Winners of the 2023 Velocity Ideas Challenge revealed  

Velocity 2023 CEO, Charlotte Print

30 May 2023

Last week, the 20 winners of the Velocity Ideas Challenge were announced, each taking home a slice of $20,000. 

University of Auckland students and staff were invited to submit a 1,000-word entry based on an idea for a start-up which aims to solve an environmental, economic, or social issue, for a chance to win $1,000. 

The competition, which is held each year by Velocity, the entrepreneurship development programme administered through the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), gives students and staff an opportunity to ignite their innovative ideas and receive feedback from judges and experts. 

This year’s winners tackled a range of issues including flood damage relief, sustainable building supplies, and Māori and Pacific health inequities. 

Participants are encouraged to develop their ideas further and enter the Velocity $100k Challenge later this year for a chance to win a share of $100k in prizes. Winners of the $100k Challenge also get the prestigious opportunity to participate in CIE’s incubator programme, VentureLab, where they are supported for 6 months to get their ideas off the page and out into the world.  

CIE alumni have ignited hundreds of ventures, created thousands of jobs, and raised more than $1.36 billion in capital. These include EdTech company Kami who last year were named by TIME magazine as one of the world’s top 100 companies, retail crime intelligence and loss prevention company Auror, and gastric diagnostics venture Alimetry. 

Darsel Keane, CIE Director says “We live in a time that seems particularly challenging and for Aotearoa to be a prosperous nation, we need fresh ideas for solutions to the economic, environmental and social challenges of the present and future. Challenges are also opportunities. We’re delighted to have the support from UniServices, Momentum, NZ Capital Growth Partners, Hudson Gavin Martin, Ngā Ara Whetū and MedTechiQ. Their support enables these prizes to encourage solution-seeking. I look forward to seeing which entrants go on to develop their ideas and build a business case in preparation for our Velocity $100k Challenge.” 

Velocity Ideas Challenge winners 2023 

Economic category

A More Accessible Way to Customise Eyewear: In a world of unique individuals, why not make it easier to create personalised eyewear that tailors your specific needs? One size does not fit all, and with the cutting-edge 3D scanning system, we can make it much easier to create accurately shaped eyewear.  

OriRun: Our app provides a unique solution to the common problem of demotivation and boredom among runners. By creating orienteering maps and checkpoints, we offer a new level of engagement and purpose for runners of all levels. With a broad target audience and a market of over 50 million runners in the US, our app has significant potential for success while encouraging good health and well-being through exercise. 

SafeZone: SafeZone is a cloud-based solution that enhances pedestrian safety in shared zones by adjusting speed limits based on traffic density via 5G technology. Unlike traditional systems, it doesn’t rely on cameras and line-of-sight sensors, ensuring accurate representations of nearby traffic and allowing sustainable transportation without compromising safety. 

SlipSensor: SlipSensor can assist in predicting slip behaviour by providing highly accurate data on movement and weather conditions on a slip face. It is a highly accurate, lightweight, and easy-to-use remote monitoring system that will track the movements of active or potential slips at a low cost. 

Smart RePlan: Smart RePlan is a software solution that enables construction organizations to steer towards successfully accomplishing time and cost targets of construction projects by dynamically generating optimum construction schedules as the project circumstances change.  

SmartSide: SmartSide is a construction-specific project management software, which uses the 3D model & web based information such as APIs, etc. (entry data) to automatically generate the construction programme and building methodology (results). It then optimizes the programme using the real data/AI during the building phase. 

Environmental category

Carbonise: Carbonise is revolutionizing the way we combat climate change. Through technology, it empowers individuals to actively reduce their carbon footprint while reaping tangible rewards. Carbonise is a vision for a sustainable future and a catalyst for global change, transforming everyday actions into a worldwide movement towards a greener planet.  

Ecoshield: Introducing Ecoshield, the sustainable and reusable building wrap for a greener future. Reduce waste and promote sustainable construction with our modular system that can be used multiple times. Durable, resilient, and easy to install, Ecoshield is the smart choice for builders who care about the environment. 

Gold in Fruit: Our product is a steamed bun that is fortified with golden kiwifruit flour, offering a novel way to consume kiwifruit and promoting sustainable use of underutilized crops. Our goal is to create a range of baked and steamed goods that incorporate golden kiwifruit flour as a key ingredient, expanding the reach of this innovative product. With a simple manufacturing process, farmers can benefit from increased demand for their crops while providing consumers with a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional steamed buns.  

Kinalytics: With an overpopulation of Kina devastating kelp forests, our marine environment is deteriorating. Kinalytics provides a system that efficiently and autonomously gathers data on kina density and location. Government conservation departments, commercial fisheries, and action groups are more informed leading to better decisions that can support and restore marine ecosystems. 

WasteMatch: WasteMatch is a digital marketplace linking waste material providers with those who can repurpose them, fostering a circular economy. Users can buy, sell or trade materials while a rating system promotes sustainable habits. 

Social category: 

Caring Hands: CaringHands offers a practical and innovative solution to address the critical issue of falls among elderly individuals living alone. Our wearable device is equipped with fall detection technology and a Robo-buddy that can provide immediate assistance and improve the safety and well-being of our elderly loved ones. With CaringHands, we can help reduce the risk of injury-related deaths and improve the quality of life of our aging population  

Clinical Outlook: Clinical Outlook aims to reduce health inequities in New Zealand by increasing the number of Maori and Pacific healthcare professionals. We aim to achieve this by promoting clinical programmes and inspiring future health professionals.  

Communication skills training for healthcare using AI and Virtual Patients: Clinical empathy results in better outcomes and experience for patients and improves healthcare practitioners’ resilience to stress and burnout. I want to help healthcare students develop clinical empathy using Virtual Patients. Students will practice active listening, supporting feelings, involving the patient in decisions and sharing knowledge. 

DigiPrehab: Surgery is a distressing and life-changing experience for patients with the potential for severe complications. “Prehabilitation” allows patients to take ownership of their surgical preparation and has been shown to reduce complications after surgery by one-third. However, prehabilitation is resource intensive and not widely available. This will be solved by DigiPrehab – a digital prehabilitation solution.  

Geni: Geni is a website that helps users see the financial benefits of saving electricity. It combines technological and lifestyle suggestions into one easy to access central hub, allowing users to see how small changes across a household can result in large monetary savings.  

Reading Bean: Reading Bean aims to provide an alternative educational option for parents of children aged 3-5 who currently use un-moderated online video content to entertain their child. It is an app with a library of children’s books with features designed to develop reading skills to prime them for primary school.  

StormSafe: Introducing StormSafe: the disaster relief and legal services platform specialising in flood damage claims. With a focus on providing support for those affected by floods in Aotearoa, StormSafe offers legal advice to help people navigate their options. Let us help you protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve.  

Medtech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau prize

MyoVoice: MyoVoice is a novel technology that addresses the limitations of traditional voice prosthetics for individuals with voice disorders. MyoVoice takes advantage of high-density EMG sensors to detect and distinguish different activation patterns for various pitches and tones, allowing patients to achieve a more natural-sounding voice. 

Ngā Ara Whetū prize

Flex Our Mussels: Biogenic carbonate waste, especially those from our biodiversity-enhancing kaimoana, is not being recognised/counted at all stages of the value chain – from generation, to collection, to potential use in construction material with low embodied energy and CO2. Presenting “Flex Our Mussels” – Credit should be given where credit is due.