Important Update! Thanks to all host partners for your expressions of interest and enthusiasm for this initiative. Due to demand from four additional regions to be included on the Startup NZ tour we are pushing this to May 2020. Planning will begin in June 2019 and we will be in touch then. Thanks again and keep up the great work! Richard and the team at #nzentrepreneur Overview In May 2019, StartUp NZ, New Zealand's most comprehensive guide to the startup entrepreneur ecosystem, will come alive. Partnering with Economic Development Agencies and Innovation Hubs in each location, and aligning with Techweek2019, the StartUp NZ 2019 Roadshow will consist of a series of 11 events, inspiring, exploring and showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the North and South Islands. Technology and the second age of entrepreneurship We have entered a second age of entrepreneurship. A "perfect storm" of factors are challenging our traditional notions of employment. Some of them are geopolitical, some of them are economic - but many are related to the increasingly rapid advance of technologies such as cloud computing, machine learning, automation, the Internet of Things and AI. Some fear the efficiencies these technologies bring will put an end to many local industries and job security as we know it. Meanwhile outsourcing, contract work, freelancing and "e-lancing" are all on the rise as the "gig economy" takes off. Retail, manufacturing, agriculture, health, government... no sector, industry or job is immune to this rapid technological disruption. What will we all do if the work our businesses and employees are doing can be done faster, cheaper, 24 hours a day thanks to automation, outsourced to more technologically advanced cities or countries, or the gig economy? Quite simply, those New Zealanders who can not learn to think like entrepreneurs now, will be the greatest at risk of replacement, redundancy and the accompanying socioeconomic fallout in the future. Thankfully though, the very technologies challenging our notion of what it means to be a valuable, productive contributor to society, are also part of the answer. Value creation, problem solving, tribe building, innovation... Never before has it been so easy, or the barriers to entry so low, for all New Zealanders to start learning the principles of entrepreneurship. And never before has it been so important. Entrepreneurial thinking, harnessing technology, will be key to future-proofing personal, regional and national productivity and ensuring a healthy, wealthy standard of living for all New Zealanders. StartUp NZ 2019 Roadshow: A showcase of Kiwi innovation throughout New Zealand Through the StartUp NZ Roadshow we'll be shining a light on the great work being done to stimulate entrepreneurship, innovation and the tech startup communities throughout New Zealand. We'll meet 33 entrepreneurs across 11 towns and cities, to provide a truly national perspective on what Kiwi innovation looks like in 2019. Each stop on the StartUp NZ Roadshow will play host to a free inspirational and educational event for members of their local startup, innovation and student community. Events will be open and inclusive to all community members - especially those thinking about starting a business and who may be looking for some extra inspiration. Entrepreneurs, investors, incubators, educators, economic development advisors, local government representatives and local high school and tertiary students will all be welcome. The Roadshow and the entrepreneurs we meet along the way will be documented as we progress from town to town, with a daily blog and vlog. It will be promoted by paid and organic social media, local press and radio PR campaigns, and email by NZ Entrepreneur, Techweek2019 and partnering local Councils and/or EDA's and innovation hubs. StartUp NZ Roadshow sponsors (including tech luminaries Microsoft NZ and MYOB) will also be attending and highlighting their support of the events, with tickets for local staff, customers, partners and supporters. Showcasing local entrepreneurial talent Three startup founders selected by each town will be used to provide the rest of New Zealand with a "snapshot" of innovation happening in their region. The chosen founders will join NZ Entrepreneur editor Richard Liew on stage, as panelists for a live Q&A session that will enable them to share their story of innovation and the entrepreneurial lessons they have learned along the way. The founders and their teams (33 in total across 11 regions) will also each receive a Startup NZ support pack - a prize pack consisting of a range of products, assistance and support services provided by our sponsors. These entrepreneurs will also be interviewed and profiled in NZ Entrepreneur as part of the StartUp NZ Roadshow online presence, which will also document the roadshow with a daily blog and vlog, and social media. At the end of our journey, the towns we visit, the initiatives stimulating and supporting entrepreneurship in each location, and the entrepreneurs we meet along the way will be recorded and archived in a final report document freely available to all participants in the roadshow, members of the NZ entrepreneur startup ecosystem, members of government, and the general public. Events Outline Events in each location will run from 3pm - 5.30pm including: Welcome and opening address from the hosting EDA, including an overview of current economic development activities to support startups in their region Keynote address from NZ Entrepreneur editor Richard Liew Multimedia showcase providing an overview of the three featured entrepreneurs representing innovation in their region Q&A panel session with the chosen entrepreneurs Awarding of StartUp NZ corporate partner prize packs Closing address Networking, photos and refreshments Due to the national interest in these events, number and combined reach of supporting organisations, and free entry fees, we anticipate a minimum of 80-100 attendees in smaller regions with larger targets of up to 200 for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Key Dates, Locations, Host Partners & Venues The StartUp NZ 2019 Roadshow will include the following locations. Please note some dates and venues for each location are being finalised and will be confirmed early 2019. Tues 7 May - Queenstown (Queenstown Lakes District Council & Startup Queenstown Lakes) Wed 8 May - Dunedin (Dunedin City Council & Startup Dunedin) Fri 10 May - Christchurch (TBC) Mon 13 May - Nelson (Nelson Regional Development Agency & Mahitahi Colab) Wed 15 May - Wellington (WREDA & Creative HQ) Thur 16 May - Palmerston North (CEDA) Fri 17 May - New Plymouth (Venture Taranaki) Mon 20 May - Hamilton (HCC & Te Waka) Tues 21 May - Tauranga (Priority1) Wed 22 May - Whangarei (Northland Inc & The Orchard) Thur 23 May - Auckland (ATEED & GridAKL) Hosting StartUp NZ in your town The StartUp NZ 2019 Roadshow is designed to highlight the work being done on a regional basis to nurture and empower local startups. For this reason first options to host StartUp NZ are being given to local EDA's, or where there are none, the economic growth teams within regional councils. Expressions of interest being sought in December 2018, and final locations, hosts and venues confirmed in January 2019. There are no costs or fees involved to include your town in the StartUp NZ programme other than hosting us, but hosts must be able to provide the following level of support: Assistance in selecting the three startup founders to represent your region Promotion of the event to your community via social media and local media PR support (we will allocate 100 free tickets per event) A suitable venue for theatre style seating and networking following the event (a great opportunity to showcase any innovation hub/coworking space in your area) AV/PA/microphones for multimedia presentations and presenters Refreshments on arrival (tea, coffee, juice) and for the post event networking (beer, wine, juice) - these may be sponsored by local suppliers A spokesperson (eg EDA CEO, local councillor or dignitary) to open the event and provide attendees with a 10 minute overview of economic development activities to support startups in your region Timeline November 2018 - Expressions of interest sought from corporate partners December 2018 - Corporate partners finalised December 2018 - Expressions of interest sought from regional hosts January 2019 - Roadshow hosts, dates and venues finalised February 2019 - Corporate partner promotional material and prize packs organised March 2019 - Roadshow online promotion begins, announcement of locations and event hosts, tickets available via Eventbrite April 2019 - Local competitions begin to select each regions founders May 2019 - Local media PR campaigns begin 7 May 2019 - Roadshow begins with first event in Queenstown 23 May 2019 - Roadshow ends with final event in Auckland For more information on hosting StartUp NZ in your town, please contact Richard Liew on 021 994 136
