INDEPENDENT NEWS

Expressions of interest wanted for Incubate programme

Published: Mon 1 Sep 2014 09:50 AM
Expressions of interest wanted for Incubate programme
Applications are open for at least five sponsored places in Rotorua X Incubate, a programme designed to help new business and social enterprise succeed. In addition organisations will also have the option to fund themselves through the programme.
Incubate is a 10 week programme for business or social entrepreneurs to receive a pod in a co-working space, have business coaching through group sessions and have access to training modules to build business capability to help their organisation grow and succeed.
Chairman of Rotorua X Darren McGarvie said the first round of Incubate was successful and that through sponsorship at least five part-time places are available for the next round.
“Fully sponsored places are limited to 5-6 part-time places. After receiving feedback from the two participants who have finished the programme we have decided to provide the option for businesses to fund themselves through the programme,” he said.
Sponsorship through Te Puni Kokiri has provided for four Maori businesses to participant in the programme. Waiariki Institute of Technology has also sponsored up to two part-time participants in the programme. The next round of the incubate programme will start mid-September.
The first round of Incubate participants Leanna Haverkamp from Flavazum Whanau and Emilie Castellanos-Wright from Liaison Services both recommend the experience to others.
“Our organisation has developed and grown within the time span of the Incubate programme. The shared working space and professional facilities have provided me with an office conducive to work and has allowed me to achieve more than I would from working from home,” Ms Haverkamp said.
“The coaching received through the Incubate programme has been very helpful. I have repositioned my business strategy and updated my service offering,” Ms Castellanos-Wright said.
“The experience gave me the confidence to achieve my goals that I set out at the beginning of the programme and also to know what my next steps should be,” Ms Castellanos-Wright said.
“Incubation is key to help more people launch and grow businesses and social enterprises. Over ninety percent of New Zealand businesses are small businesses with less than six employees,” Mr McGarvie said.
“We need to foster an entrepreneurial culture in Rotorua to enable more people to start their own business or social enterprise.”
“Rotorua X Incubate has been designed to provide organisations that are less than two years old to have the support, office space, coaching and training to help them succeed and achieve their business goals,” he said.
To be eligible for the fully sponsored positions a business or social enterprise must have been in operation for less than two years. If organisations want to fund themselves through the programme the cost is $950.
To apply send your name, details of your organisation and contact information to rotoruax@gmail.com
ENDS

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