Unlock Innovation

In Founder Focus we introduce entrepreneurs and change-makers working on innovative startups, social enterprises and SME’s around Aotearoa New Zealand.

At a glance

Founders: Dorenda Britten and Chris Cole

Business: Unlock Innovation

Founded: 2021

HQ: Canterbury

Can you tell us a bit about your business?

Unlock Innovation was founded to address a skills shortage in the New Zealand technology sector. Our country can no longer afford to rely on international recruitment in a time when the world is moving irrevocably towards digital delivery of everything.

Unlock Innovation’s vision is to help create a world-class technology sector in which companies recognise the true extent of the skills they already have and need to attract more of, to meet 21st century goals.

Our action research with established technology companies has led us to understand that internal culture plays a significant role in the development of thriving innovative firms that welcome diversity of thought alongside neurotypical thinking.

Unlock Innovation is firmly focused on dyslexia, which is the most common and most easily masked neurodiversity.

We have two initial products in the market, a one-hour introduction and a half-day workshop under the banner Dyslexia in the Workplace.

What’s the backstory for your business idea?

During Covid the rush to digitise was a global phenomenon. Our technology firms were obliged to steal talent from one another to survive and our tertiary institutes were simply not graduating enough skilled candidates.

I (Dorenda) have a long association with the New Zealand technology sector, including being a judge of the annual HiTech awards. My background is in design, but my interest lies in the future of technology.

Chris Cole and I met at a dyslexia conference and decided that if business could demonstrate the value of dyslexic minds, it could prove motivational for the education sector. Chris is arguably New Zealand’s premier dyslexia expert and has worked on establishing for-profit and not-for-profit programs throughout New Zealand.

What programmes, learning or mentoring, or resources have been of assistance so far?

Unlock Innovation is incredibly grateful to the three companies involved in the initial research being Inde Technologies, Trimble and Phocus. The research with participation from both dyslexic employees and HR professionals was funded by MBIE.
In 2023, we won a Callaghan Arohia Trailblazer grant which requires of course dollar for dollar investment.
A book I would recommend that set the tone was Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne. Along with many others in the area of Economics, Policy and Design Strategy.
Along the way, we have had incredible support from the digital tech sector in developing our investment proposal and latterly sales strategy.