Some big digital ideas stood out from the pack to win the first DigMyIdea Māori Innovation Challenge, announced in Auckland over the weekend of 21 and 22 November.
DigMyIdea called for Aotearoa’s top emerging entrepreneurs to submit a digital business idea with the potential to go global.
It was launched in 2015 by ATEED and Ngā Pū Waea, the National Māori Broadband Working Group, and supported by Poutama Trust and Callaghan Innovation.
Focus on economic outcomes for Māori
Entrants were required to outline a digital business idea with a focus on economic outcomes for Māori, and economic outcomes that may include opportunities for New Zealanders to earn incomes, create new business or export.
More than 130 people entered DigMyIdea, submitting almost 100 ideas. The top five entries in two categories – 19 years and over (‘mauri tū’) and 15-18 years (‘mauri oho’) – took part in workshops at Manukau Institute of Technology on 21 and 22 November.
The finalists received advice and mentoring to further develop their ideas before presenting their final pitches to a panel of judges.
Winners show promise
Brittany Teei (Ngai Tahu) of Auckland won the mauri tū category, pitching KidsCoin – a software program that teaches successful money management skills to students.
Hang (an app which encourages users to socialise with their friends in real life pitched by Josh Arnold [Ngā Puhi] of Auckland), and Kokiri Digital (a digital consultancy for small and medium companies pitched by a team from Te Puke) were joint winners in the mauri oho category.
Find out more about DigMyIdea.
