Entries due Monday 15 May, 12pm
Could you win $1,000?
What do I need to do?
You may have an idea to solve: a social issue, an environmental problem, exploit a market opportunity or even one based on university research.
Create an entry totalling 1,000 words to showcase your idea. We’ve prepared a template below so you know just what we’re looking for. Our judges will then decide the ones displaying the potential to fly — and to award $1,000, no strings attached. You can use the prize money to advance your idea and make it a reality, or spend it any way you’d like.
The Rules
A full set of the Velocity Challenge rules can be downloaded below. It is very important that these are read and clearly understood.
Judging Process
We have multiple prizes available for ideas related to social, environmental or economic ventures. We’ve asked industry experts to be our judges. Your entry will be read by at least two experts from the entrepreneurial ecosystem who form a judging group. We also have an experienced moderating panel to read every entry so we can ensure rating consistency across the judging groups. We then gather the judging groups together to decide the best entries in each prize category. Win or not, the judges are on hand at a feedback session to help you develop your innovation further.
Prize Categories
Social
Ideas that contribute to equality (social justice, peace, promoting diversity), quality of living (access to healthcare, education, community development, reducing poverty), and cultural sustainability and heritage.
Environmental
Ideas that protect the environment by reducing risks and/or measuring the environmental impacts to land, water, air, natural resources, and wildlife.
Economic
Ideas that contribute to economic growth and development, industry, innovation and infrastructure.
Specialty Prizes:
The specialty prizes can be awarded to entries from any of the three categories. Make sure you tick the box next to the specialty prize in the Good Grants platform when you enter and you’ll be given the chance to elaborate on why your idea is relevant to that prize.
- Medtech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau: For an idea using technology to address New Zealand’s healthcare needs including the gap in health literacy.
- Ngā Ara Whetū: For an idea that addresses an environmental problem (climate, biodiversity and/or community) by supporting Vision Mātauranga (unlocking the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources, and people).
- Sustainable Development Goals: If your idea helps advance a solution for one (or many) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, then you also qualify for one of the UNSDG prizes.
Why Enter?
Feedback
You’re able to receive tailored feedback for your idea from our esteemed panel of judges — whether you win or not!
Funding
Win $1,000 to acelerate your idea, or spend it any way you like.
Experience
Come together with friends, build your very own venture, and make an impact on our world
Help & Inspiration
Are you stuck? Need some valuable one on one feedback and advice? Look no further, because the Ideas Challenge Drop-In Clinics are here to help.
The clinics are your opportunity to meet face to face with one of our awesome Velocity committee members, and discuss your entry to give yourself the best chance to craft a world-class submission for the challenge.
Clinics will run on Wednesday 26 April – Friday 28 April, 10am – 2pm.
Register below:
Do you need help coming up with ideas that could win you a $1000? Fill in this template to get those creative juices flowing.
Step 1: What is a problem you have faced in the past week/month ?
Staying at home means that I don’t exercise as much as I used to.
Step 2: How is that problem being solved right now ?
Online tutorials for workouts at home are available on Youtube and other MOOC websites.
Step 3: How can you solve that better ?
These online courses feel generic and cater to everyone, but I would like workouts and a plan catered to my personal requirements. Therefore I can have an app that asks for age, gender, height, weight, and goal requirements, and through liaising with professionals, generates a plan suited for me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone enter?
Yes, as long as a core member of your team is a current University of Auckland student or staff member, anyone can enter.
You can enter as a team or individually and best of all it’s free.
What are the judges looking for?
PDF File of the judges critera: JUDGING GUIDELINES
How are the prizes paid?
We will deposit the winnings into the bank account of the team lead. To do this, we will ask you for your bank account details the day after the Awards Ceremony. It will typically take about 4 weeks to get the funds into your account.
How do I qualify for a prize?
—This competition has three different prizes categories – Economic, Environmental, and Social. Plus, this year we offer five prizes which contribute to solving the UNSDGs, Medtech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau or Ngā Ara Whetū.
Social / Environmental / Economic Categories
When you enter the Challenge, you select if this entry solves a Social, Environmental or a Economic problem. There are multiple $1,000 prizes up for grabs in each category.
Social
Ideas that contribute to equality (social justice, peace, promoting diversity), quality of living (access to healthcare, education, community development, reducing poverty), and cultural sustainability and heritage.
Environmental
Ideas that protect the environment by reducing risks and/or measuring the environmental impacts to land, water, air, natural resources, and wildlife.
Economic
Ideas that contribute to economic growth and development, industry, innovation and infrastructure.
Specialty Prizes:
The specialty prizes can be awarded to entries from any of the three categories. Make sure you tick the box next to the specialty prize in the Good Grants platform when you enter and you’ll be given the chance to elaborate on why your idea is relevant to that prize.
- Medtech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau: For an idea using technology to address New Zealand’s healthcare needs including the gap in health literacy.
- Ngā Ara Whetū: For an idea that addresses an environmental problem (climate, biodiversity and/or community) by supporting Vision Mātauranga (unlocking the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources, and people).
- Sustainable Development Goals: If your idea helps advance a solution for one (or many) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, then you also qualify for one of the UNSDG prizes.
What faculty do I have to be a part of to enter?
The Ideas challenge is open to everyone, from every faculty. We are looking for awesome and innovative ideas first and foremost, and we know these can come from anywhere.
I don’t have anything to show for my idea. Can I still enter and have a shot at winning?
Of course! One of our core aims at Velocity is “turning your first class ideas into world class businesses”. We expect early-stage ideas and don’t need to see fully functional prototypes. We just need to hear about the idea!
Where can I get help on my idea?
We are running several help sessions online ranging from dial-in support sessions to Ideas Challenge workshops, available online and in-person. See the “Help and Inspiration” section above for more information. You’re also very welcome to get in touch with us on social media @velocityuoa, or via email: admin@velocity.auckland.ac.nz
When are the Velocity Pop In Clinic sessions?
Are you stuck? Need some valuable one on one feedback and advice? Look no further, because the Ideas Challenge Drop-In Clinics are here to help.
The clinics are your opportunity to meet face to face with one of our awesome Velocity committee members, and discuss your entry to give yourself the best chance to craft a world-class submission for the challenge.
Clinics will run on Wednesday 26 April – Friday 28 April, 10am – 2pm.
Register below:
Will there be a tips and tricks workshop this year?
Ideas Unleashed: Weekend Workshop will be on 5 May – 7 May 2023!
You can sign up here!
Where can I get more information on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG)?
17 Goals to Transform Our World
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a call for action by all countries – poor, rich and middle-income – to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
Learn more about the UNSDG here.
Questions? We’re happy to help!