MWDI and PledgeMe launch indigenous crowdfunding platform

Māori Women’s Development Inc (MWDI) and PledgeMe have joined forces and are excited to launch their new crowdfunding platform - Tā Koha.

Tā Koha supports Māori business and social ventures to utilise the power of their ‘crowd’, whanau or supporters to fund the kaupapa they care most about.
MWDI CEO, Teresa Tepania-Ashton, says “Tā Koha is a gateway for tangata whenua to learn about the fundamentals of crowdfunding.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our people to learn how to maximise this platform for the benefit of their own whanau and community.”

Tā Koha is the first crowdfunding platform designed specifically for Māori entrepreneurs. An online ‘marae’ training portal has been developed and includes modules with video, quizzes and practical tasks to assist all ventures to construct a successful campaign.

PledgeMe CEO, Anna Guenther, says “Tā Koha is about supporting Māori entrepreneurs to use the power of their crowd to fund the things they care about within their community.

Our PledgeMe team realised that although we had supported over 1,200 campaigns and raised over $27 million dollars, there were not enough Māori actively or equitably participating in this form of community wealth generation.”

Tā Koha will be the first indigenous crowdfunding programme to be launched globally. It will be supported by Government under the He Kai Kei Aku Ringa fund and attended by the Minister for Māori Development, Hon. Nanaia Mahuta.

The night will launch 11 varied and exciting ventures from eco fibre eye lashes to delicious Kiwi kai, eco-tourism and visual reality technology linking individuals to their tribal homelands from anywhere in the world.

Māori Women’s Development Inc, PledgeMe and the leaders of the inaugural campaigns will be in attendance to launch this amazing new platform.

The Ventures

Seecom – empowering multiple communities through sign language
Stay Native – a unique indigenous Air BNB experience
Moka – Eco-fibre lashes made from possum fur
Flo Clothing – a buy a clothing piece, give one experience for young children and teenagers in need
Stay Connected – a powered network for women to access opportunities in life and enterprise
Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust – developing an elder friendly facility for Kuia and Kaumatua
Tolaga Bay Inn – an eco-tourism and enterprise hub on the East Coast
Ngahere Communities - Manukau’s first Coworking, Events and Maker Space
Kirehu Creative a VR/AR company specialising in connecting individuals to their tribal homelands using technology
Kiwi Kai – Beautiful steam puddings – crafted just as your Nanny would make them
Whenua Warrior – supporting more families to grow their own food – starting with one garden at a time.
Launch Event

Haere Mai! To attend this event and see what these exciting campaigns have to offer their communities, RSVP your attendance at https://takohalaunch.splashthat.com/

The event will be hosted by MWDI and PledgeMe on the 30th August, 6PM till 8PM at Te Haa o Manukau, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau, Auckland.

ENDS

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