Spark Lab kicks off Start-up Month for Kiwi SMEs

Spark Lab is returning to Auckland's Seafarers building this month, giving New Zealand business owners to collaborate and learn from industry leaders.

Spark Lab's focus for 2016 is on inspiring and enabling New Zealand business owners, and will kick it off with 'Start-up month', which runs through April.

Head of Business Marketing for Spark Home, Mobile and Business, Richard Sandford, says delivering events specifically for SMEs was a way of harnessing the creativity and collaborative ethos that Spark Lab was known for, while pairing it with practical business learning.

"The new format, starting with Start-up Month, will help us to zero-in on the things that are really going to help business people succeed," Sandford says.

Start-up Month will bring together 16 leading innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, and inventors across eight events, covering a range of topics that directly impact on business operations and results, he explains.

"As such, the events will be relevant to both those starting out, as well as those running more established companies," says Sandford.

For one of the events, Wendy Thompson, owner of social media marketing agency Socialites, will team up with Facebook's New Zealand managing director Spencer Bailey to discuss social media marketing.

"We know that SMEs struggle and are looking for truly useful content - I'm excited to be able to share knowledge and support New Zealand businesses that want to grow," Thompson says.

The sessions will be open to everyone and are free to attend, although spaces will be limited. Those interested can book tickets here.