kiaora@standtall.nz
The Young Enterprise Scheme has stirred up the entrepreneurial spirit within our next generation of change makers. Through establishing 24 new companies this year and continuously developing their businesses, these young entrepreneurs have truly made change happen
Should it be Environmental Sustainability, creating Safe and Resilient Communities, Wellbeing and Participation or Encouraging Kaupapa and Maori Outcomes all have stepped up creating impact and awareness one business idea at a time. The future looks bright for themselves, their whānau and our wider community.
YES Regional Finals and Awards: an outstanding night!
Six teams pitched and 13 teams in total received awards during the YES Western Bay of Plenty Regional Finals held on Wednesday 19th October 2022 at Club Mount Maunganui.
Teachers, mentors, whānau and supporters came together in celebration of a year’ s worth of business building. Showing up in true gala style, the evening created the opportunity to commend and acknowledge the growth of our young people and their innovative companies.
Judges Maria King (D-TX Group), Clare Swallow (Mulberryst) (Matt Watkins - One Earth Technology) and Liam Dickson (DG Capital) joined in for the night to assess the six pitches, give valuable feedback and decide on a Regional Winner.
Entrepreneur and Young Enterprise Schemes Rangatahi Navigator Aka "Rangatahi Energiser Officer (REO)" Seda Naden was the MC for the night with support from Ian Musson, Director of the Young Enterprise Scheme.
This year's finalists are:
Moore Treats (Otumoetai College) supporting the wellbeing of New Zealanders by creating a product motivating healthy eating with nutritious, diet-friendly and guilt free treats.
Thermofi (Aquinas College), addressing the challenge of keeping track of hydration by designing an innovative smart AI stainless steel drink bottle.
PHOTO
Eclips (Papamoa College) was created to really focus on environmental sustainability. The multi purpose item holders, specifically for the purpose of sunglasses, masks and merging into phone holders, are individually homemade whilst ensuring that all her materials were sourced at local charity shops which aligned with her U.V.P where her aim was to support local businesses and uphold an ecoconcious sustainable ecosystem.
PHOTO
Elan Beauty Masks (Aquinas College) has developed a natural beauty mask powder that customers mix with water to create a face mask paste. The purpose of this product, was to promote the idea to the adolescents within our community, the importance of adopting self care rituals without having to worry about the environmental effects- avoiding chemical reactions for sensitive skin.
Solid Solutions NZ (Otumoetai College) is a cleaning product company who have developed single used solid dishwashing tablets for the sink. Through the promotion of the message "take only what you need" they have shown environmental sustainability as it urges consumers to be less wasteful and more mindful of what they take away with them.
Maiband (Aquinas College), have created a smart technology medical I.D system that can efficiently transmit data to paramedics instantaneously through the use of NFC technology.
AWARDS
These awards acknowledge and commend the following teams:
Best Product Presentation - Runner up: Sustainabag, Te Puke High School
Best Product Presentation - Winner: Moore Treats, Outumoetai College
Financial Management Award - Runner up: Backstitch, Otumoetai College
Financial Management Award - Winner: Elan Beauty Masks, Aquinas College
Teamwork Award - Runner up: Tradies Tradie, Whakatane High School
Teamwork Award - Winner: Sustainabag, Te Puke High School
Innovation Award - Runner up: Solid Solutions NZ, Otumoetai College
Innovation Award - Winner: Maiband, Aquinas College
Community Benefit Award - Runner up: Eclips, Papamoa College
Community Benefit Award - Winner: Solid Solutions NZ
Biggest Contributor - Winner: Moore Treats, Outumoetai College
WBOP Entrepreneur of the Year - Winner:Seth Turner, Organica Skicare, Otumoetai College
And the YES Western Bay of Plenty Regional Champions are....
Runner up.... drum roll...
Solid Solutions NZ, Otumoetai College! The judges were impressed by the environmental principles they have chosen to support by creating an eco friendly single use dishwashing tablet. Encouraging our community to become more eco conscious and reduce waste to the landfill. 
And the Regional winner is…
Maiband, Aquinas College! They delivered an exceptional pitch and reassured the judges that they are the team to combat the accessibility problems within the health care sector. Maiband has earned their place and will be representing our region at the YES National Finals in Wellington on 6 December. 
Thank You to our regional sponsors Baytrust, Tauranga City Council and Toi-Ohomai-Te Pūkenga for making this event possible and for their ongoing support of the YES programme in the Western Bay of Plenty.
YES Western Bay of Plenty is delivered by the Stand Tall Community Trust with Regional Coordinators Pascale Hyboud-Peron and Georgia Johnson.
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