Meet the 2019 Challenger Series Cohort!

Come along for an evening of celebration and fun, including:

Pitches from our three Challengers
Talks from two special guest speakers, including Greg Shanahan presenting the highlights of the recently launched 2019 TIN Report with regional insights.
Drinks and nibbles

This event supports the Rising Tide Startup Fund

About Rising Tide

Rising Tide is a Startup Ecosystem Growth Fund that accelerates the number of innovative businesses in Dunedin by connecting great ideas to early stage funding, and creating better founders.

The fund offers string-free grants to early stage companies that show potential but need assistance. Your koha (contribution) helps Dunedin's startup community grow and thrive.

Meet The Guest Speakers

Greg Shanahan

Founder & Managing Director, Technology Investment Network (TIN)

As captain of the TIN team, Greg’s dedication and passion for the technology sector led him to establish Technology Investment Network (TIN) in 1999. Under his direction, the TIN Report has enjoyed growing recognition and influence since its inception in 2005. Greg oversees the report content each year.

A well-known figure in the high-tech sector, Greg’s background includes a decade working in marketing management roles for Fisher & Paykel (in NZ and the US). His in-depth industry knowledge is underpinned by his role as co-founder and MD of high-tech medical device company Veriphi.

Tip Piumsomboon

Principal, Blackbird Ventures

Tip is a Principal at Blackbird Ventures, Australia's top venture capital firm, seeding the likes of Canva, Zoox and Culture Amp. Blackbird has invested in over 60 companies in a range of industries and typically leads Seed and Series A rounds with follow-on investment. Blackbird has recently raised a $30M fund dedicated to investing in Kiwi founders building world class technology companies.

Prior to Blackbird, Tip was in the investment team at NZ Super Fund before automating her role in equities research at fintech startup, Simply Wall St.

Meet The Challengers

Winely

Winely automates the key attributes of wine fermentation to save winemakers time and comply with Health and Safety requirements. They provide winemakers the power to visualise what is happening in the ferment at any given moment.

Next Farm

Next Farm allows farmers to control and tailor fixed grid irrigation schedules and monitor their effluent application, remotely with a few clicks of a button.

Their Efflutrack and RIM products enable more efficient use of resources, water and time.

Kaffelogic

Kaffelogic spreads the joy of roasting your own coffee beans. They combine sophisticated software with elegant design to make the best 100g-batch coffee roasters in the world.

About The Challenger Series

The Challenger Series is Startup Dunedin's flagship business accelerator. Each year dozens of startups apply and only three are selected to carry on through the 6 month incubator programme.

During the Challenger Series, startups receive bespoke support for the individual challenges each face.