Social Enterprise Accelerator Showcases Impact-Ready Ventures
Launchpad is Ākina Foundation’s programme aimed at getting New Zealand’s best social enterprise ideas off the ground. Launchpad Pitch Day will showcase the 11 participating social enterprise teams at an event to be held at Shed 6 in Wellington on March 31.
Launchpad has been co-sponsored by Contact Energy and the Department of Internal Affairs. Ākina has focused six months of intensive support and coaching on 11 inspiring social enterprise ideas – which are now on their way to becoming thriving, self-sustaining ventures. Consultant mentors from organisations such as KPMG, Vodafone, SAP and Deloitte – led by Contact Energy – have added rigor to their impact-focused pursuits.
“When you meet these
teams you can see that these are exceptional people with the
passion and ability to make a real difference in their
communities. We now look forward to connecting the teams
with people, organisations and investors that can help bring
those plans to life,” says David Clearwater, Launchpad
Director at the Ākina Foundation.
Launchpad’s
Pitch Day event will bring together a network of 200+
potential investors, funders, customers and supporters from
the private, public and philanthropic sectors to engage in
opportunities around social enterprise. Attendees will
include government ministers, social changemakers, CEOs,
community leaders and more.
Venture teams will present the change they intend to make in the world, their business plans for delivering that change and pitch for support to take their social enterprise to the next level. There will also be an opportunity for interested prospective funders, investors, partners and supporters to meet the teams for one-to-one discussions on how they might get involved. Launchpad Pitch Day presents an opportunity to be part of shaping the onwards journey of social enterprise ventures to help New Zealand thrive.
“We’re seeing a
groundswell of social entrepreneurship across the country
and we’re excited to be part of a movement that is
determined to solve wicked problems with the tools of
business.” says Ākina Foundation’s Chief Executive,
Alex Hannant.
Contact Energy’s General Manager of
Corporate Affairs, Nicholas Robinson adds, “We believe
social enterprise has the potential to transform our
communities, to contribute to the wellbeing of our people
and ultimately, to change the way we do businesses and
deliver positive, lasting social outcomes in New Zealand. We
are looking forward to hearing the teams pitch their ideas
and to seeing them lead the way in launching social
enterprise to New Zealand.”
Find out more about the
11 Launchpad teams at http://akina.org.nz/launchpad/
ENDS