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Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Young entrepreneurs pitch their products
Tote bags, T-shirts and skincare creams were among the products pitched by aspiring entrepreneurs from across Central Otago at a Dragons' Den -inspired event at Cromwell College on Friday. Student teams from Cromwell, Alexandra, Queenstown and Wānaka taking part in the Young Enterprise Scheme (Yes) fronted up to judging panels of local business specialists with three minutes to showcase their goods. Regan Powell, who looks after Yes in the South Island, said participating pupils used the school year to set up and run a real business. The aim of Friday's quick-fire business pitching sessions was for students to be given feedback they could use to further grow and execute their ideas, Mr Powell said. First up was Scrub and Glow chief executive Anika Croy, of Cromwell College, who kicked off her business pitch with: ''In a market saturated with synthetic skincare, we stand out''. The team had done early market research that suggested a gap in the market for natural skin creams at a price point younger people could afford. Scrub and Glow are collaborating with Central Lakes Family Services, committing to donating 5% of company profits to the social service provider. It was important for them to ''give back'', they said. They were not the only business showing a social conscience. Conscious Carry sells canvas tote bags, complete with practical pockets and printed with a choice of two original designs drawn by creative team member Lizzie Engstrom. Each design supports one of two charities — the Cancer Society or Our Seas Our Future — with the students opting to donate $3 per bag sale to the organisations. Conscious Carry chief executive Lani Jones said each of the people behind the business had a personal story to tell of a loved one impacted by cancer, so it felt good for their business to be able to give back. Lani said standing in front of the judges had been ''nerve-racking'', but knowing their product had given them confidence. The team had worked out they needed to sell 100 bags to make $900 profit, with their break-even point reached at 18 bags sold. They had also already made it over their first gnarly business hurdle — problem solving a printing defect in their prototype stage that ultimately saw them ditch ink printing in favour of vinyl transfers. All the young business owners had been partnered with mentors from within the local business community to offer support on developing, financing, marketing and distributing their products and services. Mr Powell said the success of the scheme came down to three things: strong support from the business community, teachers willing to back it in schools and keen young people. The business school at the University of Otago had also stepped up, covering entry fees for all Otago school pupils taking part in the programme, he said.
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Fingers in pies aplenty for entrepreneur
Start counting the various groups and organisations Madison Duffy is involved in and you quickly start to run out of fingers. But there is a common thread; Ms Duffy (23), who is completing a bachelor of entrepreneurship at the University of Otago, is passionate about entrepreneurship, and that flows through to all her extra-curricular activities. She has recently been appointed operations assistant for the Global Entrepreneurship Network (NZ), the national affiliate of the Global Entrepreneurship Network which operates programmes in 200 countries. The organisation is aimed at making it easier for anyone, anywhere to start and scale a business. The New Zealand arm — which is a not-for-profit trust — was founded in 2019 to connect and grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Ms Duffy was excited about her new role, which would be remote — meaning she could continue to be based in Dunedin, a city she fell in love with while visiting a friend. Originally from Tauranga, Ms Duffy moved to Wellington in 2021 to study at Victoria University, but she found it was not the best fit for her. Spinal surgery, due to a congenital condition, meant she took a break from study as 28 screws and two rods were inserted in her spine. Later, while visiting a friend, she was captivated by the city and the university campus and decided to "take a leap of faith" and move south. Studying politics, economics, finance and management were all subjects that interested her, along with a minor in sustainable business. She also quickly got involved in the city's entrepreneurship ecosystem. Growing up, she loved business studies at secondary school and was involved in the long-running Young Enterprise Scheme for two years. She loved the environment of building a business and learning all the different aspects involved. The first year in the scheme, her company made recycled glass cheeseboards featuring an image of Mount Maunganui, followed by bamboo straws the second year. Last year, she did the Audacious business challenge with a business idea for accessible period products for those with mobility issues. This year, she is co-president of the newly-established Student Innovation Collective — which she hoped would be around for a long time — set up to bridge the gap between the polytechnic and university, and wider ecosystem, and running the likes of networking events and pitch nights. She also did a workshop with The King's Trust Aotearoa New Zealand several weeks ago and enjoyed being with a broad range of both students and non-students with different business ideas. She is also back to Audacious this year, her project looking at whether one platform for entrepreneurs and funders to go to and find everything they needed was viable. And then there is Momentum, the national student-led investment committee programme which provides access to advice, connections and investment opportunities to students and start-ups throughout New Zealand. She has been on that committee for about a year and she enjoyed the mix of students and industry professionals. If that was not enough, then she was also a volunteer with drug checking service provider Know Your Stuff, and has a part-time job. Ms Duffy acknowledged it could be a challenge finding a balance with all her studies, along with extra-curricular activities but she seemed able to do it, despite her planner being "very full all the time". "I'm doing something I'm really passionate about and really enjoy and it doesn't feel like hard slog. I know myself a lot better and what I need to do to maintain that balance," she said. Hopefully she would finish her degree at the end of the year and, while she was still keeping her options open, there was a possibility of doing a master's degree in sustainable business next year. Eventually, she would like to work in sustainable consulting or sustainable policy, and having her own business or women-led business for that would be her goal In the meantime, she said she had found the "perfect place" to be in Dunedin, and she had been inspired by other entrepreneurs in the city, such as the "gin ladies" behind Dunedin Craft Distillers. A university paper on social and sustainable entrepreneurship involved field trips to Southern Youth Development and Cargill Enterprises, which she particularly enjoyed. "Just seeing how business can be for good as well as profit — there doesn't have to be the trade," she said. This week, Ms Duffy received a top student award for that work which she was delighted about, particularly as it was her preferred area of business.
NZ Herald
24-04-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Youth Parliament 2025: Hawke's Bay MPs select young leaders
A former Youth MP herself, Wedd said she knew what she was looking for and it was Chris' passion for politics and drive to make a difference that made him stand out. 'He is perfectly placed to be a voice for the electorate's youth,' she said. 'We have such an amazingly talented youth population and Chris is a true leader who isn't afraid to stand up to the issues.' Proctor said it was a privilege to be selected and he is excited to bring everything to the role. 'Tukituki has so much to offer, and I can't wait to champion our region,' he said. Joining Proctor will be Neeve Smith, a student at Central Hawke's Bay College, selected by Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick. Smith lives on a sheep and beef farm near Waipukurau. She is a passionate advocate for her community, has participated in national leadership events, and co-founded an award-winning Young Enterprise Scheme business called Retouch & Co, addressing the rising demand for skincare that balances aesthetics with protection. 'I am delighted that Neeve will represent me at Youth Parliament 2025 and I am looking forward to seeing her engage with young people from Wairarapa, Tararua, and Central Hawke's Bay to hear what's important to them,' Butterick said. Smith said it was a privilege to be selected and she is looking forward to connecting with people across the Wairarapa Electorate communities to represent them on the issues they want to raise. Representing the Napier electorate will be St Joseph's Māori Girls College student Mariah Wakefield-Otene, selected by Katie Nimon. Nimon said the application process was highly competitive, with an overwhelming number of high-quality applications from young people across the electorate. 'Upon meeting Mariah, it was clear she is a smart, confident young woman,' Nimon said. 'I was really impressed hearing about what's important to her and what she wants to achieve in the future. I can't wait to work with her and see the fresh perspectives she will bring to the table.' The two-day event will take place on July 1 and 2 at Parliament in Wellington.
