Unleash It! In The Workplace

This year’s GEW-NZ flagship program, Unleash It! In the Workplace, focuses on stimulating an innovative and entrepreneurial culture within the workplace. Officially launched on the 8th of October, this program will rapidly grow in the weeks building up to Global Entrepreneurship Week. Already, New Zealand Post, Business New Zealand, and Mojo Coffee endorse this effort and will run events throughout their companies. This campaign is expected to have high participation – reaching hundreds, if not thousands, of companies throughout New Zealand.

Visit www.unleashit.co.nz for more information.

Pet Peeves!
"Back when I was 19, I couldn't get my computer fixed. So, I decided to do something about it. I created a company which started just to fix my own computer, and expanded from there. I think it did pretty well" - Michael Dell

The biggest corporations started as someone's pet peeve. Michael Dell created the Dell computer corporation because he couldn't get his computer fixed. Sam Morgan started Trade-Me because he couldn't find a cheap heater for his college dorm room, just to name a few.

We are looking for creative and innovative solutions to everyday problems from ordinary New Zealanders! Pet Peeves is an opportunity for all New Zealands to identify and solve everyday problems that create barriers to productivity and to provide solutions. Whats your pet peeve? It could be the next Trade-Me.

Sign up starts 1 Nov!

Manawatu Women into Business

Twenty Manawatu women (plus one honorary) met in Palmerston North yesterday to discuss ways to enhance which female participation in entrepreneurship. Hosted by Vision Manawatu,  Massey University and the Bio Commerce Centre, the group included existing and potential entrepreneurs together with development agencies.

 Keynote speakers included Jane Richardson, founder of An Extra Pair of Hands, and Elaine Reilly, CEO of economic development agency Vision Manawatu.

Outcomes included a sharing of useful experiences,  identification of some initiatives that would support greater participation by women in start-up businesses and ways in which Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 might serve as a platform for further growth. “This event afforded a mix of businesswomen and aspiring business owners to learn first- hand about the experiences of starting a new business from scratch. A powerful and inspiring session” said Ms Reilly.

Concurrent Sunrise event

Entrepreneurship is alive and kicking in the province of Taranaki. In New Plymouth, on 16 November, at 8 A.M., a speednetworking event on the GEW initiative will be lead by mayor Peter Tennent and Stuart Trundall of Venture Taranaki. Sam Morgan, patron of GEW NZ will announce the speed networking topic and speak to the audience about entrepreneurship. This event is running concurrently with the GEW sunrise event.

When:  8 A.M. Monday 16 November
Where: New Plymouth

Unleash your potential – Studies in Innovation

Massey University gives students a chance to discuss postgraduate opportunities in the study of entrepreneurship and business development.

Where:  Massey Albany campus
When:  18 November 2009
              6:00 – 7:00 pm

Expecting over a hundred attendees!

Organised by Scott Rees. Click here for more information!

Massey University's Entrepreneurs Day

The e-centre, the University’s business incubator unit at the Albany campus, has organised Entrepreneurs Day on November 17, which offers a free 20-minute appointment with an expert for anyone with a business idea.

The "E-Day" initiative is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.  The week aims to encourage more people to consider and take action on entrepreneurship as a career path. That is something the e-centre is very keen to help people do, says business analyst Sabrina Nagel. “So many people sit on an idea with great potential, but it stays an idea unless you start acting on it. We are here to help hatch ideas by giving advice on how to progress it further, where to get help, who to contact, and to give some indication of how good the idea is. We also help entrepreneurs to protect their idea and
gain maximum value from commercialisation,” Ms Nagel says.

The director of the University’s New Zealand Small and Medium Enterprise Research Centre, Dr David Deakins, will speak at the opening of Global Entrepreneurship Week at the Wellington City Council Mayoral Chambers on Monday, while Claire Matthews, senior lecturer in banking studies, will speak at the closing ceremony at NZX, also in Wellington, on Friday, November 20.

To book an appointment to discuss at idea at the e-centre, please call Sabrina Nagel on 021-0226-2170.

The World's First Event of GEW 2009

Wellington City Council partners with GEW-NZ to host entrepreneurs, business owners, founders, government officials, and students for the World’s Launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week on the 16th of November. The first of the many international events, this early-morning Speed Networking session will feature speakers such as: Sam Morgan, founder of TradeMe; Sam Knowles, NZ Post; Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast; and Donna Dentoze, Youth Enterprise Trust.

Monday 16 November, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM, Mayoral Chambers, Wellington City Council

For more information, email nina@gew.org.nz

Digital Careers Expo

Digital Careers Expos are FREE events to connect domestic and international students with support services and employers to help them make study and career choices for the Digital Careers of the 21st Century.

What's a "Digital Career" ?

We think that that's anything from Systems Management to Software Engineering, Web Design to Network Engineering, Business Analysis to Games development - plus a whole lot more!

Come along and find out where the future is at!  

Here's your chance to hear from industry experts about the types of skills and attributes that the Digital industries need now and for the future.

Get practical advice and information:

• Tips and tricks for being a great employee
• Ways to find work
• The value of networking
• Understand Immigration's work and residency options

When:  Wellington Town Hall, Level 2 Civic Suites

Time:  12 noon 18^th  November  

Admission is FREE for students and jobseekers - you must register before the event. 

For more information and to register, go to www.digitalcareers.co.nz

Demystifying the ICE Accelerator

• When:   Wednesday 18 November 2009, 3 - 5pm
• Who:     Start-Up companies looking to accelerate their businesses
• Where: The ICEHOUSE (Level 2, The Textile Centre, 117-125 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell
• Cost:     Registrations for this event are free.

The ICEHOUSE is a business growth centre involving growth strategies for SME’s, a business incubator for start-ups, and the largest group of Angel Investors in New Zealand. For the past 8 years, ICEHOUSE has been celebrating the importance of SME’s in New Zealand, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, and working to place New Zealand in the top half of the OECD by 2013.

This event is a chance to understand The ICEHOUSE, meet the advisors, entrepreneurs, and residents, and see if The ICEHOUSE can help your company grow.

For more information, visit The ICEHOUSE website. 

Wellington to the World

Last year, Wellington to the World provided Wellington technology entrepreneurs with the opportunity to pitch themselves to a global audience. This year, Wellington to the World is partnering up with Global Entrepeneurship Week to connect Wellington tech companies with a broader range of New Zealand companies and international investors.

“This year  W2W once again offers a great opportunity for Wellington's technology sector to secure global recognition.”  This years theme is “going global with your technology business,” with Richard MacManus, Ben Young and John Watt acting as keynote speakers.

During W2W, emerging high tech companies will be filmed making their pitches, and the video footage will be circulated via UP’s YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/UPW2W), KEA's global network of Kiwi expatriates (http://www.keanewzealand.com/index.html) as well as through other online channels.

The event will be held from 2 p.m. till 8 p.m. on November 17th, at the Civic Suite, Level 2, Wellington Town Hall, Wakefield Street, Wellington. The Event is free to attend, but registration is essential.

Please follow this link to register :  http://www.up.org.nz/w2w09/
Or follow this link to read the full press release: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0910/S00339.htm

Free Business Consultation at The E-Centre

Unleashing Kiwi Ingenuity During Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009

The e-centre, Massey University’s business incubator, promotes entrepreneurship by giving people the opportunity to take their idea to the next level. As part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 (November 16-22), the e-centre organises an Entrepreneurs Day (E-DAY) on Tuesday 17th and offers free 20 minute appointments with an experienced e-centre expert for anyone with a business idea.

“So many people sit on an idea with great potential, but it stays an idea unless you start acting on it. We are here to help you hatch your idea by giving you advice on how to progress further, where to get help, who to contact, and to give you some indication of how good the idea is, says Sabrina Nagel, Business Analyst at the e-centre“

“Incubators help entrepreneurs to protect their idea and gain maximum value form commercialisation”, Business Development Manager Dorian Scott adds. “On E-day, we want to give future entrepreneurs some assistance in developing their ideas in an informal confidential setting.”

If you want help hatching YOUR idea, book an appointment at the e-centre incubator by contacting Sabrina@ecentre.org.nz. For more information about the e-centre visit www.e-centremassey.org.nz For more information about the Global Entrepreneurship Week visit http://www.unleashingideas.org/newzealand

GEW New Zealand's Closing Event

NZX and GEW-NZ, together with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and government personnel will commemorate the events from the past week and the closing of this international celebration.

Speakers such as Mark Weldon, CEO of NZX, will talk about the importance of continuing to stimulate creativity and entrepreneurship within New Zealand. Following the speeches, these important figures will lead a question/answer panel to address the guests’ questions and concerns. This event is a fantastic opportunity to mark the progress already made by our country and set our sights on future goals.

Friday 20 November, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM, NZX, Wellington

Attendance by reservation only. For more information, email nina@gew.org.nz