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- Startup Stories

Startups You Should Know About

These are the founders, teams, and ideas growing out of Ōtepoti. Get to know who’s building what and the journey it took to get there.

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Startup Stories: Elli Cares
Elli Cares is on a mission to help older adults, especially those living with dementia or cognitive challenges,...
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Startup Stories: Education Perfect
After winning Audacious in 2007, University of Otago brothers Shane and Craig Smith turned a simple language-learning idea...
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Startup Stories: Cheeky Hard Iced Tea
After winning Audacious during lockdown in 2020, University of Otago students Brendan Yielder and Olivier Despatis turned a...
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Startup Stories: Coralcone
After going through Startup Dunedin’s Distiller Incubator in 2021, founder Yvette Shum grew Coralcone from an idea inspired...
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Startup Stories: TURN
After winning Audacious in 2012, 19-year-old Ryan Everton turned a simple idea sparked at a rugby game into...
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Startup Stories: Kreafoam
After joining Startup Dunedin’s Audacious programme during her Masters of Entrepreneurship, Indonesian founder Fasya Setiawan won the Audacious...
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Young Enterprise Regional Finals 2025
The Otago Business School hosted the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) regional finals for 2025....
Dunedin Founders Prize 2025
Our Prizewinning Student Pitches for 2025
Startup Dunedin's 2025 student pitch competition wrapped up this week, culminating in an evening celebrating the bright ideas...
Founders Breakfast with Solid Care
Founders Breakfast with Solid Oral Care
Last week, we were joined at our Founders’ Breakfast by Laura and Adam from Solid Oral Care for...
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Celebrating 20 Years of Student Startups in Ōtepoti
Earlier this month, Startup Dunedin gathered in the University of Otago Business School to celebrate a pretty special...
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Starting up the second time with Jonny Mirkin.

Jonny Mirkin joined one of our Founders’ Breakfasts late last year. A familiar name in...

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Business In A Box: An Otago Polytechnic & Startup Dunedin collab
A box of random items, a few hours of ideation and two days to make a business. A...