Lightning Lab Hardens Up
Applications are officially open for Lightning Lab Manufacturing, New Zealand’s first ever product and manufacturing
accelerator, which will run out of Hutt City from August to October this year.
Currently known for being New Zealand’s premier digital accelerator, Lightning Lab is in its 3rd year, and the last two
Labs have resulted in over $4.4M of total investment in the participating companies.
Creative HQ, the team behind Lightning Lab, is now adapting this acceleration format of intensive mentoring, networking,
and business up skilling to make it suitable for physical products and hardware. Like past Lightning Labs, the 3-month
programme will conclude with a Demo Day, giving teams the chance to pitch their business to a room of investors and key
players in the start-up community.
Supported by Callaghan Innovation, Hutt City Council and Grow Wellington, Lightning Lab Manufacturing aims to give
hardware a dose of acceleration mojo that until now has been reserved to digital ventures in New Zealand. Callaghan
Innovation Business Acceleration Manager Cath Hopkin says that globally, accelerator programmes have proven success in
stimulating opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurs, and is looking forward to see this unique platform of intense
support and validation applied to the product and manufacturing sector.
In another first for the programme, Shawn O’Keefe (producer of SXSW Interactive for 14 years) has moved to Wellington to
take on the manufacturing accelerator’s Programme Director role. Shawn’s unparalleled global network amongst the
‘bleeding edge’ of technologists and thought-leaders means this Lightning Lab will push participants to a whole new
level of opportunity and challenge.
Shawn says the time is right for a manufacturing accelerator in Wellington – "3D printing, hardware hacking, biometric
sensors, the internet of things -- so many new technologies are becoming much more available, particularly in the
product and manufacturing space. I'm excited to see what happens when we combine these developments with the creativity
and spirit of invention so prevalent here in the Wellington region."
Creative HQ’s CEO, Stefan Korn is stoked to have Shawn become part of the Creative HQ family, with “his impressive
background with SXSW, extensive network and phenomenal experience in this space, Shawn will be an asset to the Lightning
Lab Manufacturing, Creative HQ, and the region.”
The new accelerator will focus on turning prototypes that have been built in a garage into successful businesses. Design
and product development partners are currently being brought on board to assist with production methods at a variety of
stages, although ventures already producing in small volumes or with a fully functioning prototype will likely have the
most to gain from the accelerator.
Lightning Lab Manufacturing is currently working with Makers Org NZ to run HardHack NZ on June 6th – a 12 hour hackathon
which will give tinkerers a taste of what the programme will involve as a part of Hutt City’s STEM week this week. More
info and registration for the one day event can be found here.
For more information on the manufacturing accelerator or to apply now, visit
www.lightninglab.co.nz/manufacturing-wellington/
Lightning Lab is New Zealand's premier business accelerator with programmes across various cities and industries.
Lightning Lab Digital Auckland will conclude with their Demo Day on June 4, Lightning Lab Digital Christchurch are
currently accepting applications until June 12 and Lightning Lab Manufacturing is currently accepting applications until
June 26.
ENDS.