Councillors to put plans in motion for a new Nelson business incubator

Mayoral Candidate Aldo Miccio and Nelson City Councillor Ali Boswijk plan to initiate work towards a business incubator in Nelson, based on a successful Dunedin incubator model.

Cr Miccio and Cr Boswijk spent a day in Dunedin yesterday to see firsthand how the Upstart incubator works. They were in Dunedin on the invitation of Mark Houghton-Brown, and flew there at their own expense.

Cr Miccio said the trip was very valuable, and believes the Upstart model would be well suited for Nelson.

“New economic activity in Nelson is essential for our future, and I believe the region has the talent and the willingness in the business sector to grab an opportunity like an incubator, and use it to grow,” Miccio says.

“Upstart is very impressive, and is a successful model in a medium-sized city for job creation and new business growth,” he says. “Upstart Dunedin has facilitated business relationships between a large number of entrepreneurs and inventors and small businesses, resulting in many business award winners.

“To set up the Incubator, shareholders in Nelson might be the likes of the NMIT, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Nelson City Council, Cawthron Institute or other key industry players. I plan to meet with these organisations soon to talk through how the incubator might work here,” he says.

Cr Boswijk agrees that the Upstart incubator model could work well for Nelson.

“Solid economic activity is essential for the prosperity of the region and business incubators are a proven way to provide support and encourage businesses to be successful,” Boswijk says.

“The Nelson economy is characterised by a large number of small companies, many with potential for growth and export but lacking the experience or expertise to take the next step,” she says. “An incubator such as Upstart can attract additional funding to the region and provide the support, mentoring and advice to help a company reach its potential.”

Aldo Miccio says the incubator concept is the first plank of his campaign’s Economic Growth pillar.

_About Upstart_

Upstart is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a leg-up to companies who want help to grow fast and generate revenues in the millions. They may be one person start-up companies, or successful small businesses, but each Upstart client is on a mission to rapidly increase their company’s value, without greatly increasing their risk. Our mission is to help their growth dreams become real.

ENDS

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