Business Digest: Construction Awards, Funding Environmental Startups, Biodegradable Nursery Pots

Bay of Plenty startup receives new funding first

Two Bay of Plenty Startups Named First to Be Funded Under New Multi-Million Dollar Initiative Created to Reduce Early Failure Rates of Local Social Enterprises I was.

The Mount Maunganui companies were selected from over 500 companies that participated in a national competition for entrepreneurs who can contribute to solving social and environmental problems.

Contest organizer Nous is now seeking more support for purpose-driven businesses in the Bay of Plenty region, with startups in the region saying specialized expertise is worth more than an injection of cash. I’m here.

Nous is a new organization, created by Brianne West, that provides mentoring, coaching, investment and marketing support to environmentally and socially focused New Zealand companies in their early stages of growth.

Founder and CEO of Ethique, an exporter of regenerative beauty products.

West launched a “Got Nous” competition during the first phase of the fund’s launch to raise awareness of the challenges facing social enterprises, which boast a 95% failure rate in the first decade.

She said the quality of entries from the Bay of Plenty is very high. However, she said the high number of entries made it clear that there was a chronic shortage of her infrastructure for local support for startups looking to solve environmental problems.

Companies were asked to present their ideas to a panel of experts, including identifying the social or sustainability issue they would like to change and the details of how to achieve it. rice field.

With $140,000 worth of cash prizes to share and a mentoring prize pool, the winners of the competition will be Critical Supply, a Mount Maunganui-based, fair-trade instant coffee brand that gives back to the community, and Critical Supply for the use of lubricants. Sexual health products from organic hemp seeds intended to

Tom Lear, co-founder of Critical Supply, said that in order to support the company’s growth, it is necessary to find expertise to help guide the early stages of the company’s lifecycle.

About 70% of the coffee consumed in New Zealand is instant coffee, he said, but there is a lack of support for fair trade suppliers in this niche of the industry.

“As a purpose-driven startup, we have tried to avoid entering the market blindly and bearing the cost of learning from our mistakes.

“The opportunity to work with experts who can guide us through these pitfalls and help develop offers that resonate with consumers will be invaluable to us over the coming months. It will give you a big boost.”

According to West, analysis of the entry’s data showed that there are a number of New Zealand startups with the potential to have a significant impact on key social issues.

She said greater support is needed to enable companies like this to develop to a scale that can have a significant impact on environmental restoration.

A third recipient of the funding, West said, is Auckland’s Daisy Lab, which uses microbes to perform precision fermentation to create yogurt and cheese alternatives that produce up to 97% less emissions than using cow’s milk. creating.

Volunteer Bay of Plenty Hands Over Local Services to SocialLink
After 17 years of service to the Volunteer Department and local communities, the Volunteering Bay of Plenty (Volbop) passed the baton to SociaLink.

Acting Chair Berenice Langsson said both organizations believe in the importance of volunteerism and its positive impact on society and the economy, and are committed to ensuring that volunteerism is supported in the Bay of Plenty. said.

The two organizations negotiated a formal agreement that went into effect on October 3rd.

SociaLink general manager Liz Davies said she was saddened that Volbop could no longer offer volunteer services as a result of Covid-19 and growing financial constraints.

“Volunteers are essential to the operation of most nonprofits, many of which are completely dependent on volunteers.

“When Volbop approached SociaLink, we thought it fit well with SociaLink’s other offerings and, if possible, wanted to ensure that volunteer services were not lost to the Western Bay of Plenty.”

Langson also thanked Volbop CEO Vanessa Lister for her hard work and dedication to the organization and volunteer department.

Bay of Plenty Wins Design Award
Bay of Plenty’s design studio, WOODS Agency, awarded a gold pin to the graphic category of this year’s Best Design Awards.

Awarded in collaboration with the Pāpāmoa Boardriders Club, it was the only regional institution to qualify as a finalist, competing against over 1,000 first-time entries.

The winners were honored at an awards ceremony held at Aotea Center in Auckland, moderated by Jennifer Ward Leland and attended by over 1000 designers.

Winners were presented with a purple or gold pin to recognize outstanding achievement in their field, or a luminous black pin to recognize their enduring commitment to the world of design.

This year’s entries include a visual map of forgotten Maori history in Central Hawke’s Bay, a donation to the first-ever Matariki Festival of the year, a chair to lightly tread the earth, and a local small business in the depths of lockdown to encourage people to to support

Scion develops solution to tackle nursery plastic waste
Psion scientists were involved in developing and testing biodegradable nursery pots. This helps nurseries and gardeners reduce plastic waste and environmental impact.

Biodegradable pots made from biopolymers and biofillers will replace the estimated 350 million pots produced each year in New Zealand nurseries.

Production of the pots will be expanded after the production process has been fine-tuned using funds received from the government’s recently announced Plastic Innovation Fund. The pot is expected to be commercially available by September 2023.

A successful prototype, PolBionix, was developed at Scion for four years as part of a project with commercial clients Wilson and Ross Limited.

Director Peter Wilson enlists the services of Psion’s expert biomaterials and biodegradability testing team to develop and test product formulations that meet nursery requirements, persist for at least 12 months in the ground, and then , continue to biodegrade after being planted in soil. The pot provides fertilizer as the plant decomposes, supporting plant growth.

Bay of Plenty CCNZ Hynds Construction Award
Held earlier this month at Trinity Wharf in Tauranga, the event attracted 180 attendees to celebrate excellence in both projects and people, and showcase achievements within the industry.

There were 29 participants from all award categories, including 3 person and 3 project categories.

Alan Pollard, Chief Executive Officer of Civil Contractors NZ said the evening’s awards ceremony was a huge success, with great projects, passionate and dedicated people and a passion for bringing the best to the community. He said that he introduced the industry in the region where he was.

“It was not only a celebration, but a night of reconnection from the turmoil of the past two years.

Bay of Plenty Vice Chairman Mike Speed ​​said it was a great night.

“After years of debating whether to host our own event, we were finally able to host one.

“The evening provided a unique way to celebrate the success and development of our people, and I have no doubt that future events will be even more widely supported.”

He thanked and congratulated everyone who took the time to participate.

“If you’re wondering whether to enter next year, enter with confidence and you won’t be disappointed.”

Category A – Sponsor Hirepool – Less than $300,000 (restricted to companies with revenue less than $25 million)
winner
GT Civil – Sherwin Street Stormwater

Category B – Sponsored Avertu – $300,000 to $1,000,000
winner
Bridge It NZ – Kaiwaka Foot Bridge

Category C – GPIL – over $1 million
winner
Downer NZ – Improvements to SH30 Eastern Corridor – Stage 1 (Sala Street to IIes Road)

Apprentice of the Year – Sponsor Higgins
winner
Regan Reed – Waiotahi Contractors
Highly rated
Meagan Verberne – Downer NZ
Highly rated
Sonny Collier – Downer NZ

Emerging Leader – Sponsor K&L Distributors Ltd
winner
Mason Hohepa – Brian Perry-Civil
Highly rated
Nicola Turner – Downer NZ

civic winner lady
Sheridan Fathers – EPL Construction

highest award
GT Civil – Sherwin Street Stormwater