ecentre makes it easier to become an entrepreneur

ecentre, the business innovation centre at Massey University, wants to make it possible for anyone to become an entrepreneur. It is introducing three different levels of its ecentreSprint market validation programme to make entrepreneurship more accessible, especially for those in the early stages of developing a business.

“You might have an idea yourself, or you want to acquire the skills needed to turn an idea into a successful, global venture. We want people to see that entrepreneurship can be a lifetime career path, with opportunities for real contribution to New Zealand’s economy,” says ecentreSprint Programme manager Sabrina Nagel. “That’s why we’re creating a step change and opening up the world of entrepreneurship.”

Entrepreneurs in the early stages often have to juggle a full-time job while investigating a business opportunity. The risk of quitting the job to focus on the venture is often not feasible. Additional hurdles can be the cost of joining an incubator or paying for mentorship, making a full-time commitment to the new business idea, and not knowing where to start.

Ms Nagel has looked at incubation models overseas in both Germany and San Francisco and this has influenced the programme’s global perspective. After running the ecentreSprint programme for almost two years, ecentre knows what support entrepreneurs need, and is filling the gap. 

“We wanted to remove the biggest hurdles of high cost and full-time commitment,” says MsNagel. 

There are three programme levels under ecentreSprint, each catering to entrepreneurs at different stages, or with different needs. For just $300 per month, aspiring entrepreneurs get four hours per week of valuable tutorials and workshops to start working on their idea. As part of a group of like-minded entrepreneurs they get access to ecentre networks and Massey University expertise. 

For entrepreneurs who want to progress their idea more quickly and benefit from the very experienced mentors and coaches involved in the ecentreSprint programme, there are two Elite versions of the programme. These include one-on-one coaching sessions, and allow businesses to be based out of ecentre.

“We really want to have an impact on New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem. Growing the entrepreneur’s capabilities is a lot harder than taking a business opportunity and matching it with experienced people to turn it into a successful business,” says ecentre chief executive Steve Corbett. “But if we can develop entrepreneurial skills, there will be more benefits for the economy and the individual entrepreneurs,”

“As the late Sir Paul Callaghan used to say, ‘In order to grow big trees we have to support the small ones as part of the ecosystem. In order to build high-tech companies, we have to support the grass roots.’ This is exactly where ecentre, a not-for-profit organisation, should sit.

“If you have been considering entrepreneurship as a career, talk to us at ecentre. Not everyone who joins ecentre’s programmes will pursue their idea, but you will learn invaluable skills which you can use for the rest of your life.”