The brains behind 18 startups met Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown at the University of Auckland this morning.
The innovators behind 18 startups met Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown at the University of Auckland this morning.
The event was part of Auckland Council’s 100 Days of Startups campaign, celebrating companies that are creating solutions for the future.
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is connected with more than half of the startups featured in the campaign.
At the City Campus, the Mayor received a look-alike bobblehead doll, which students Ahil Hussain and Rosanna Whyte created in the Unleash Space, Kura Matahuna, using AI and 3D printing.
“I guess that’s supposed to look like me,” he said of the spitting-image doll.
Unleash Space, run by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), helps students and staff develop entrepreneurial skills, build prototypes and transform bright ideas into successful ventures.
CIE alumni have launched hundreds of ventures, created thousands of jobs and raised more than $8.2 billion in capital over the past 23 years.
At the City Campus, Brown met the innovators behind:
• Alimetry, which has developed wearable technology to improve the diagnosis of chronic stomach disorders.
• Gaiatech, which has invented a machine that captures and safely disposes of waste anaesthetic gases that would otherwise be harmful to the atmosphere.
• Mushroom Material, which offers a new type of environmentally friendly packaging from mycelium and agricultural waste.
• TrueSilence Therapeutics, which provides a new approach to tinnitus treatment.
• ISpyNits, which uses UV Glo-Powder to light up headlice and offers a lotion to kill live lice.
• Hyades, which is building a platform that transforms complex datasets from satellite imagery and radar into spatial machine learning models.
The mayor enjoyed a hot pie from a PieBot created by WM Robotics – and suggested the inventors should offer the pie vending machine to pubs.
Brown then visited Newmarket Innovation Precinct, which provides co-working and laboratory spaces for startups and helps companies connect with University researchers.
Since 2023, Newmarket Innovation Precinct has been home to 66 companies that have created more than 269 jobs and internships.
At Newmarket Campus, the Mayor met the innovators behind:
• Opum Technologies Services, which is developing wearable sensors and a medical device.
• RossOps, a cutting-edge AI platform that helps manufacturing teams capture and act on operational knowledge for increased productivity.
• TesAcha, which is developing innovative thermal energy storage systems.
• Shoal, which empowers communities to make informed energy decisions.
• RosterLab, which offers AI rostering software.
• Frond Space Systems, which provides de-orbiting solutions for a more sustainably managed space sector.
• Opo Bio, which produces the high-performing collagen for cosmetic and medical applications.
• Weather Radar NZ, which delivers weather and climate monitoring and research services.
• Revive Our Gulf, which is delivering innovative projects to restore mussel reefs in the Hauraki Gulf.
• Phasefoam, which is developing advanced cooling solutions for cold chain and building industries.
• Geo Vantage, which uses gossamer structure solar photovoltaic film to carry payloads on unmanned aircraft.
For 100 Days of Startups, the council will shine a spotlight on a different startup every day for 100 days, culminating in Auckland Startup Week from 12 to 16 October.
The University’s research, growth and commercialisation arm, UniServices, is a foundation partner for Auckland Startup Week.
