Kia Hiwa Ra! Kia Hiwa Ra!
Kōkiri is a waka to a world where accelerating Māori entrepreneurs is an established and critical part of Aotearoa’s kaupapa and success. Applications for Kōkiri are open!
Kōkiri is a four-month business accelerator programme, aimed at growing Māori involvement in Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy by providing a platform to build sustainable businesses with global potential. It’s the first government-backed business accelerator programme specifically aimed to develop Māori founders in business.
Brett Holland, Creative HQ’s Head of Acceleration, commented “Kōkiri is an important programme two main reasons; it is squarely designed to develop the entrepreneurial spirit and skill set within the Māori community, but it will also showcase Māori excellence in entrepreneurship to the wider ecosystem in New Zealand and highlight how to look at growth ventures in a unique, inclusive and sustainable way.”
The growth and success of the venture ecosystem in New Zealand rely heavily on collaboration and collective leverage of innovation, in a global context. Kōkiri’s national platform is open and accessible to all communities across the motu, and will bring together the best Māori-led early stage business teams in Aotearoa.
Māori are renowned for their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit and therefore it’s anticipated a range of ideas will be submitted for Kōkiri. Kōkiri’s scope for startup business is wide, so whether your venture supports iwi, or you believe there is an opportunity in the market to develop a new piece of technology this programme could be what you need to develop your business or aspirations. Kōkiri will focus on the strength and potential value of each business venture, your team’s cohesion and the cross-section of skills different team members bring. To be eligible at least one member of each startup team must identify as Māori.
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has partnered with Callaghan Innovation, the government’s business innovation agency, and industry leaders in the Māori economy to deliver the programme. Creative HQ supports the programme “because we believe in the accelerator model, we want to be more inclusive of the people we help, and we want to learn from the Maori community about ways we can improve all of our programmes,” says Brett Holland. Ten startup teams or entrepreneurs will receive education, funding, mentoring, networking opportunities and engagement with leading business figures. Will this be your startup?
Kōkiri are now on the search for our 10 highly motivated teams of Māori entrepreneurs and innovators with the ambition and X-factor to board the waka! The programme launches in February 2018. These startup or early stage teams will come from across Aotearoa and will get the opportunity to work with expert coaches, mentors, and industry leaders in order to thrive and grow through the intensive four-month programme.
Applications open now! Carve your place in Kōkiri and accelerate your venture or idea. Register here.
