Pitch Competition submissions and Audacious workshops are open now for 2026!
If you’d like some support with something you’re working on, just book a meeting with us! It’s free, and we can help you find your next steps.
Submit your pitch for the semester 1 competition below
Ready to submit your pitch? Fill out this form below! If you have any questions, just send us an email!
Audacious 2026
What is Audacious?
If you’ve ever dreamed of the entrepreneur life, or you’re dead-set on solving a big problem that feels like no one else is trying to solve, Audacious is for you.
With each workshop dedicated to a different aspect of setting up a business or not-for-profit, you can learn the skills you need to perfect your idea, get great feedback, and go on to pitch for cash and prizes available to help get your awesome ideas off the ground.
This year, we will have two Audacious streams. One in sem one, and another in sem two! That means two chances of scoring funding (and prizes) for your startup!
Who is Audacious for?
University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic students - whether you’re planning on working in a company, starting your own business, learning new skills, or you’re still figuring it out.
Audacious is open to ALL areas of study, all majors, and minors.
You DO NOT need:
Prior business experience, a business plan, or a business major.
A profit-driven idea. Non-profit and social enterprise are great too!
A team (although you can apply with one).
An existing business or idea! If you are looking to build skills, we can help you find the idea to go along with it.
Why do Audacious?
Prizes
Audacious has cash and prizes up for grabs this year to help you with your idea.
Workspace
Audacious students can enjoy 9 am - 4 pm access to Startup Dunedin’s downstairs co-working space throughout the duration of Audacious, with meeting rooms available for focus groups, customer interviewing, and the like. Enjoy meeting entrepreneurs, a heated room, and free coffee!
Mentorship
Audacious will introduce you to a variety of mentors, experts, and startups from around Ōtepoti. Each individual might have the insight, connections, or resources you need for your next steps.
Skill Development
Entrepreneurial experience is in demand by 1 in 3 employers. After you complete Audacious, you can add plenty of skills to your CV!
Some examples are:
Innovation
Creativity
Design thinking
Business strategy
Problem solving
Teamwork
Multi-award winning individual*
*Maybe.
When is Audacious?
Audacious can fit around ANY schedule. This semester, we will have an in-person stream and an online stream.
In-person Stream
The in-person workshops will be:
Startup Sprint - 28th April - 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Pitch Workshop - 30th April - 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Pitch Comp Due - 7th May - 10:00 AM [Online]
Peer and Pitch - TBC
Pitch Night - 18th May
Let us know in the form above if you would like the recordings of these workshops.
Across the workshops, you’ll learn…
How to build your entrepreneurial mindset
Design Thinking - Who is your customer? What is their problem?
Design Thinking - Developing a solution
The Bottom Line - Business Model & Finances
Marketing & Branding 101
Build a Pitch Deck - How to tell your story
Pitch Week & Next Steps - Where to from here?
Need a bit more info?
Does Audacious cost money?
No. Audacious is completely free. However, entry into Audacious is competitive, and you are not guaranteed to get in.
I really want to do Audacious, but I don’t have a business idea. Can I still participate?
Audacious works best if you have either a business idea or a problem you want to solve. If you don’t have an idea, you can still apply - just let us know you don’t have an idea yet when you fill out the form!
I don’t study business, and I haven’t got any experience in business. Is Audacious still for me?
Absolutely. Good ideas are everywhere.
To be successful in Audacious, all you need is an idea and the willingness to take feedback to adjust, tweak, and mold it.
I am a postgrad student. Can I use what I am doing at University to explore the commercial potential of my work?
Definitely!
I don’t want to make money, I just want to help people. Is Audacious still for me?
Absolutely. The business you start might be a nonprofit like Startup Dunedin, a social enterprise like Eat My Lunch, or an awesome for-profit business that does good like Canva.
I don’t have a team. Can I still apply for Audacious?
Absolutely. You might even find a teammate through Audacious!
I don’t have any money to start a business, should I still do Audacious?
Definitely!
I’ve got a brand new idea I haven’t started working on. Is Audacious for me?
Yes, absolutely. Audacious will give you the tools, frameworks, and support you need to get started. Whether you have some idea of how to start, or have no idea at all.
I’ve been working on my business idea for a short while and have made some progress. Is Audacious for me?
Yes, absolutely.
I’m 4 years into my startup journey and am trying to figure out how to scale. Is Audacious for me?
No, not quite (although you are welcome to come along and go over the business basics with us), but you should definitely check out The Distiller Incubator.
I’m still not sure. Can I talk to a human?
Of course! Flick an email to hello@startupdunedin.nz with any questions or concerns.
Free Startup Check-in
For those of you who are working with a new idea but aren't sure about doing Audacious just yet, feel free to request a free startup check-in for some actionable feedback on your idea, and to help identify your next steps.
Special thanks to our Audacious sponsors:
