The Entrepreneur Development Programme
The Entrepreneur Development Programme was launched in 2008 in response to a market shortage of entrepreneurs willing and able to create high growth businesses in New Zealand. Within six months of launching the programme, Upstart was nominated as a finalist in the Vero Excellence in Business Support Awards in the Education Category, based on the strength and innovation of the programme.
Participants are selected based on:
- Their entrepreneurial characteristics.
- Their passion and drive.
- Their desire and potential to create and lead a high growth business.
It is common for participants to have some tertiary business or entrepreneurship qualifications, and to have previously owned their own business.
During the two year full time programme, participants will have the opportunity to work with up to 10 incubator clients at various stages of development with the guidance and support of senior client managers.
Benefits of the Entrepreneur Development Programme
For Participants:
- Fully customised, personalised and managed “hands on” learning programme.
- Access to new technologies and ideas from which to grow their own business.
- Grow the size of their business networks/connections to business partners.
- Smooths the transition into high growth business.
- Business guidance and support from experts in their fields.
For Incubator Clients:
- Additional resources to help them grow bigger, faster.
- Different perspectives.
- Opportunities to leverage their platform technologies into new businesses providing additional income streams.
The Community:
- Creation of new high-growth businesses in the community increases jobs and the wealth of the local economy and New Zealand.
If you would like to find out more about the Entrepreneur Development Programme, please email for more information.
Upstart also welcomes the opportunity to speak with students who are happy to volunteer their time and knowledge in exchange for work experience in high growth companies.
Upstart thanks sponsors and contributors to the Entrepreneur Development Programme:
