Bay of Plenty Business News February/March 2018

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14 BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS February/March 2018 Why we need Techweek TechweekNZ is happening again from May 19 to 27 and, excitingly, this year Techweek Tauranga will have some big, international implications for our region and local industries, if they can accomodate change. Mark Wilcox, senior product manager at Nyriad shares his knowledge of how organisations need to evolve to survive and thrive in the future at Techweek. TechweekNZ, a national event, was launched by NZTech, an overarching body which represents over 100 technology associations and institutes around New Zealand. TechweekNZ started in Auckland, but Tauranga got involved three years ago, via Venture Centre. “NZTech represents a community that spans the whole country and the relationship regularly brings people to Tauranga to meet with locals at Basestation, and the opportunity to get involved in national events,” Venture Centre director and co-founder Jo Allum says. This year Techweek will include 300 events nationally, with headline events focused on four different regions across the country. Due to previous involvement, Tauranga will host the ‘marquee’ event around Food, Agriculture and Horticulture technology. Named ‘10 Billion Mouths’, this conference will focus on Bay of Plenty’s competitive advantage, showcasing how our region can contribute to feeding the world. The conference, over one full day, will ask the questions needed to work out how we may feed the world’s population into the future. It is being held on Wednesday, May 23, at ASB Arena, but Tauranga will also host a full five days of events for Techweek. “This year Techweek has made a more concerted effort to bring international visitors to NZ to see our country’s centres of technology, featuring Tauranga” Jo says. This is a chance for Tauranga to create a name for itself globally as a centre of excellence for agritech and foodtech,” - Peter Wren-Hilton Techweek Tauranga starts with GrowPlenty, a two day learn-by-doing ideation challenge event to explore use of platform technologies important to the sustainability and traceability of food. Entrepreneurs of all ages are encouraged to attend and build their sector network, they’ll be mentored by local and national experts in food and agritech, will create concepts for solutions to areas of significant impact on food and agritech in the future. The ideation challenge, centres around four themes. The first is energy, then earth, air and water, followed by what we grow, and finally how we produce and distribute it. Concepts will be showcased at the end of two days to other participants and potentially international visitors. GrowPlenty on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 May is followed by the 10 Billion Mouths conference on Wednesday. Following that a Waikato University session about regional development on Thursday includes an international speaker who will talk about how innovation and entrepreneurship can assist regional development. The week rounds off on Friday 25 with an Impact Investing Network event which will unpack how socially conscious investors can contribute and benefit from investing in our people and planet through long term social enterprise investments. “They’re coming to meet with local, individual investors and community funders to discuss how impact investments could be made locally to get more social enterprises up and running, realising the potential of the resources and talent we already have here,” Jo says. “The whole week plays very nicely into the theme for Techweek, which is about innovators who do good for the world, and our local focus on food, agritech, environment and socio-economic sustainability because those are key themes for our region,” she concludes. Wharf42 founder and director, Peter Wren-Hilton who regularly connects local entrepreneurs to his network of contacts in Sunnyvale, one of the major cities comprising Silicon Valley, California says hosting 10 Billion Mouths is a big coup for the region. “Where we are, geographically, plays an important part in our opportunity to host this event. As a horticultural centre it’s not simply the amount and advances in the fruit we’re growing, but the technology that enables growers to do it - which is quite incredible and a draw card for international investors and venture funds.” We’re determined to show how well New Zealand, and the Bay, does collaboration,” He says Tauranga needs to continue to be creative in how it solves food and agriculture challenges to attract significant international investment, and working together is a key part of that. 10 Billion Mouths will have sessions on collaboration and Plantech - the state-of-the-art research institute which will open in Tauranga in future. Plantech is a collaboration between MBIE and the private sector. “We’re determined to show how well New Zealand, and the Bay, does collaboration,” Peter says. “We’re looking at sessions on alternative plant-based proteins, traceability and bio-security. There will also be a business showcase, including a feature demonstration from Robotics Plus.” Peter says Techweek is looking to bring eight to 10 Silicon Valley venture funders into the city, which represents a huge opportunity for local entrepreneurs and businesses. Yamaha Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based company is a major sponsor of the event, the first sponsorship in New Zealand from a Silicon Valley company. Peter says: “It’s a major coup for the event, for Tauranga and New Zealand.” Also of note is Finistere Ventures - a $140b agritech fund which is looking for investment opportunities in New Zealand. Their CEO, Arama Kukutai, is a Kiwi and is coming to 10 Billion Mouths. Techweek will also see the launch of AgritechNZ on May 23. It is a new cluster which provides a framework to allow New Zealand’s agritech sector to become a lot more collaborative in nature, share information and resources. “It will make it easier to take our story offshore and grow our sector,” Peter says. “This is a chance for Tauranga and Bay of Plenty to promote itself… to international businesses and investors. We already have confirmed visitors from Singapore, San Francisco, Sydney and Melbourne,” he says. Jo sums up saying: “Everyone from youth to investors can spend this week in May addressing food and agritech, alongside national and international visitors who will spend that time exploring what we have going on here in that space and showcasing the international competitiveness of our city.” Peter has the final word saying the region’s people and companies should jump at the opportunity Techweek offers by getting fully involved and committed to the whole week of events. “This is a chance for Tauranga to create a name for itself globally as a centre of excellence for agritech and foodtech.”
BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS February/March 2018 Giving back helps next generation do better 15 Mashup, a learn-by-doing ideation event for local teens, is being held again in March. It’s a chance for youth to not only come up with great, problem-solving ideas, but to test them using real world techniques, while being mentored by experts giving back their expertise and experiences. One such expert is Erika Harvey, an American entrepreneur living in New Zealand. She’s worked for Fortune 500 companies and co-founded InVenture to support entrepreneurs and startups. We spoke to Erika about Mashup, why she got involved and why she believes it’s important to let parents know that local teens should take part. What is your background? I’ve worked for some of the world’s largest technology and advisory companies, identifying ways businesses could achieve better outcomes. This led me to start experiencing life If you’re unsure if you (or your child) should participate, just do it!” - Erika Harvey as an entrepreneur by building businesses in my free time. I’ve created seven businesses Teen says Mashup event set her up for life Local teen, CJ Dobbs, 18, has taken part in the last three Mashup events. Here she explains for benefit of parents and their children, what she learned, and why she thinks other teens should enter. My experience from Mashup over the past three years has been more beneficial than I could ever put into words. I learnt general business and entrepreneurial skills that translated into me knowing what my life could be like and am currently working with my husband to create Redline Fishing, which is developing New Zealand’s first digitally enabled fishing vessel, with technology set to revolutionise the commercial fishing industry and its sustainability. What made you want to be part of Mashup? I love working with teenpreneurs and am a huge proponent of lifelong learning. I’ve been in the emotional trenches of building a business, so I understand the work that goes in to taking an idea and turning it into a profitable business. This is my third year as a mentor for Mashup and I truly enjoy helping others navigate their way through the various stages of starting a business. Young people have an amazing opportunity today to truly change the way we live and work and I love being able to share in their journey of learning. Why should teens take part in Mashup? Mashup will give you frameworks that enhance your thinking, develops your skillset, and introduces you to new tools, after high school finishes. I am now working as an insurance broker full-time, as well as completing the associated qualification, and I couldn’t be happier. I wouldn’t be in a job that I adore and am so passionate about now if I had not taken part in Mashup. I am more confident in myself and my ability, which I hadn’t been before entering the Mashup event. I eagerly invite teens to take part, whether they take QrtHori_BOPBN_Basestation_Oct17.pdf 1 17/10/17 10:37 AM Erika Harvey (right) with fellow mentor and up and coming local filmmaker Rose McMahon at last years Mashup. along with a community of like-minded individuals. The best way to predict your future is to create it, so why not test the waters now by joining Mashup? What sort of skills will teens learn at this weekend? You’ll walk away armed with a variety of new business and technology skills. By using them, hands-on, you will gain hands-on insight you can’t find in a book. If you’re unsure if you (or your child) should participate, business as a subject in school or not. It is such a fun and exciting way to experience what I, now, get to do every day, alongside people who have been doing it for years. Solving problems for people and doing it well. You get to meet so many like-minded people, as well as connect with mentors and see ideas come to life, all in one weekend – it’s magical. Business and entrepreneurship is everywhere. Get amongst it. Go Mashup for your life! just do it! You have nothing to lose and you’ll leave inspired, with connections to a whole community ready and willing to support you in any future endeavours. Why should other entrepreneurs/business owners become mentors? Mashup, and programs like it, are only as good as the volunteers who get involved. If you are an entrepreneur or business owner who is passionate about sharing your own experience, knowledge, and giving back so the next generation can do better, sign up! As a bonus for your time, you’ll also be rewarded by meeting other incredible mentors you may find beneficial to your network. So, if you love supporting people to step outside their comfort zone, have knowledge to share, have had successes and failures and stories to tell, and want to make a difference in the community, I can’t wait to meet you! Want to be a mentor? Let the team know at this link: http://clik.vc/beamentor CJ (Callie-Jay) Dobbs (left), from Tauranga Girls CollegeTeam ‘Brite’ accepts her Regional YES Teenpreneur of the Year award from local Babysitting club entrepreneur Georgia Meeks. MADVentures – events for youth Mini Mashup Ideation Workshop 3 March 2018 9:30am till 3pm Mashup 2018 Bay of Plenty 24/25 March 2018 PoweringON – events for business owners Office Hours Financials with Crowe Horwath 5 March 2018 11am to 1pm Automate your Android smartphone with Technologywise 7 March 2018 9am to 10am Office Hours Intellectual Property with James & Wells 7 March 2018 11am to 1pm Don’t spend cloud money unwisely with Technologywise 14 March 2018 9am to 10am Office Hours Sales and Marketing with Bravesight 15 March 2018 10:30am to 12:30pm Office Hours Legal with Mackenzie Elvin 19 March 2018 11am to 1pm Xero user group with Ingham Mora 27 March 2018 9:30am to 10:30am Google for Small Business user group with CreativeQ 28 March 2018 9:30am to 10:30am Instigator – events for founders CO.STARTERS @ Venture Centre 8 March 2018 - 5:30pm Entrepreneurs Everywhere 14 March 2018 5:30pm to 7:30pm Plug-in & power up C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Coworking – way more than a desk! Be our guest, take a tour & enjoy a coffee on the house • Desks, secure offices, team spaces • Flexible terms - come for a day, a week, month or year • Event and Meeting rooms free with residency or book as needed • Uncapped internet • Tech support and award winning barista onsite Designed, managed and run by Get in touch 0800 000557 info@basestation.co.nz 148 Durham Street, Tauranga The Communication & Technology Space join us!
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Bay of Plenty Business News February/March 2018

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