UCE Involvement:
MYOB IT Challenge (2017)
Entré $85K Challenge – Top 11, Sustainability Award Winner (2017)
Other:
Vice-President, InfoSoc (2017)
How did you first get involved in the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE)?
I met Michelle Panzer at a startup networking event and she invited me to get involved with UCE – I'm so pleased I did, I haven’t looked back since!
You were involved in the MYOB IT Challenge this year - what was it?
The MYOB IT Challenge required us to present a solution for a business problem faced by many SMEs. We undertook comprehensive market research and discovered that small business owners identify the time investment required in managing their inventory as a major pain point.
Utilising augmented reality, we developed a tool that recognises the physical features of a product, which when used in conjunction with the inventory database helps to eliminate the time sinks of inventory management: stocktakes, ordering, and forecasting.
We ended up being sent to Auckland to compete in the national competition, where we came in with second place.
How did you find the experience?
It was awesome! I met some extremely talented students along with some of the movers and shakers in NZ tech. It was a great opportunity to develop my business acumen and challenge the status quo by thinking well into the future of tech to solve business problems.
You have also been involved in the Entré $85K Challenge – how did you find it?
I actually met Logan Williams (founder of Biome) through the MYOB Challenge. The two of us went on to enter the Entré $85K Challenge, where we won the Sustainability Award with Bioleather, a vegan leather alternative made from the pest algae didymo.
The $85K Challenge was an amazing experience. It's awesome learning what you are capable of when you are thrown into the ring – challenging, but rewarding!
What did you learn from your experience?
We had some massive pivots, so a huge learning point was being able to think and react to situations quickly and viably.
The competition was also great for refining pitching skills, public speaking, and business case development. It definitely prepares you to be resilient to changes!
What was your highlight from the competition?
Seeing the final business plan come together after months of hard work was really rewarding, but most of all is how people react to the idea – it's a very exciting venture. Being recognised with the Sustainability Prize was a great feeling, too.
What advice would you give to students wanting to get involved with UCE?
If you have any sort of interest in entrepreneurship, put your hand up and do it. You don’t know what you’re capable of until your plate is full – and you’ll be surprised at how rewarding the experience is. The UCE staff are really supportive, so sign up to the newsletter and get involved!
Have you found these competitions have helped with uni or career?
I think on a professional basis of networking, definitely – you get introduced to real players in the industry which is incredibly valuable. Entrepreneurial thinking gets you looking at problems in ways that aren't in your textbook, and I believe that looking at things differently from what has been done before is the key to preparing yourself or your business for the future. That fire is 100% going to help with my career.
What are your plans for next year?
I want to play a role in the delivery of new technology to businesses. I'm so excited by new tech and it's potential to unlock new business opportunities, so I'm looking to secure a job along those lines and learn as much as possible.
What are your aspirations for the future?
Keep chasing down those dreams and goals... Work hard, play hard!
