Social entrepreneurship
Not-so-brief encounters: Nisa founder Elisha Watson on starting an underwear social enterprise one year on
Elisha Watson is the founder of Nisa, an underwear label based in Wellington that employs women from refugee backgrounds. She quit her job as a litigation lawyer a year ago to found the company after volunteering for the Red Cross and seeing refugees struggling to find work. Here, she reflects on the trials and tribulations of starting a social enterprise from the ground up.
More than accommodation
Airbnb rolls out 'Experiences' in New Zealand and encourages locals to become micro-entrepreneurs
Airbnb has launched a new feature – experiences – in New Zealand for the first time, allowing entrepreneurial local hosts to put forward niche experiences people can’t find anywhere else. Idealog talks with New Zealand company manager Sam McDonagh about what this new feature means, how hosts are using the platform to become micro-entrepreneurs, and more.
Indigenous innovation
Looking back at the first edition of Kōkiri, the accelerator for Māori start-ups
The first edition of Māori business accelerator Kōkiri has wrapped up. The challenge now for the entrepreneurs who took part: taking that momentum forward – and into the wider community.
Virtual ventures
A new model of Kiwi entrepreneurship: Dan Khan on his latest gig, ZeroPoint Ventures
Dan Khan has had his hands in a few start-up related pies – in particular, Lightning Lab and Startup Weekend. Now, he’s taken his learnings and co-founded a new virtual accelerator programme ZeroPoint Ventures that’s even got Bill Reichert singing its praises. Idealog had a chat to him about the premise behind it.
Rally cry
BizDojo launches Founders Central, aimed at filling gaps in support for entrepreneurs
Co-working and collaboration operator BizDojo is expanding on its mission to grow the New Zealand founder community through the launch of an initiative called Founders Central. Now, it’s put out a call for the private sector to get behind it too.
Feel good food
Pomegranate Kitchen’s co-founder on the skills refugees can bring to the table
While refugees are being hotly discussed in the media, their talents often get lost in the conversation. Pomegranate Kitchen general manager Rebecca Stewart says their skillsets are underutilised and if given the chance, they can be nurtured into entrepreneurs.
Shoes
Help Kiwi company Staavias step up to ship shoes to US at sprint speed
Footwear designer Gustavia Lui has been invited to pitch a supply deal to Zappos, one of America’s biggest online shoe retailers. She has six days to get to the same country where Carrie Bradshaw came from.
Sweet business
Let them buy cake
Everyone loves cake. And purveyors of the good ones seem to be popping up everywhere.
Startups
Aspiring entrepreneurs to descend on Dunedin for 3-day start-up frenzy
Entrepreneurs, investors and innovators of every description will be pressing the flesh and doing the deals at Dunedin’s annual 54-hour Startup Weekend, 27 to 29 March.
