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CIE alumni pledge to support innovation and entrepreneurship
Dr Privahini Bradoo, co-founder and first student CEO of the University’s Velocity programme, is one of several alumni who have committed to support the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as part of a new initiative.
CIE director Darsel Keane describes the pledge as a unique opportunity for alumni to “signal their intent” to support the centre’s work.
“Essentially you pledge your support now, and one day in the future if you happen to have a successful exit or a big bonus from your job, you could make a contribution to the centre,” she explains.
The initiative comes after CIE celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2024. Since it was established in 2003, the centre has worked with more than 35,000 students and staff, kickstarting 292 ventures. CIE alumni have raised more than $4.2 billion in capital and created 3,760 jobs in 195 countries.
For Privahini, who completed her PhD in neuroscience from the University of Auckland in 2004, being part of the initiative with the intent to give back “resonated strongly” with her.
Privahini was on track for a successful academic career when she was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. Inspired by the Catching the Knowledge Wave conference in 2001 – a meeting where the country’s political and economic leaders of the time decided New Zealand needed to transform itself into a high-value knowledge-based economy– Privahini was an integral part of a group of students and professors working to cultivate entrepreneurship on campus. The result was the formation of Spark in 2003, with Privahini taking the reins as the programme’s first student CEO.“
Spark was founded with the vision of turning first-class Kiwi ideas into world-class businesses, and it’s amazing to see how far CIE has come since that first year towards realising that vision,” she says, adding that the programme was “pivotal” in her own entrepreneurial journey. Privahini, who also co-founded Chiasma, an initiative that helps connect bioscience research with industry, says she was drawn to the entrepreneurial world by a desire “to help commercialise science towards benefitting society”.
After going on to complete an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2008, Privahini, who was named University of Auckland’s Young Alumna of the Year in 2012, joined LanzaTech as VP of Business Development before eventually cofounding BlueOak, an e-waste recycling company, and her current venture, Plank, which helps companies build AI-enabled engineering teams.
“If it hadn’t been for Spark, I don’t think I wouldhave embarked on this journey,” she says. “It was fundamental in helping shape where I am today.”
Another CIE graduate who has made a pledge is William Lockie. Currently based in London, where he is director of international marketing at the US company Life360, William remains connected tothe University by helping organise alumni events in the UK. He describes his own entrepreneurial journey as being largely involved with “early-stage start-up and scale-up businesses”. In contrast to the traditional start-up founder, he sees himself as an “intrapreneur” with a focus on being “an entrepreneur inside businesses”.
After winning a prize in CIE’s $100k Challenge in 2012, William, who graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Commerce, went on to become Spark’s student CEO in 2013 – when the programme celebrated its ten-year anniversary. He describes the leadership experience as being “a steep learning curve”, and one of the highlights of his time at University.
“It’s not often that you get an opportunity as a 20-something-year-old to lead a team of 30 people.”
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, William says the CIE experience – both as a participant in the $100k Challenge and as student CEO – helped to “expand and solidify” his interest in entrepreneurship. For him, the motivation to pledge to make a future contribution to the centre is based on a commitment to “support the future of entrepreneurship”.
“This is something that had such a massive impact on my life. So to me, it’s a no-brainer that when I’m at the point of being able to support things in the future, I’ll do so.”
Other alumni who have pledged include Managing Director at Apple Technology Services based in Auckland, PowerbyProxi founder and Distinguished Alumni Award winner Fady Mishriki, and founder of ISpy Nits Kate Ricketts.
Darsel says having such esteemed alumni continuing to work with CIE is hugely inspiring to current students, showing them the power and potential of entrepreneurship.
“The work we do here at CIE is all about supporting people like that and really championing their success, as well as adding fuel to their ambition – so when you see them go out there and achieve amazing things, it’s really exciting.”
Of course, the financial support is also hugely beneficial to the centre, says Darsel, adding: “Donor funding enables us to do things that we couldn’t otherwise do.”
Pledge to Give Back
We invite you to complete the form below and make the Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ Pledge. This flexible and non-binding pledge allows you to give back when you experience success.
The Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ Pledge
If you’re able to give a gift now, we’d love for you to do so. Thanks for considering this opportunity to support our vision, now and as we look to the future.
We look forward to staying connected and supporting your journey.
University alumna Dr Privahini Bradoo.
Alumnus William Lockie
University alumna Dr Privahini Bradoo
Alumnus William Lockie
Dr Privahini Bradoo, co-founder and first student CEO of the University’s Velocity programme, is one of several alumni who have committed to support the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship as part of a new initiative.
CIE director Darsel Keane describes the pledge as a unique opportunity for alumni to “signal their intent” to support the centre’s work.
“Essentially you pledge your support now, and one day in the future if you happen to have a successful exit or a big bonus from your job, you could make a contribution to the centre,” she explains.
The initiative comes after CIE celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2024. Since it was established in 2003, the centre has worked with more than 35,000 students and staff, kickstarting 292 ventures. CIE alumni have raised more than $4.2 billion in capital and created 3,760 jobs in 195 countries.
For Privahini, who completed her PhD in neuroscience from the University of Auckland in 2004, being part of the initiative with the intent to give back “resonated strongly” with her.
Privahini was on track for a successful academic career when she was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. Inspired by the Catching the Knowledge Wave conference in 2001 – a meeting where the country’s political and economic leaders of the time decided New Zealand needed to transform itself into a high-value knowledge-based economy– Privahini was an integral part of a group of students and professors working to cultivate entrepreneurship on campus. The result was the formation of Spark in 2003, with Privahini taking the reins as the programme’s first student CEO.“
Spark was founded with the vision of turning first-class Kiwi ideas into world-class businesses, and it’s amazing to see how far CIE has come since that first year towards realising that vision,” she says, adding that the programme was “pivotal” in her own entrepreneurial journey. Privahini, who also co-founded Chiasma, an initiative that helps connect bioscience research with industry, says she was drawn to the entrepreneurial world by a desire “to help commercialise science towards benefitting society”.
After going on to complete an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2008, Privahini, who was named University of Auckland’s Young Alumna of the Year in 2012, joined LanzaTech as VP of Business Development before eventually cofounding BlueOak, an e-waste recycling company, and her current venture, Plank, which helps companies build AI-enabled engineering teams.
“If it hadn’t been for Spark, I don’t think I wouldhave embarked on this journey,” she says. “It was fundamental in helping shape where I am today.”
Another CIE graduate who has made a pledge is William Lockie. Currently based in London, where he is director of international marketing at the US company Life360, William remains connected tothe University by helping organise alumni events in the UK. He describes his own entrepreneurial journey as being largely involved with “early-stage start-up and scale-up businesses”. In contrast to the traditional start-up founder, he sees himself as an “intrapreneur” with a focus on being “an entrepreneur inside businesses”.
After winning a prize in CIE’s $100k Challenge in 2012, William, who graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Commerce, went on to become Spark’s student CEO in 2013 – when the programme celebrated its ten-year anniversary. He describes the leadership experience as being “a steep learning curve”, and one of the highlights of his time at University.
“It’s not often that you get an opportunity as a 20-something-year-old to lead a team of 30 people.”
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, William says the CIE experience – both as a participant in the $100k Challenge and as student CEO – helped to “expand and solidify” his interest in entrepreneurship. For him, the motivation to pledge to make a future contribution to the centre is based on a commitment to “support the future of entrepreneurship”.
“This is something that had such a massive impact on my life. So to me, it’s a no-brainer that when I’m at the point of being able to support things in the future, I’ll do so.”
Other alumni who have pledged include Managing Director at Apple Technology Services based in Auckland, PowerbyProxi founder and Distinguished Alumni Award winner Fady Mishriki, and founder of ISpy Nits Kate Ricketts.
Darsel says having such esteemed alumni continuing to work with CIE is hugely inspiring to current students, showing them the power and potential of entrepreneurship.
“The work we do here at CIE is all about supporting people like that and really championing their success, as well as adding fuel to their ambition – so when you see them go out there and achieve amazing things, it’s really exciting.”
Of course, the financial support is also hugely beneficial to the centre, says Darsel, adding: “Donor funding enables us to do things that we couldn’t otherwise do.”
Pledge to Give Back
We invite you to complete the form below and make the Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ Pledge. This flexible and non-binding pledge allows you to give back when you experience success.
The Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ Pledge
If you’re able to give a gift now, we’d love for you to do so. Thanks for considering this opportunity to support our vision, now and as we look to the future.
We look forward to staying connected and supporting your journey.
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