Chch's Ministry of Awesome offers startup exchanges in Australia

Christchurch-based Ministry of Awesome is partnering with The Business Centre in Australia to offer Canterbury startups a connection to New South Wales and the Australian market.

The partnership will open doors in New South Wales' Hunter region, specifically in Newcastle where The Business Centre is based. The centre is an 'innovation hub' for Australian startups and developers.

Hunter region startups also get the opportunity to spend one month at Ara Institute of Canterbury's Te Ōhaka – Centre for Growth - Innovation.

All participating startups in Australia and New Zealand will gain access to mentoring, networks, peer-to-peer training and opportunities to build partnerships.  At the end of the exchange, they will participate in an EY Sydney pitch night.

Business Centre CEO Steve Wait says that Christchurch and Newcastle have a lot in common, like the experiences of renewal following adversity.

"Newcastle's regrowth, following its 1989 earthquake and the closure of its steelworks, demonstrates our two resilient communities have a shared experience of regrowth, renewal and self-reliance," he says.

"Both cities have chosen a path of innovation and exploration to develop new ideas and ventures. It's a logical progression that we work together. In the spirit of collaboration, we hope to not only exchange ideas, methodologies, networks and entrepreneurial processes but more importantly partnerships.

Ministry of Awesome says that it's the starting point for entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators in Christchurch.

Along with Ara Institute of Canterbury, it is a founding partner of Te Ōhaka – Centre for Growth - Innovation, which is Canterbury's high-growth startup incubation hub. Currently, it is home to a first cohort of 20 early stage startups.

Ministry of Awesome CEO Marian Johnson points out that Christchurch is New Zealand's newest city, and its innovation community is rolling out the red carpet to support entrepreneurs with ambition, capability, and ideas.

"We offer local connectivity to all our high growth startups and we are over the moon to now be able to offer global connectivity with our like-minded colleagues across the Tasman at The Business Centre," Johnson says.

Startups or scaleups, who are interested in participating in a one month exchange to Australia should contact Ministry of Awesome at Te Ōhaka Centre for Growth - Innovation.

Ministry of Awesome describes itself as, "The starting point for entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators in Christchurch. We deliver the support, guidance, capability training, and networks entrepreneurs need to succeed.