mates! Startup Weekend is about experiencing what it is like to be in a startup but it is also about, learning new skills, connecting with people and having fun.
Event Facilitators
Katherine Blaney
A process-oriented problem solver, entrepreneur and lead organiser of Doso, Katherine helps businesses to get organised and is all about getting shit done.
Dan Thurston Crow
A consultant, serial entrepreneur and enthusiastic ambassador of Doso, Dan has particular expertise in strategic planning with a focus on organisational culture and team performance.
Judges
Jenni Matheson
Jenni is no stranger to Startup Weekend. She attended Startup Weekend 2020 in Hawera and pitched the novel idea of a cauliflower based ice cream. There, she met her co-founder Mrinali Kumar. Now, four years later, Eat Kinda can be found in supermarkets across New Zealand. Leveraging the expertise of all the great Startup support available in the region Jenni and Eat Kinda have gone from strength to strength - a great example of what can be achieved from Taranaki. We are thrilled to have Jenni back as a judge at this years Startup Weekend Taranaki.
Stacey Hitchcock
A local from Taranaki, Stacey’s background has included youth and social development, event and venue management and roles within central and local government. She has held various leadership and governance positions over the past 20 years, including two recent terms as a New Plymouth District Councillor. More recently, Stacey has worked within her own consultancy delivering strategy, research and development, including workforce development and project implementation planning for Te Papa Atawhai (DOC). Currently, Stacey is the Deputy CE/GM Investment at Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki (Regional Economic Development Agency) and a Trustee for the Taranaki Trails Trust.
CJ Mahony
CJ Mahony, a self-made entrepreneur, began his journey at 16 by entering a family business, which ignited his understanding of how business works and fueled his passion for entrepreneurship. At 18, he started his first hire company. Now, two decades later, he manages 50 staff across nine different companies based in Taranaki.
CJ's company, AGTRANS, which he started as a side hobby, has evolved into his main focus and is a leading crane transport provider in the oil and gas, dairy factory, and construction industries with 35 staff. Driven by his innovative spirit, he is currently transforming a 67-acre farm into a $30 million commercial and residential business park, showcasing his commitment to regional growth and development.
Known for his no-nonsense approach and a touch of humor, CJ combines strong intellect, practical skills, and a wealth of experience. His journey from a young entrepreneur to a key figure in the business community exemplifies the power of determination and vision in driving successful startups.
Jenny Douché
Jenny is a Startup & Founder Product Manager, Callaghan Innovation. She is very passionate about supporting startups, especially through accelerators and incubators. In the early 2,000s, she had an internationally successful startup that was part of one of Aotearoa's original incubators. She then ran startup support programmes, and completed a PhD on how incubators influence the strategies of startups. She also created and delivered the Master of Innovation and Commercialisation at Victoria University. Jenny has been with Callaghan Innovation for four years, and manages their Founder & Startup Support Programme, which includes the founder wellbeing services.
Mentors
Ildiko Tamasi
I'm an end-to-end UX professional. Advocate for Lean UX & Agile methodology adaptation and best practices. Mentoring aspiring designers and entrepreneurs.
I’m intrigued by human behaviour patterns. I love thinking about how journeys, and interfaces we design affect user behaviour and how we, designers can do more for solving intricate problems with the power of storytelling.
Richard Sheerer
I trained as a control systems engineer in the petrochem industry, before founding startups in engineering, personnel, internet (Freeparking) and then acquiring a specialist manufacturing business (qpsport.com). I love finding solutions and creating successful businesses, and also helping others on their business journeys.
Dave Moskovitz
I am a software developer by trade and an exited startup founder. I've been active in the ecosystem since the early 2000s, as a mentor, advisor, investor, director, and founder advocate. Use me for my extensive local and international network - I can connect you with just about anyone you'll need to grow your venture. I can also provide sense checks across a wide variety of problem areas and industries.
Craig Jones
I am a highly creative individual with 20 years of hands-on design experience, specialising in brand identity, packaging, and website. My love for strategy and expertise in brand creation have helped dozens of high-profile brands put their best foot forward when going to market in a wide variety of competitive industries.
My unique business experience has enabled me to work directly alongside marketing, HR, and accounting consultants, giving me a well rounded appreciation of what it takes to run a business. This gives me an ability to quickly digest a brief and provide a strategic solution. You will find I am an easy person to collaborate with, who is never short of a good laugh.
Stephanie Laird
Steph is an accountant by trade and has worked alongside many SME's to help them understand the financial side of their business. In the last couple of years she has also focused on helping business become "investment ready" for equity capital raises.
Brien Keegan
Hugely passionate about supporting the growth of founders and their teams within the start-up ecosystem. A multiple founder myself, currently managing director for Sprout People - www.sproutpeople.co
Thiago Canellas
Co-founder and CEO of EOS Rio, a blockchain infrastructure provider operating in 10+ networks, Rio Blocks a blockchain studio developing distributed applications and Block4 a brand engagement and loyalty platform based on NFTs and tokens. Thiago is an Engineer and business strategist with 15+ years in multiple start-up roles, management consulting background and corporate finance MBA.
Tracey Green
Hey there! I'm Tracey Green, known as the fixer with a knack for turning businesses around. My strength is in marketing and business strategy, having worked in both small and large organisations. I now run my own consulting business and I am passionate about tourism and small business. I thrive on seeing businesses squeeze every drop of potential from their ventures. My approach? It's all about that organic blend of education and mentoring, sprinkled with a touch of Kiwi ingenuity. Look forward to helping you with your business idea this StartUp Weekend
Cynthia Northcote
I've been in the entrepreneurial game for nearly 40 years- from cutting my teeth in the fashion industry to following my passion with Te Taiao, farming myself and through my learned experiences empowering others to create meaningful change using software, information and collaboration. I've first-hand experience of the excitement developing software and tough challenges of commercialisation . With a pivot of business focus I'm smack bang in an exciting rapid growth phase as we build marketshare. We've not been afraid to challenge status quo and I believe trusting your team is what brings the greatest success.
Michelle Jordan
Tēnā koutou katoa, I've built a range of experience supporting start-ups and small business working in regional development for many years, and now spend my time working in community development. I'm curious by nature, always intrigued by the creative nature of founders, and looking forward to supporting the transition of some great ideas into opportunities for new enterprises.
Victor Anton
Dr. Victor Anton is the founder and GM of Wildlife.ai, a non-profit that uses artificial intelligence to accelerate wildlife conservation. Victor has extensive experience in conservation biology, wildlife monitoring and citizen science. Over the last two decades, he has worked with research institutions, governments and communities around the world to translate data into scientific discoveries and better conservation management practices.
Tim Hawkey
Tim Hawkey is CEO & Co-Founder of EnergyBank. Tim is also a self-proclaimed Startup Weekend junkie.
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