University innovation is centre stage in 100 Days of Start-ups

The University of Auckland's innovation community is playing a starring role in Auckland Council's 100 Days of Start-ups campaign, which launches on 4 July and celebrates the companies helping shape the city's future.

Of the 100 start-ups, more than 25 percent are connected with the University.

Led by Mayor Wayne Brown, a different Auckland start-up will be in the spotlight every day for 100 days, building momentum towards Auckland Startup Week from 12-16 October.

"If there's one thing Auckland is proving right now, it's that we are punching well above our weight in deep tech, heavy industry disruption and pure Kiwi ingenuity," Brown said, announcing the campaign. "But no one seems to know about it." 

UniServices, as the research growth and commercialisation arm of Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland, is a Foundation Partner for Auckland Startup Week.

Acting vice chancellor Professor Frank Bloomfield wasn’t surprised at the number of University-related entrepreneurs and ventures on the start-up list.

"Our role is to help talented people turn great ideas into real-world impact. Whether that's through research commercialisation, student entrepreneurship or partnerships with industry, we're helping build the companies that will shape Auckland's future," Bloomfield says.

“Auckland is a city of innovation, and we're proud to be part of it.”

To celebrate the campaign's launch, University of Auckland students Ahil Hussain and Rosanna Whyte created a 3D-printed bobblehead of the Mayor in Unleash Space, Kura Matahuna.

Run by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), Unleash Space gives students and staff the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, build prototypes and turn ideas into ventures.

Over the past 23 years, CIE alumni have launched hundreds of ventures, created thousands of jobs and raised more than $8.2 billion in capital.

“University-affiliated startups from CIE, UniServices, the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and the Newmarket Innovation Precinct will be featured throughout the 100-day campaign, highlighting the breadth of innovation emerging from our community,” Bloomfield says.

Among the first University-connected startups to be featured are retail crime intelligence company Auror and medical device company Kitea Health, with more to follow over the coming months.

Mayor Wayne Brown has promised to wear a t-shirt from a different start-up every day for the 100 days. Several of the 100 participating start-up companies made their t-shirts in the CIE Makerspace, with help from the technology and prototyping team and student staff, and using the centre's vinyl cutters
and digital sublimation printer.