At the end of last year Takapuna Grammar School’s Young Enterprise Scheme was revelling in the success of one of its number – the Trident weather app — taking out the Best Digital Tech Company award at the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme National Awards.  And then it came time for the school’s next generation of budding business entrepreneurs to be put through their paces at an Ignition Day, held at Devonport’s Level One community tech hub shortly before Christmas.

Around 30 TGS business studies students from a range of year groups, led by department head, Mrs Emma Johnson, were paired with local mentors Andy Scott, Anna Yallop, Craig Norris, Noah Maffitt, Narly Kalupahana, Simon Lampen and Stephen Goodger.

Following an inspirational talk from ex-TGS pupil Louis Gordon Latty, of Glory League fame, the groups were tasked with generating potential business ideas in a set timeframe, and working up a compelling pitch that was assessed according to the attractiveness and quality of their ideas.  The purpose of the day was to bring the group through `ideation’, validating these ideas, killing off the weaker ones, then communicating the work back to an audience.  Rather than being `all about the ideas’, the day focused on taking the students through a journey and preparing their mindset for their 2017 Business and Enterprise studies.

TGS was able to call on an all-star lineup of local judges including the CEO of SODA Dr. Claire McGowan and Flying Kiwi Angel, Rudi Bublitz.  The judges gave feedback and encouraged multiple attempts to pitch and improve before their final team pitch to the judges and audience.

The results were:

Most Improved Team:  Because improvement was the main point of the day, the main award went to Team Croissant who were supported by Stephen Goodger.  `Croissant’ was named after an object on the table and is a mobile app for classic car enthusiasts.  Team members were Hugh Barker, Jude Gair-Ah Siu and Jacob Silk.

Most compelling Play:  Went to Team Trace (Nicole Linnell, Shayla Rua-Chase, Meg Wallace and Nicholas Young, supported by Narly Kalupahana).  Trace is a tracking bracelet for keeping tabs on kids in difficult to manage situations.

Best Overall Pitch:  Team e-Parking (Shannon Blackhall, Benjamin Fitchett, Annabel Thomson and James Torjussen, supported by Noah Maffitt) is a mobile app that identifies city parking spots and lunch deals near your meeting locations.

Each member of the winning teams was given a business book, kindly donated by Devonport Rotary, who are long-time supporters of TGS through scholarships and Youth Leadership initiatives.

Ignition Day frontman, judge and Devonport local, Duncan Ledwith said, “The day personified what being a community is all about – sharing, supporting and collaborating as to your skill and experience.  It was hugely engaging and everyone benefitted, and not just the students!”

It is hoped that the Devonport community can run this event annually for TGS Business and Enterprise students.

They say you shouldn’t overlook what’s in your own backyard.  And especially when that backyard happens to be a veritable treasure trove.  We recently had the chance to check out Devonport’s Depot Artspace which is less than five minutes’ walk away from us in Clarence Street.  Art and music space manager Lynn Lawton and his staff threw open their doors to welcome local businesses over Friday night drinks, including Devonport Chocolates, Kevin Johnson Boat Builders and Think Red.  

Sure, the Depot Artspace is a legendary space to display art and a hub to showcase a wealth of talent, but really, it’s much more than that.  Established 20 years ago, it’s a multi-disciplinary creative community encompassing all art forms and supporting artists at many different levels and across all generations.  Facilities include galleries, a professional development programme, publications, a design studio and recording studio.  In fact, the studio has been host to the Hamilton County BlueGrass Band the past few weekends as they’ve recorded songs for a new album.  And it was a real family affair – the Depot’s sound engineer, Dave Rhodes is the son of the HCBB founding member Alan Rhodes and had always wanted to record an album for the band.  Other bands to work with the Depot include Lakes, Rebel Sound Radio, Annee 2CU, Ulcerate, Tablefox, Streetlight Riot and Nic Hurman.

There’s also a thriving and immensely talented media production team based at the Depot.  Media producer Amelia Harris is currently working with NZ Sculpture Onshore to create,  produce and curate all the video imagery for the event and is also working on the Cultural Icons series.  In fact, she can turn her hand to anything!

 
Contact the folks at the hub if you want to find out more about what they offer, and how you can work with them.

Since a 2014 High Court ruling, it’s been acceptable for companies using Google AdWords to select competitor trade marks as their ‘keywords’ (not only their own trade marks).  Google AdWords is Google’s advertising system in which advertisers bid on certain keywords in order for their clickable ads to appear alongside Google’s organic search results.

Narly Kalupahana from Potter IP gave Level One residents some IP pointers around the use of Google AdWords at a recent Friday afternoon Tenant Talk.  Here’s a summary:

• Selecting a competitor’s trade mark or name as a keyword for your campaign isn’t considered an infringement per se of their trade mark rights
• BUT be careful how you use it — and don’t complain if someone does it back to you
• If someone can show actual (or likely) confusion resulting from your Google AdWords campaign, it’s time to reign it in (it could potentially constitute trade mark infringement, or be a breach of the Fair Trading Act)
• Use it or lose it:  Although in theory a trade mark registration can last forever (assuming that the renewal fees are always paid), if you don’t use a registered trade mark for a period of time (in New Zealand it’s three years), then a third party can apply to have it removed from the trade mark register on the grounds of “non-use”
• As soon as you know you’re going to operate in a country, register the trademark

Level One recently hosted the launch of Devonport’s first business-youth mentoring scheme, instigated by local businesswoman Anna Yallop.  The 17-week programme matches five final-year university students with local businesspeople and entrepreneurs, providing advice and guidance on topics including networking, professionalism, job interview skills and what employers are looking for.  Three of the students — Hamish Buckley, Brittany Mark and Mona Harnett — have known each other since Vauxhall Primary School days, while the other two — Nina Wieland and Andre Botha — are both relative newcomers to Devonport.  They’re all hoping to get advice on how to make themselves as employable as possible, and to pick their mentors’ brains on career choices.  

Energy is at the cornerstone of Mark Unwin’s latest business venture, and it’s something the Devonport resident has in spades.  The former co-owner and founder of Viaduct, the eftpos terminal provider, has finished cleaning the house and garden and now has his sights set on cornering the solar energy market with the forthcoming launch of iGenerate.  Mark has recently taken up residence at Level One, providing him with the perfect opportunity to sit alongside businesses in a similar space, including Pure Advantage.

With power poverty an issue for many New Zealanders, Mark is focused on reducing the cost of monthly energy bills by making solar power more accessible for homeowners, and at the same time enhancing our clean, green image.  More than two thirds of New Zealand’s electricity currently comes from renewable sources — including solar — with the Government’s energy policy aiming to up this figure to 90% in less than 10 years.  

Due to the massive drop in solar power prices, solar power systems are now a more viable option and Mark is looking at covering a range of angles with iGenerate, including provision of finance packages and home storage of power.  Ultimately, he’d like to see higher feed-in tariffs for solar power systems, but first he has the simple matter of a business to launch.  Watch this space for more news!

Potter IP handily located both its Auckland offices within spitting distance of each side of the Devonport ferry crossing, and employees have been known to make mercy dashes across the water to retrieve forgotten laptop cables and other essentials.  They’re the latest company to take up residence here at Level One HQ with two of the founders — Devonport residents Alan Potter and Narly Kalupahana — opting to spend part of their working week on home turf.  Potter IP has a passion for start-ups and a penchant for regaling clients with an armoury of IP war stories. They work at the intersection of intellectual property and business, from sorting out your IP architecture (the shape of your IP), through to IP registration and day to day management.  Blue chip clients include Fonterra, ASB, Mediaworks and a mix of other corporates.  They also host IP training and strategy workshops, and advise on trade mark/patent applications and filings.  Google Adwords IP is a particular specialty.

The culture of the two-year-old company combines flexibility and transparency with sharp thinking: They’ve invested heavily in tech to ensure staff are both self-sufficient and personally accountable.  Hot-desking, paper-less offices, a resident dog and whiteboard-painted walls are the norm.  Stop by for a chat!

A local jewellery designer has just taken up residence in Wanaka’s old police cells, but there’s nothing sinister about its activity.  In fact, it’s one of the region’s biggest success stories.  The Cell — housed in the former police station in central Wanaka – is home to a range of start-up entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals who work collaboratively but independently in this hotbed of co-working and networking.  The roll call of 20 or so tenants features filmmakers, drone pilots, web architects, chair designers, IP lawyers, mentors, graphic designers and software developers to name but a few — the melting pot of diverse and creative talents is one of The Cell’s major drawcards.  And it’s sure hard to beat those lakeside views…

As well as informal presentations by tenants and like-minded residents, The Cell also hosts the nine-week Co.Starters business development programme which is designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools to turn their business ideas into reality.  The Cell’s Liz Hills says it’s been a huge success and they’re already into their third round; soon to boast nearly 30 graduates.  “The diverse range of small business owners and innovators who utilise The Cell are benefiting from our range of programs, services and events”, she says.  “We’re definitely seeing more entrepreneurial success stories emerge in our region, and a large part of that is due to the environment we provide them.”

“Legend” was just one of the many glowing accolades given business studies teacher Emma Johnson at the recent Product Launch for the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) at Takapuna Grammar School (TGS).  Emma has run YES at TGS with the unbridled passion, enthusiasm and dedication of a start-up entrepreneur, and her students clearly love her for it.

In return, the students have enjoyed their “best year ever” with an extremely strong showing among North Shore contenders at this year’s Sanitarium Young Enterprise Scheme Auckland Regional Dragon’s Den competition.  

Products and services created by entrepreneurial students at TGS this year include the following:

• Trident Weather App, which provides weather updates for fishermen, surfers and other marine users and has already had nearly 400 downloads since its launch around three weeks ago
• Half-Baked, which provides dry cookie mixes with gluten-free and dairy options, as well as a sweet collaboration with the Remarkable Chocolate Company (and which exhibited at the recent Auckland Food Show)
• Burgundy’s, which creates wine bottle holders and cheese boards from recycled wine barrels
• Cupcake Cravings, which provides bespoke cupcake options with a range of toppings and decorations

#SMCAKL — the Social Media Club Auckland – hosted some heavy-duty hardware at its sell-out session on Keeping Up with the Droneses in the city last week.  Some amazing toys were on display, with a DJI Phantom 4 going to one lucky member of the audience.  Panelists, including Arturo Pelayo, Harriet Jenkins, Simon Che De Boer, Dylan Packman, and MC Wendy Thompson, discussed the social media opportunities and legal and privacy ramifications surrounding drones and VR.   If you missed it, catch the video here.