Written by Georgia McConnon
What happened during Startup Weekend 2019?
This year, teams developed businesses around community development, education, innovation, environmental conservation, sustainable fashion, financial investment, tourism and business development, all aligning with an array of 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). With a multitude of different backgrounds, skills and experiences, of both participants and volunteers, teams did incredibly well to tackle such large scope issues, and generate a business model orientated around the SDGs, expanding potentials of one an other, and of what can be worked on further to really make a difference in Aotearoa, and the world.
This year's event also carries a few milestones, with the TGASW being the first Startup Weekend to focus specifically on the SDG's in New Zealand, second in the world. This is such a milestone for our Tauranga entrepreneurial community, working together towards sustainability across the 17 platforms. Tauranga is not just the first to focus in on the SDGs, but is also the first female facilitated event in New Zealand! Lead and facilitated by two incredibly strong, expert and intelligent women, Sacha MacDonald and Renee Raroa, who powered through and carried, guided and energised the teams through all stages of the sprint that is Startup Weekend.
The fuel for participants throughout the weekend is good food. Continuing to align and work toward the SDGs, this weekend's meals were completely plant-based – and it was delicious! Provided by Fish Face, who specifically catered this event to be completely Vegan, customised their menu for this event especially! As delicious as the food was, we did have leftovers, and meeting SDG #2 - No Hunger, any uneaten food was donated to Under the Stars, who provide food to homeless in Tauranga, which fed another 60 people over the weekend.
I have had an incredible time over the 54 jam-packed hours of this weekend – it is extremely humbling being surrounded by such great and motivated individuals, so thank you for bringing me in to be a part of the Tauranga community, I'll be sure to see you all soon!
A BIG thank you goes out to all of the hard work of our volunteers over the weekend as mentors, judges, and especially our 2019 organising team. This weekend would not be able to be a success without the support, dedication, and involvement of all those within the Startup Weekend and Tauranga community including our sponsors for supporting this event to help local volunteers, help local entrepreneurs get started!
The Mentors:
The Crew:
We're always looking for great companies to get involved and help support the community, so get in touch about our next event!
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