PowerUp is all about growing, connecting, and supporting ideas and capability, and harnessing the expertise and passion required to develop Taranaki’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Enterprises, ideas, and individuals will be supported and enabled as PowerUp connects them with a range of new and existing services and opportunities, helping to grow their capability, and broaden their understanding of what they thought possible.
We’ve built PowerUp to bring together Enterprise and bright ideas, and we’re working to build smart, connected communities, so ideas, entrepreneurship and innovation can continue to thrive in Taranaki.
We’re keeping it simple; as easy as one, two, three, with our Grow, Connect, Tell approach.
Grow
PowerUp Investment Month
Whether you’re a business keen to explore how to attract investment or have already started your fundraising journey, PowerUp Investment Month provides invaluable guidance to demystify the investment world and assist you on your journey to unlock growth.
PowerUp Investment Month recurs four times throughout the year (August, October, February, May), consisting of three stand-alone small-group sessions. You can choose whether you attend just one, or all three, and you can always return and attend another session later in the year as your investment journey progresses.
Unlocking Angel Investment, $20
Curious about whether your business has what it takes to attract Angel Investment? Join us to discover what investors are looking for and an overview of the capital raising process.
This workshop is tailored for businesses keen on exploring the possibility of attracting investment rather than those currently in the active capital-raising phase.
Session Dates:
- 8 August 2024
- 17 October 2024
- 13 February 2025
- 1 May 2025
Funding Sources, $20
Unlock your business potential with the right funding strategy, and gain invaluable insights into types of funding including Government co-funding opportunities.
Session dates:
- 15 August 2024
- 24 October 2024
- 20 February 2025
- 8 May 2025
Introduction to Pitch Deck Preparation, $20
Uncover the essentials of creating impactful pitch decks and learn how these tools effectively communicate your vision to potential investors.
Session dates:
- 22 August 2024
- 31 October 2024
- 27 February 2025
- 15 May 2025
PowerUp Masterclass
PowerUp Masterclasses cover a range of topics relevant to today’s dynamic business landscape, and offer an interactive opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop their skillset and gain practical advice from industry experts that can be applied to their enterprises.
Read NZ Entrepreneur Magazine’s feature on how PowerUp Masterclasses help budding business-people to supercharge their capabilities.
PowerUp your business productivity:
Join our next PowerUp Masterclass to hear from local experts about Lean fundamentals, advanced manufacturing and technology strategies, as well as management systems and efficiencies and how they can benefit your business, whatever your size or sector.
27 August, 9.30am - 11.30am
The Devon Hotel
$20
PowerUp Business Ready
PowerUp Business Ready is a series of interactive workshops, designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and guidance needed to transform their innovative ideas and early-stage businesses into thriving ventures.
If you’ve got the next big idea bubbling away, are a startup or an early-stage business, PowerUp Business Ready is for you.
The 2024 programme has now finished, which saw 16 early-stage entrepreneurs build their capabilities, practice their pitching skills, and make valuable connections to take their enterprises to the next level.
Watch this space for 2025 applications coming soon. Spaces will be limited.
PowerUp Kickstart
PowerUp Kickstart, was an accelerator-style idea and pitching competition, ran in 2021 and 2022 to help build capability and confidence amongst the region's entrepreneurial community. Around 80 big thinkers joined the programme to shape their business idea or progress their startups. The competition was narrowed down to five finalists who sold us their bright idea for the chance to pitch to win $10,000 cash to take their innovations to the next level.
Congratulations to our winners Pam and Frey Livingston, Tokaora Diagnostics in 2022, and Glen Stephens, Sol + Sea in 2021. With Paul Gledhill and Sophia Joy, Surface Swimgear taking out the WITT People's Choice award in 2022, and Leon Power and Lauren Oehme, Nanobubble Agritech receiving the WITT People's Choice award in 2021.
Read more about our finalists ideas here
Watch highlights from our 2022 PowerUp Kickstart Finals Night
To keep up-to-date with all things PowerUp and the latest entrepreneurial inspiration and insights from people making it happen in Taranaki, sign up for our PowerUp email newsletters.
Connect
DOSO
Doso (formerly Startup Taranaki) is a team of motivated volunteers passionate about growing a strong, innovative, and inclusive startup scene in the Taranaki region. Through events and programs, they inspire people to be brave in their actions and create companies that have a positive impact.
Get straightforward, free financial guidance for your business with NZTE money matters
Better financial planning and forecasting are the simplest tools you can use to create a more resilient business and prepare for growth.
NZTE Money Matters offers panel talks and one-to-one sessions with independent experts who can provide practical advice and answer your questions on everything from foreign exchange to forecasting to accessing grants and support.
Tell
PowerUp Podcast
Listen to our latest PowerUp Podcasts telling the stories of some of the region's entrepreneurs.
The PowerUp Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Castbox and wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe now.
Read about some of our innovative entrepreneurs
gallery
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