Around 50 people attended the Co.Starters celebration night at EPIC Kawatiri Westport on Tuesday night.
Co.Starters is a nine-week business start-up and development programme that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with the insights, relationships and tools needed to turn business ideas into action.
The recent graduating class included a range of established and soon-to-open businesses. The group was supported by facilitators Tash Barnes-Dellaca and Daniel Reynolds, along with weekly guest speakers from the local business community.
DWC’s Programme Co-ordinator Rachel Doolan was impressed with the level of community support for the programme.
“It’s fantastic to see members of the Westport business community giving their time to come share knowledge and inspiration with these budding entrepreneurs.”
At the end of the celebration night the audience were asked to vote for the ‘best pitch’ and the graduates voted on the ‘most improved participant’.
Tania Reynolds took home the prize for best pitch of the night on her business Little Rock NZ, while Dylan Hartley, Devise Woodworks, won the prize for most improved participant and Emily Jeffries, Flowers of Eden, won the prize for most customer interactions.
The event was catered by two of the programme’s past graduates – Hopaholics Brewery and Johnny’s.
“Thank you to the many award sponsors for donating such generous prizes and the guest speakers who shared their experiences in business over the course of the programme,” Ms Doolan said.
Tania Reynolds, Little Rock NZ (credit: Jules Anderson)