Start-up Fireside Chats

Spark your start-up journey! Join a community of aspiring founders and early-stage entrepreneurs at our Start-up Fireside Chats for relaxed, insightful conversations with experienced innovators. This is your chance to connect, learn, and get the advice and inspiration you need to take your ideas further.

CIE’s programmes are free for University of Auckland students and staff. These co-curricular programmes help develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills alongside formal studies. While there are no formal assessments, participation may count towards the co-curricular recognition programme and the Distinguished Graduate Award.

Find like-minded people: Meet other students and staff who are exploring entrepreneurship.
Build your professional network: Develop connections with practising innovators and entrepreneurs.
Develop an entrepreneurial mindset: Lean into developing a growth mindset and resilience, essential to prepare you on your entrepreneurial journey.

Fresh perspectives: Gain diverse insights that can help you shape and refine your ideas.
Practical support: Take away tips and inspiration to bring your venture to life.

Start-up Fireside Chats will have a range of guest speakers throughout the semester. Register for each session that you’re interested in.

Applications close at 10am on the day of each individual fireside chat.

All Start-up Fireside Chat sessions will take place at Unleash Space, 20 Symonds Street.

Arama Mataira

• Thursday 1 May 12–1.30 pm

Arama Mataira (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa, Ngāti Maru ki Hauraki) is an intercultural facilitator and systems change strategist based in West Auckland. With a 25-year career in education across Aotearoa and remote Australia — including two decades working alongside First Nations communities in the central and western deserts — Arama brings a deep understanding of cultural leadership, equity, and place-based change.

She is the founder of Walk Together NZ, a social-good collective that supports leaders and communities to navigate complex systems change through culturally responsive, and values-led approaches. Her work bridges Indigenous knowledge, relational leadership, and social impact — helping people reimagine how we lead, live and work together.

Dr Nikki Freed

• Thursday 15 May 12–1.30pm

Dr Nikki Freed is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Daisy Lab, an Auckland-based precision fermentation company revolutionising dairy production. By creating milk proteins without the cow, Daisy Lab offers a sustainable, animal-free alternative to traditional dairy—reducing environmental impact through cutting-edge science.

• Thursday 29 May 6–7.30pm
  Guest speaker TBA

• Tuesday 16 September 12–1.30pm
• Tuesday 30 September 12–1.30pm
• Tuesday 7 October 12–1.30pm
• Tuesday 21 October 12–1.30pm

If you have questions about the programme, please contact cie_programmes@auckland.ac.nz