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Venture Centre supports entrepreneurship in WBOP

Starting a new business can be a daunting endeavour. Questions of should I, can I, and where do I begin, are often at the forefront of the entrepreneur's mind.For Kat Stephenson, the idea to start a dog obedience service sparked similar questions. The idea came out of her childhood passion for animals and a first love for farm dogs, which led Kat to pursue dog training as a hobby and become a qualified dog trainer through the Australian National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF).With a background r...

Plenty of Growth Opportunities in November

"Alone, we can do so little; together we can do so much."- Helen Keller...

All go for Sweet Dough CO.

It took four years for cookie connoisseur and Sweet Dough Co. founder Jess Lowcher to develop the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Originally from the United States, she found that ‘biscuits’ were often too dry, and flavours relied mostly on the chocolate.“I wanted a cookie dough base that was really flavourful, really vanilla-y, toffee-y, and buttery,” Lowcher explains.So, she began experimenting with recipes to determine what she liked and didn’t like in cookies and how to create the s...

Where good food meets good content: a recipe for Rain Bar’s hospitality success

As lockdown lifted, the PoweringON team sat down over a coffee with Tauranga restaurateur and all-round good guy Rohan McCloskey from Rain Bar at Pāpāmoa Beach. Rohan moved to New Zealand from Sydney, settling in Tauranga where he now runs three hospitality venues - Rain Bar, Brooklyn Patio and Neighbourhood Kitchen. He is an entrepreneur at heart and is always looking at ways he can innovate. His hospitality experience and his tech background are a killer combination ...

Nourishing Families and Communities Made Easier with Automation

The PoweringON team take a stroll with Brad Harding on his farm in Omanawa to talk about his business journey and how integrating technology has helped sow and grow Six Toed Fox Organics, as well as facilitate their online fruit and vegetable box deliveries.  The business started in 2016 producing organic produce for local communities, organic stores and farmers’ markets, with a strong focus on ethics and sustainability.  The business became increasingly popular throughout the Bay of...

Zeenya Clothing Embraces Digital with Colour

Chloe Wickman, Owner of Zeenya Clothing, caught up with the PoweringON team all bright tights and smiles, to share her journey with digital and reflect on how  it has helped her to realise her vision for her business. Zeenya is a unique activewear line made to inspire women to express themselves and their vibrant lifestyle. Embracing Life Through Colour is not only Zeenya’s motto, but a way of living and a value they stand by.  Starting off with a website, Chloe knew that s...

Plenty of Growth Opportunities in October

"Do not be afraid of growing slowly. Be afraid only of standing still."- Chinese ProverbsThe year's been a big one, with the 'Is it Christmas yet?' fatigue arriving sooner than normal for many. Lucky for us, spring is about new beginnings, refreshed perspective and the chance to check in with our goals and aspirations for the year.No matter how slow your growth feels, remember it's worth acknowledging (even celebrating)! We love growing with you, and feel grateful to off...

Entrepreneurship Manifesto 2020

Cross-posted from https://genglobal.org/new-zealand/manifesto...

Plenty of Growth Opportunities in September

"Joy is a power, cultivate it." - Anonymous If you dare to type '2020' into Google, you'll be greeted by meme central - to say it's been a year for the books is a mighty understatement. But as always, we've seen our community, choice by choice, cultivate a joyful approach to their entrepreneurial journeys.  On that note, we are here to help you to 'Keep Moving Forward' - joyfully, powerfully and as a community. For plenty more growth opportunities, keep scrolling. Click&...

PLENTY OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN AUGUST

"Feedback is the breakfast of champions."- Ken Blanchard We had a blast at the Groundwell Festival x Techweek 2020 last week and we hope that you managed to attend one or more of the awesome events. A highlight for us was hosting Ange Wallace's Mastermind Class on Client Feedback.  Ange challenged us to ask our clients to share their experience of our business, 'the good, the bad and the otherwise'. She emphasised that giving space for our clients to share all, enables a greater a...

Entrepreneurship as a tool for community development

A Presentation to Tauranga City Council Annual Plan as part of the Submission processKia ora tatou katoa Ko Pascale Hyboud Peron tenei I realise I am one of 23 people presenting to you today. And that I am standing between you and lunch :-)  I thank you for your commitment to our city, to the growth of our region and to this consultation process. I come before you to talk about Entrepreneurship, and why “it takes a village to raise a Startup Business” Thank you for the opportunit...

PLENTY OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN JULY

"There's a way to do it better - find it."- Thomas A. Edison 2020 has sure been the year that we have all been forced to innovate, finding the better way of doing our day to day life in all areas. Therefore, as always, we are grateful to be a part of a community that eats innovation for breakfast!  That is why we are proud to be partnering again this year with two of our favourite festivals, Techweek and Groundswell Festival of Innovation. They are coming together in our region this ye...

PLENTY OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN JUNE

"Long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity."- Bruce Lee In the return to 'normal', we hope that you are holding onto the slow and steady pace that lockdown gifted most of us. The Venture Centre team too are doing their best to incorporate lockdown lessons into their new work approach. As things continue to evolve and change throughout our city and nation, we hope to remain and be a steady, present "friend". In this spirit of steadiness, our events will be remaini...

DIGITAL HACKS TO RELAUNCH FAST POST LOCKDOWN

Trading and doing business at Level 3 is all about contactless transactions, pre-ordering, social distancing, safety for all supplying and purchasing.It certainly is taking business to next digital level!It is amazing to see so many locals getting creative and leveraging digital to go back to what they love: delighting their customers!Here is some of what is available and how it is being used locally: List your business for vouchers and donations SOS businesshttps://sosbusiness.nz/ Seen locally...

PLENTY OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN MAY

"Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat."-  Steve Jobs The time we find ourselves in as a nation and as a community is full of change. What we love about our community is that innovation runs deep it its bones. A big shout out to all of you entrepreneurs and small business owners in our community who are adapting and innovating during this season. You are all legendary! Check out this month's awesome events, all delivered via video-conferenci...

5 FREE RESOURCES TO LEARN TO CODE WITH YOUR FAMILY

Coding and programming are two words that describe a great tool to bring ideas to life. Hard to move your young ones off their screens? You can make screen time productive during this rāhui.Here are five resources to get them to skip cartoons and write code. And they’ll be learning heaps of those essential future of work skills without knowing it! Plus you can join in the fun with them and discover a new skill set for yourself! ...

PLENTY OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN APRIL

“Gratefulness turns what we have into enough”- Aesop We at Venture Centre believe in the power of gratefulness to shift perspective and nuture the hope within us. What are you grateful for in these unprecedented times? We find ourselves grateful for technology that allows us to continue providing digital and entrepreneurial support to you our community and, we are grateful for you! Check out this month's awesome events, all delivered via video-conferencing. Simply sign up for ...

WORK FROM HOME, FROM HOME

Available now, on a first come first served basis, our community and partners have organised a no-cost online meeting/conference app so small businesses, community groups and entrepreneurs can easily work-from-home. This service is provided in New Zealand, by New Zealanders, for New Zealanders. It is hosted and supported here at home, on-shore in Aotearoa. To access the app to get teams, clients, and suppliers connected online, right now, at no cost, to minimise the current drama and disruption ...

PLENTY OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES IN MARCH

“Well done is better than well said.” - Benjamin Franklin Venture Centre is the place to get inspired and take action from. Hence our collaboration this year with Sustainable Backyards, the month-long collection of events around the Bay of Plenty which aims to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of people in the community via informative workshops and activities. Join us at Consuming for Good on March 19th at Basestation to hear from a panel of impact...

NEW DECADE BRINGS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO DO GOOD BUSINESS TOGETHER

So it begins! A new year, a new decade and a new opportunity for you to make your impact in the world — establish or grow your venture. Already, in this first two weeks, we’ve seen so many of the entrepreneurs and business owners amongst the community here in the Bay of Plenty, and heard from our wider network too – Waikato, Gisborne, Rotorua and Whanganui to name a few. All are diving into 2020 recharged and recommitted to their purpose. There are great plans being put into action whi...

YOUNG TALENT DEMONSTRATE SHIFT IN BUSINESS PRIORITIES

“What a line up!” was the reaction heard from the Judges table at the 2019 Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) Tauranga Regional Finals last month. The four leading business people came to Basestation coworking space to judge to business pitches from year 12 and 13 students. They left with a new level of faith in young people and their ability to lead. A mix of successful entrepreneurs – business, finance and marketing experts – the four judges volunteered their time to share feedback with stu...

YES 2019 REGIONAL WINNERS SAY NO TO PLASTIC

The pitch from Team Bumble at the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) 2019 Finals and Awards night was far from confused or indistinct. Clear, vibrant and full of energy the team from Otumoetai College demonstrated the early success of their plan to rid the world of soft plastic food wrap. Bumble is the YES Regional Winner 2019 and will go on to represent the region at the gala finale on December 4 in Wellington. YES is an in-school programme, currently in schools across the Bay of Plenty. It supports...

GET FURTHER FASTER WITH A DIGITAL NAVIGATOR

"The future of business is digital, is yours? I love this catch phrase. Your business exists in an ever-changing technological landscape — but do you know how to leverage it?There are so many opportunities to address using current technologies. Sometimes all it takes to make the most of them is helping people connect the dots … to a new tool or way of working. That’s what attracted me to the PoweringON programme.   What is the PoweringON programme? It provides small business ...

POWERINGON SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS

Good news for small business owners, operators and entrepreneurs: PoweringON is here to help you thrive with digital solutions and local expertise.The PoweringON programme, designed to equip you with the digital tools and skills you need to grow and future-proof your business is being relaunched this month*. So what is PoweringON offering to improve Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) digital capability this time around? First it provides assistance and advice in helping you, the business owner, op...

AND THAT IS A WRAP! #TGASW19

Written by Georgia McConnon...