Entrepreneur Scholarship Launched for Wanaka based Business

A $2,000 scholarship package to grow and support Wanaka-based entrepreneurs has been launched today.

The Scholarship package, provided by Chorus and supported by the CUBE and Ignite Wanaka Chamber, aims to assist start-ups with their business endeavours.

The scholarship, which is now open for applications, comprises a cash fund of $2,000, mentoring from Chorus, entry into the CUBE Business Mentors initiative, membership to Ignite Wanaka and other benefits.

The scholarship funding can be utilised for initiatives such as financial services, planning and marketing advice, professional training and costs associated with branding and website development.   

Kim Stewart, Strategic Partner Manager at Chorus, says “Chorus is about providing better broadband and creating opportunities in the community and we felt that the Entrepreneur Speaker Series and associated Scholarship were a great match with our objectives. 

“These initiatives create great opportunities for people in the business community and we are excited to partner with the CUBE and Ignite Wanaka to really make a difference”.

Jason Watkins, CUBE Business Development Manager, says, “I’m confident there will be considerable interest in this scholarship if other initiatives underway are any indication.  We’ve had full houses of 100 people at the first two Entrepreneur Speaker Series sessions and the CUBE Business Mentors’ initiative has received over 50 applications for mentoring so the demand for people seeking assistance with their businesses is there.”

Along with the Entrepreneur Speaker Series, the scholarship is a new initiative in 2017, and is a joint venture between the Ignite Wanaka Chamber of Commerce and the CUBE.

Alistair King, Chair of Ignite Wanaka, said: “The Chamber is often asked to support new businesses when they start and as part of our strategy to foster economic growth in the region, the Chamber recognised the need to help businesses in the start-up stage. Through the work of the Cube, the recent entrepreneurial focussed events, mentoring and training have gone a long way to support this sector of the business community.”

“The scholarship aims to give people starting out a hand-up when they need it the most, with access to much-needed funding and other essential services to assist them on the journey to business success.”

The scholarship entries will be reviewed and judged by a panel and the winner will be announced at the upcoming Entrepreneur Speaker Series session on 26 October 2017.  This session will feature a presentation from Kurt Rodgers, the Futurist for Chorus.

Applications for the scholarship are open to people who have founded start-ups or trading businesses and reside in the Upper Clutha District.  Trading businesses must have been trading for no longer than two years.

Entry criteria and more information can be found in the ‘Initiatives’ section of the CUBE website at www.cubewanaka.co.nz.

The Entrepreneur Scholarship was developed in conjunction with Chorus as part of their support as Principal Sponsor of the Entrepreneur Speaker Series.

This article was originally published by The CUBE and has been republished by Startup Queenstown Lakes to complete our archives.