Kia ora to our vibrant and ever-growing Startup Dunedin community! You might have noticed a little bit of change around the Startup Dunedin space lately. As our General Manager Rachel Butler has begun her parental leave, we’ve welcomed some friendly new faces to the team.
So, as we prepare to say goodbye to 2023 at the end of this month, we reckon this is a great time to introduce (and reintroduce) the dedicated individuals you’ll meet with - or run into at Strictly Coffee - behind the scenes at Startup Dunedin.
Laura Bradley - Events & Community
When we need to dial-an-extrovert, Laura Bradley is our gal. Also a current founder of Distiller Incubatee startup Skillzea, she’s recently taken on a new challenge as our Events Coordinator, orchestrating gatherings that bring our entrepreneurial community together - including yesterday’s fantastic Christmas Party!
Tim Still - Marketing Intern
Adding a valuable student perspective is Tim Still, our Marketing Intern, and Otago Polytechnic student. With serious skills in the field of graphic design, Tim will be collaborating with the team to keep the Startup Dunedin brand looking polished, and make sure we’re seen exactly where we need to be seen.
Pete Lead - Startup Coach
Leading our Distiller Incubator is Pete Lead, our founders’ go-to Startup Coach. With a wealth of experience in helping startups with everything from validation, to raising, to pitching, Pete provides invaluable tools and guidance to startups. He has a real passion for helping founders navigate the challenges of building and scaling businesses - and feel free to ask him what cowboys and pitching have in common!
Grace Esterman - Programme Facilitator
Grace Esterman is our awesome Programme Facilitator. Grace can be found with her doc martens on the ground, supporting anyone in Dunedin with starting up by offering them personalized 1-on-1 support, connections, and resources. She also spearheads delivery of our Audacious program - which, if you’re not familiar, is a free programme for tertiary students in Ōtepoti who are interested in entrepreneurship (click here for more info!)
McKenzie Dowson - Communications Lead
Handling the communication front is McKenzie Dowson, our Communications Lead. McKenzie is tasked with telling the stories of startups in our region and celebrating our awesome community. When she’s not asking baristas for seven hundred shots in her flat white, you can find Kenzie behind the scenes, coordinating all Startup Dunedin communications and engagement strategies.
So there you go - Hello, howdy, and Meri Kirihimete from the Startup Dunedin team!
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, just starting out, or you’ve just had an idea this morning - we're here to support you, connect you, and be a part of your journey.
Want to connect with any of the team, or got an idea you’d like to explore? Head to startupdunedin.nz/meet or flick us an email at hello@startupdunedin.nz.