UCE Summer Startup Showcase 2025

Date: Tuesday, 4th February 2025

Time: 5:15pm – 8:30pm

Venue: The Piano - 156 Armagh Street, Christchurch

Join us for our 2025 Summer Startup Showcase…

The 2024/25 Summer Startup Programme features a diverse range 26 participants, whose venture ideas range from a bespoke series of a cold-brew coffee that alleviates the negative effects of caffeine, a phone that reduces doom-scrolling and enhances well-being, a range of shampoo and conditioner tablets that reduce packaging and waste for travellers, an automated bowling machine for aspiring cricket players, enhanced headgear protection for junior rugby players, and a device for making livestock vaccinations quicker, faster, and safer.

Now in our 12th year, the Summer Startup programme is an intensive 10 week validator and accelerator programme that empowers students with the capabilities and support to launch their ventures. We’ve got a rich alumni of entrepreneurs and ventures, including:

Hannah Duder (Indigo & Iris)
Luke Campbell & Lucy Turner (VXT)
Logan Williams (serial inventor and entrepreneur)
Chris Bacon & Jack Wood (Komodo Wellbeing)
Ben Scales & William Murrell (Kiwifibre)
Monique Lau (Endosoothe)
Emma Arvidson & Renee Tauwhare (Teiny)

This year our ventures and participants have been exposed to 70 + guest speakers, workshop facilitators, and mentors including Di Foster, James Laughlin, Guy Horrocks, Robbie van Dam, Ben Scales, and many more inspiring entrepreneurs and leading business professionals. Participants have been immersed in a range of in-depth facilitated workshops, weekly customer enquiry challenges, and field trips to the likes of Pure Sports Nutrition, Tait Communications, Cactus Outdoor, and Partly.

Please come and join us for our Summer Startup Showcase, be inspired by the innovative ideas and ventures our participants have been creating, and support the next generation of entrepreneurs seeking to make an impact in the world.