Centrality Launches Tech Accelerator with Creative HQ

Centrality Launches Tech Accelerator with Creative HQ

The Centrality Accelerator will be powered by Creative HQ’s Lightning Lab

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – 4 October 2018 – Centrality, the New Zealand based blockchain venture studio has announced a new partnership with Creative HQ to deliver its blockchain focused Centrality Accelerator.

The companies will partner through Creative HQ’s Lightning Lab, New Zealand’s leading accelerator programme.

The programme, launching 12 October at the Auckland Blockworks conference, will give entrants access to practical support and services, mentorship and insights from some of the world’s top coaches and business minds. For Centrality, this means ventures in the Centrality Accelerator programme will be business-ready and trained for success.

Teams within the accelerator programme will also supported by PL^G, it will provide a standardised blockchain platform framework. PL^G will additionally provide sponsorship funding for teams.

The accelerator will be headed by Jeff Mann, Programme Director for Lightning Lab. Mann helped develop and run the first Auckland based Lightning Lab accelerator programme in 2016.

“Creative HQ has a proven track record in delivering start-up and early stage business accelerator programmes,” says Andy Higgs, General Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Centrality. “We’re delighted to bring on Jeff to helm the programme, he’s a Lightning Lab original and the perfect person for marrying what Centrality and Creative HQ do best.”

“The combination of Lightning Lab’s proven programme with the Centrality platform infrastructure, marketplace and funding network provides a compelling alternative to traditional VC and accelerator services. We get to focus on blockchain technologies, and they get to focus on founder development and building successful start-ups.”

Under the agreement Creative HQ will deliver Centrality Accelerator powered by Lightning Lab. The incubator will co-develop decentralised training modules for other Lightning Lab programmes and work towards a Lighting Lab Blockchain programme. Creative HQ will also deliver management and business coaching for those within the accelerator.

“New Zealand is poised to be a hotbed for decentralised solutions in both the public and private sectors,” said Brett Holland, Head of Acceleration, Lightning Lab. “There is enormous potential to take a leadership role by demonstrating how we build fair, socially conscious, inclusive solutions. Our aim is to help Centrality launch decentralised solutions for fintech, govtech, tourism, and in other sector specific fields.”

Those who become part of the Lightning Lab delivered programme will work within Centrality’s headquarters, giving them a physical space to develop technologies as well as access to Centrality’s leadership team. Additionally, Centrality will provide the technical expertise using PL^G’s blockchain infrastructure.

“The people at PL^G are building production-ready blockchain systems that utilise blockchain as a layer in the tech stack. The internet took time to standardise so businesses could easily use it, PL^G is doing this with blockchain making it a critical partner for this accelerator programme,” added Higgs.

You can find a video about the accelerator here: https://app.wipster.io/Review/CSnMFQDzpKpZS0goX7QpflqNPojAF1VY5LWI1QzhZ_-i8MxkGQ.

ENDS

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