First hand experience inspired Commerce student Toby Thomas-Smith to start a venture that provides academic-year rental options for university students, while optimising rental returns for landlords. He has launched EasyRent, thought to be the first and only platform on the New Zealand market connecting students and landlords.

Covid-19 provided the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship cause for pause in determining how to continue service during lockdowns. As a result, the team at Unleash Space developed online spaces with a brand new set of pre-recorded workshops designed and recorded then hosted on Canvas, the learning management system used by the University of Auckland.

Perzen Patel is the creator of a tantalising range of Indian spice pastes designed to give New Zealanders a taste of the real India while still being versatile enough for a soup or Sunday roast. She is bringing her business Dolly Mumma (named in honour of her grandmother) to life while continuing her day job at the University of Auckland as Digital Engagement and Communications Advisor for Libraries and Learning Services.

For a second year ON: Pitch, a Gen Z start-up ventures competition, has provided student start-ups with the ultimate tools to take their businesses to the next level. This year’s winner was Skillsme, one of the student ventures participating in the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Start-up Studio programme.

The emotional and mental rollercoaster of life as an entrepreneur was on full display at the finals of the Velocity $100k Challenge. Anticipatory silences were broken with thunderous applause and heart-felt disappointments were softened with encouragement of future prospects.

The full rich experience of University cannot be found inside four lecture walls. University is a time of life in which theory can be put to practice through participating in co-curricular activities to learn skills in leadership, community development and a wide range of other important attributes.

For the second year, staff at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship have provided an opportunity for Business School students to volunteer their time and expertise to help early stage start-ups. This unique experience supports their growth and development through being part of a small team tackling large, global problems.

Fruit growers around the world are making better use of their time, money, and resources thanks to Hectre, an orchard management software co-founded by University of Auckland alumnus Matty Blomfield. Hectre brings to one place a core set of tools designed for growers that are simple to use and accessible for all.

We’ve all been there - signed up for a gym we don’t go to, got a subscription we never use, impulsively bought a ginger slice we didn’t really need. The team at Give Better describe this as ‘meh’ spending - “spending that doesn’t add much joy to your life” - and they are on a mission to transform it into something better by helping you repurpose joyless spending into joyful saving and giving.

Nicholas Bing, a recent graduate of the University of Auckland, was heavily involved in innovation and entrepreneurship while completing his Bachelors of Commerce and Arts. He reflects now on the impact that learning, developing, and practicing entrepreneurship at University has had on his work.