Greymouth CO.STARTERS Celebrate

Congratulations to the newest cohort of CO.STARTERS graduates.

Business pitches, product sampling and collaboration marked the recent celebration night in Greymouth for the participants of DWC's CO.STARTERS programme.

CO.STARTERS is a 10-week business start-up and development programme that equips aspiring entrepreneurs with 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 Hannah Fitzgibbon and Zane Smith, along with weekly guest speakers from the local business community.

Rachel Doolan, DWC programme co-ordinator, was impressed with the level of community support for the programme.

"It's fantastic to see members of the Greymouth business community giving their time to come and share knowledge and inspiration with these budding entrepreneurs."

Anna-Marie Bell, Wild for Knots, and Claire van der Plas, Chili Garden, won prizes for valuable customer interactions and research during the programme. At the end of celebration night, Lisa Hamker was awarded "best pitch" for the presentation on her business Rewanui Animal Park.

The celebration event was catered by one of the programme's graduates, Lisa Winter from the MASH Mobile Mess Tent.

Ms Winter said the CO.STARTERS programmed shared lots of knowledge and insight. The guest speakers who came along were also very good and informative. I would recommend CO.STARTERS to anybody. Anyone in business already of anyone wanting to diversify their current business. Or anyone that's thinking of starting . . . it's so well worth it."