What We Do
Startup Queenstown Lakes was established to drive innovation in our region, by fostering a startup ecosystem
In a Post-Covid world, the Queenstown Lakes District has a unique opportunity to “reboot” itself away from an over-reliance on tourism, and towards a diverse, innovation-driven community.
This is our mission.
WHO WE ARE
Startup Queenstown Lakes is a charitable trust established in 2018 to bring together founders, investors, changemakers, and citizens in an effort to address the need for economic diversity and resilience, via a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem made up of knowledge and innovative sector businesses.
We are a catalyst and champion for the startup, innovation, and technology community. We know that knowledge and innovation sector startups are a critical element to this region to achieve economic diversity, enhance productivity and strengthen the resilience of our communities.
Our work so far confirms that this can be done by leveraging the district’s core strengths in adventure tourism, our natural environment, and the destination brand that QLDC, Destination Queenstown, Lake Wanaka Tourism and Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association have invested in over the past decade and beyond.
Investing in a startup ecosystem is a multiplier for a community. It will not only provide jobs, better wages and roles requiring high skills, but create rewarding opportunities for future generations.
OUR VALUES
We use best practices and proven models from national and globally recognised ecosystems to execute our vision that includes:
COLLABORATION
To us, collaboration means listening and evolving together, helping and supporting each other for the sake of a collective goal. We collaborate in order to build the capability of entrepreneurs seeking to deliver positive social economic and environmental outcomes.
CONNECTION
We are the "go-to" connectors our startup ecosystem. We identify and engage with individuals in our community - and connect them with others. We are a catalyst for action. We connect expertise with those who need it - leveraging the talent our region has. We break down barriers and encourage synergies in the ecosystem.
CREDIBLE
We strive to lead with credibility. We have a trusted and positive reputation in the Queenstown Lakes District and within the national startup community, increasing the opportunities to make a positive impact.
CONTRIBUTION
We contribute knowledge, resources, and connections to those in our ecosystem. Our goal is to contribute jobs, better wages and roles requiring high skills. We want to create rewarding opportunities for future generations
OPTIMISM
Our communication is always positive, to inspire hope. Our region's reputation is a vibrant and fun place to live, work, and play. We share the positive stories of the founders in our region to inspire others and give optimism for the future of our region. We share positive stories so we can attract and retain talent to establish their next big idea here.
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, STARTUP QUEENSTOWN LAKES HAS
Carefully used its funds to deliver programs and activities that have serviced innovators and businesses from across the District.
Operated more than 92 events with 865 attendees in the past year that have built key relationships, upskilled individuals, connected talents together, and engaged people living (and visiting) who otherwise were disconnected from the community.
Co-founded Mainland Angel Investors - in collaboration with Startup Dunedin and Coin South - as a regional Angel network which will encourage more investment in our community.
Built a vibrant community of startup founders, innovators and others who support our Startup ecosystem.
Participated in numerous collaborations and planning sessions with local, regional, and national entities to find ways to stretch those dollars to maximise impact and value that will pay dividends in the future as the groundswell of activity takes place.
Reviewed its long term vision and short term goals.
Started to work with the tourism industry to establish a national footprint in the tourism tech, hospitality tech, and adventure tech space.
Leading a Unified Startup Ecosystem for the District
Startup Queenstown Lakes has unified previously fragmented startup initiatives under one umbrella so that resources are working collectively toward the same outcomes.
We are led by our General Manager, Marco Dingemans who is building on the work done under the leadership of our prior CEO, Olivia Wensley. Marco has a passion to build our local community, develop and oversee our programmes, and to establish the District as an ideal place to live and build new ventures.
We continue to offer QLDC with a singular, accountable organisation to work with in this space - using consistent metrics and performance evaluations that enable QLDC’s economic development manager and leadership a consistent, reliable deliverable with complete transparency.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF STARTUP QUEENSTOWN LAKES
Startup Queenstown Lakes 2023 Annual Report
