Startup Accelerator kicking off Auckland Programm

Announcement

9 September 2014

Startup Accelerator Lightning Lab is officially kicking off its Auckland Programme with a nationwide event series

New Zealand’s leading digital startup accelerator, Lightning Lab, is officially kicking off its Auckland programme on October 2nd with a launch event at The Grid AKL followed by a nationwide event series visiting Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Hamilton.

As announced in April, following two successful programmes in Wellington, New Zealand’s first digital accelerator, Lightning Lab and Auckland’s leading startup incubator, The Icehouse have joined forces to bring the hugely successful programme to Auckland in 2015.

A number of events will take place across the country until the end of the year. In early 2015 when ten startups are selected to participate in the three month programme which runs from March to May 2015. The Lightning Lab programme arms startups with the funding, networks and expertise to rapidly accelerate their venture.

Expressions of interest are now open via the Lighting Lab website and October 2nd will be the official launch of the Auckland programme. The launch event will be an opportunity for digital entrepreneurs, investors and mentors to hear from successful entrepreneurs about how they went from idea to first customer, listen to Lightning Lab alumni and learn about the benefits of getting involved with Lightning Lab AKL whilst networking with other entrepreneurs, investors and mentors.

Following the launch event Lightning Lab will go on a nationwide roadshow with the – Starting Up Lean. This event is a chance for digital startup entrepreneurs to learn about the fundamentals of the lean startup methodology and the Lean Canvas as well as learn more about the Lightning Lab programme, meet the Lightning Lab team and get a head start on their application.

Links:

Expressions of Interest: http://lightninglab.co.nz/expression-of-interest/

Event Details and registration:

• Lightning Lab AKL 2015 Launch, 2 October - http://lightninglab.co.nz/lighning-lab-akl-launch/

• Lightning Lab Founder Series – Starting Up Lean - http://lightninglab.co.nz/founder-series-starting-up-lean/

o Christchurch – 7 October, 5.00pm

o Wellington - 8 October, 5.00pm

o Hamilton – 21 October, 5.00pm

o Dunedin – 23 October, 5.00pm

About Lightning Lab

www.lightninglab.co.nz

Lightning Lab is the first digital accelerator programme in New Zealand. Each programme supercharges 10 digital startups within a network of more than 100 mentors and an intensive 12-week pathway to prove, build and launch their businesses into market. The programme puts up to $18,000 of seed investment into teams of startup entrepreneurs and pushes them to make their business idea fly within three months, with support from a set of dedicated support technical and business interns, and mentorship from leading entrepreneurs and business experts from around New Zealand.

Lightning Lab is the exclusive New Zealand member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN), which comprises 51 of the top accelerators globally. Patrick Riley, Executive Director of GAN says, “We know Lightning Lab will be one of the best accelerators in the world. Using a proven model to propel entrepreneurs to success and with connections already made with the country’s top mentors and investors, Kiwis are lucky to have an accelerator of this calibre in their country.”

From 2015 Lightning Lab national acceleration will be run by a partnership between Creative HQ, The Icehouse and Canterbury Development Corporation.

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