At Soda we are passionate about supporting women in business, particularly those tenacious enough to start their own business. We created RISE UP in 2021 to encourage more women to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career, to lift the capability of female founders and champion female entrepreneurship in Aotearoa.

This year we received almost 80 applications from across Aotearoa and selected five finalists who are being led through a series of founder-focused workshops.

The five RISE UP 2023 finalists are:

Sophie Stanley and Rachel Smith - Bounsa
Kitti Bradley - Mother Trucking
Gina Urlich - Norish
Candace Kisner - Vester
Melanie Lynn and Niamh Buchanan - Well Now

We would love you to be part of the live audience in Hamilton on 29 August 2023 as these inspiring female entrepreneurs pitch their business to a judging panel and public audience to be in to win $10,000 cash.

The judging panel includes:

Kristen Lunman (co-founder, Hatch and Powrsuit)
Jenny Rudd (co-founder, Dispute Buddy)
Clare Bradley (CEO - Agrisea)
Jonathan Good (CEO - Scentian Bio)
James Corbett (co-founder - Auror)

There will also be an opportunity to vote for your favourite pitch on the night. The idea with the most votes will receive the People's Choice Award sponsored by Blunt Umbrellas.

Our mates at Finery and Remedy Kombucha are providing the drinks and finger food will be available throughout the evening.

Tickets are FREE but there are limited tickets available so if you would like to join us, please register now!

Thanks to all our epic sponsors who helped make RISE UP 2023 possible:

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSORS

CFO 4U

Chow:Hill

Cucumber

Debt Free Diva

Deloitte

Frank Risk Management

Hamilton City Council

KPMG

Norris Ward McKinnon

Syndex

Vazey Child

EVENT / IN-KIND SPONSORS

Finery

MAD Media

Novotel Tainui Hamilton

Remedy

RocketSpark

Blunt Umbrellas