18 October 2018

A $50,000 contestable fund for new Dunedin business start-up initiatives has been launched by the Grow Dunedin Partnership and Enterprise Dunedin.

The Dunedin Ecosystem Support fund (DES), which opens on Friday 26 October, will invite applications that will further support start-up business in the city.

The fund will support projects which support start-up growth, build confidence and increase investment in start-ups, and develop opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

Enterprise Dunedin Economic Development Programme Manager, Fraser Liggett, said the DES fund will assist Dunedin in capitalising on its creative start-up culture.

“The main goals of the 2013-23 Dunedin Economic Development Strategy are to increase jobs and incomes. We believe that encouraging new ideas around business start-ups will help achieve these goals”.

Successful applicants will receive financial support to develop new initiatives between December 2018 and June 2019. The fund will be awarded in its entirety to one applicant, or in two equal sums.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of assessors from the business community and the Grow Dunedin Partnership.

The initiative is part of a $150,000 investment agreed by the Dunedin City Council Economic Development Committee in September this year to support the development of the local start-up ecosystem during 2018 and 2019.

Applications open on 26 October 2018 and close on 16 November at 5 PM. For more information please contact Chanel O’Brien on 477 4000.

To apply please go to www.dunedin.govt.nz/des-fund

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