LIFEHACK announces New Zealand’s first Social Innovation Lab

19th May 2014

LIFEHACK announces New Zealand’s first Social Innovation Lab

Lifehack is announcing an exciting opportunity for skilled kiwis to join a task-force working together to use entrepreneurship to tackle complex social problems. The Lifehack Social Innovation Lab is a first for New Zealand and joins a small number of emerging Labs tackling systemic issues around the world.

Lifehack Labs is the latest initiative from the Wellington-based organisation which was created thanks to the Prime Minister’s Social Media Innovation Fund in early 2013. “Throughout the first half of this year, we’ve run weekend events to open up a dialogue with communities around Aotearoa New Zealand about how technology can be used to improve youth wellbeing.” says Lifehack co-Lead, Chelsea Robinson.

“We found that people around the country were excited to get behind the mission and to use their skills and talents to build digital tools such as mobile apps, responsive websites and social media campaigns to improve the lives of friends and whanau. We knew that weekend events would never go deep enough to build resilient teams who would be able to do the hard yards to take these technology ideas to scale, and impact the lives of thousands of Kiwis. So today we’re delighted to announce Lifehack Labs - the bootcamp for people looking to solve problems that matter.” said Sam Rye, Program Director of Lifehack Labs.

Applications today for the 5 week long program which kicks off in mid August 2014. The social innovation lab will run in Wellington which is establishing itself as a vibrant tech startup scene with the likes of Xero, Powershop and Trade Me all headquartered in the capital. Lifehack Labs requires participants to step up for a full-time commitment, and are attempting to level the playing-field for entry by offering stipends for accommodation for successful applicants.

“We’re looking for the Kiwis who have unreasonable hopes for their own lives and for improving the future of rangatahi / young people in New Zealand. Progress comes from unreasonable people - so we’re putting the call out to the doers, the tinkerers and the dreamers who are looking at putting their skills into issues that matter this August. We’re looking for a range of talented people from diverse backgrounds - graphic designers, game developers, mobile fanatics, anthropologists, UI/UX specialists, entrepreneurs and psychologists. This is a unique opportunity to join a team and spend 5 weeks mashing up the best of technology with youth wellbeing research, and social innovation skills with entrepreneurship.” said Robinson.

Around the world, cross-sector partnerships are emerging to teach entrepreneurship to people who want to take on wicked problems. Sam Rye explains: “connecting with our peers in Singapore, London, Melbourne, Bali and Canada, we see multi-million dollar projects in progressive nations who we’re already sharing ideas with. There’s already projects like Good for Nothing, HopeLabs, the Young and Well Cooperative Research Center, the Change School, ReachOut.com and HackingHealth who are all part of the wellbeing-tech space, and we know that Lifehack Labs will have a lot to offer to this community too”. Lifehack Labs will convene a range of industry mentors, and partners such as Enspiral, Hikurangi Foundation, and Ministry of Social Development from Wellington - opportunities to join the Labs experience are also still open for more mentors and partners.

There are only 20 places available for the 5 week experience, with Lifehack indicating they aim for 80% of the participants to be under 30. Applications for Lifehack Labs close on 4 July 2014, and more information can be found at: http://labs.lifehackhq.co

Reference Links
LIFEHACK Labs - http://labs.lifehackhq.co | LIFEHACK main website - http://lifehackhq.co
LifeStack beta - Library of Wellbeing Technology

About LIFEHACK Labs
LIFEHACK Labs is a 5 week, design-led bootcamp to kickstart impact projects for youth wellbeing. LIFEHACK Labs is a full-time journey for our brightest minds to come together to build new, functional technology to drive solutions to complex social challenges.

The 5 week long Labs experience with a blend of world leading research and insights from the best of positive psychology, lean startup, UX, design thinking, team development, leadership, social innovation and personal wellbeing.

Partners include Enspiral, Hikurangi Foundation and Ministry for Social Development.

About LIFEHACK
LIFEHACK is the catalyst for people to build digital tools for a reconnected, thriving society through collaborative entrepreneurship and technology. We do this through Events,Partnerships, Labs, Resources.

Using the power of creativity and social entrepreneurship, we seek to give people the platform to develop solutions to the challenges they see in the world. We educate, challenge and inspire through engaging experiences and a specially tailored support program to make the digital solutions available to wider audiences.

LIFEHACK is a program run by Enspiral Foundation - a social innovation collective founded in Aotearoa NZ.

ENDS

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