UCE Involvement:
UCE Incubator Programme (2017)
Entré $85K Challenge - Runner Up (2017)
Other:
Bachelor of Chemical and Process Engineering (Honours) (2016)
Editor, ENSOC (2016)
Consulting Graduate, Deloitte (2018)
Co-founder, The Monthly Co.
How did you come across the UC Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE)?
I first came across UCE when I entered the Entré $85K Challenge after co-founding a social enterprise called The Monthly Co. UCE was super useful with all the workshops they ran alongside Entré!
How has the $85K Challenge been?
We were really lucky getting a good mentor, Erin Jackson, who has really helped us. The $85K Challenge has had some awesome workshops and have pushed us to expand our idea into a business, instead of just talking about it.
What is the The Monthly Co.?
Our social enterprise is called The Monthly Co. and we are looking at delivering organic tampons to your door monthly. With every order you receive, we donate a box of tampons to Aviva (formerly Womens Refuge).
Alongside my co-founder, Isabelle, we came across this article about children and women missing school and work because they had no access to sanitary items. We also thought about how convenient it would be if it turned up at your door - why can’t we solve this problem all in one go?
What are the challenges you’ve faced with The Monthly Co.?
Refining the business model and working it out, while still being sustainable in a business sense. It also took ages to find a supplier but now we have finally settled on one in Europe! We are currently on PledgeMe crowdfunding by selling subscriptions.
What has reaction been like to The Monthly Co.?
Everyone has been so supportive! We were on Stuff.co.nz and we have had lots of positive feedback from social media. Matilda Rice even put us in her Instagram story! If we reach our target on PledgeMe, the goal is to start fulfilling orders, and then start selling via subscription.
What advice would you give to a student wanting to begin their own startup?
Get involved with UCE early! Little things like getting feedback from the UCE team is really important. But also, take advantage of all the things on campus to do with businesses: for example, clubs like the Investment Society have industry speakers in all the time.
What else have you been involved with at UCE?
I have been a part of UCE’s Incubator programme after making the Top 20 of the Entré $85K Challenge. Also, this year, I entered the Entré Napkin Challenge (with about 6 different ideas!). I ended up winning with an idea about an interactive map around NZ that would tell you real time NZ petrol prices so you’d know where and when to fill up your car.
Most memorable moment within UCE?
Last term, I got to introduce the CEO of TradeMe, Jon MacDonald. Weirdly enough, I seem to be following his career progression having studied Engineering, then starting at Deloitte next year! He told us he met Sam Morgan while working at Deloitte.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I’m really interested in technology companies and I think it is the future for New Zealand. I would love to start one, or work for one. I really like the commercialisation aspect, so would love to do that. Having the technical background after studying engineering makes [the tech part] easier to understand. The Masters of Engineering Management programme has been fantastic and provided good foundations for business – learning the business side of things that we don’t normally touch in engineering.
