Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand, with the interview available as both audio and a transcribed excerpt.
Connections can be the difference between ventures taking off or stalling. Having the right network, introductions, access to funding, experience, even sharing suppliers, all these things may seem to be a matter of luck or environment, but they don’t have to be. We’re a small country with limited resources, so it is vitally important we make the most of what we have, and if we look to other small advanced economies, there are actually ways to foster and grow these connections. Ireland and Israel both have programmes designed to spur more interaction, collaboration, connection and growth, both run in part by the government and both very successful. These programmes were the inspiration for Scale-Up NZ a new Callaghan Innovation backed platform to get more happening between the innovation ecosystem. What do all these words mean, how exactly does it work, and how can you get involved? Well to talk these questions over we have Rosie Spragg, project lead for Scale-Up NZ and Craig Simpson, a many times over entrepreneur, working in data science blockchain and solar energy, who share with us the benefit for the industry.