Jak de Kort-Martyn
Trail Sale- Summer Startup 2024/25
After finishing his Bachelor of Laws in 2025 Jak and his partner Ve are now working fulltime on their startup Trail Sale.
Trail Sale specializes in providing a diverse range of food options for outdoor enthusiasts, expeditionists and Te Araroa trail walkers. Our mission is simple: to make it easier for people to enjoy outdoor experiences by offering convenient and affordable food solutions for those eager to spend time outside.
We purchase, pack, and deliver food parcels to any location in New Zealand, saving our customers the hassle of organizing supplies for their journeys. Our store consolidates all the essential foods needed for adventures, including dehydrated adventure meals from top brands like Radix, Backcountry Cuisine, and Real Meals.
Unlike small town stores along the trail that often have limited options and high prices, Trail Sale offers a wide variety of food items at prices comparable to supermarkets in large cities. Whether you’re gluten-free, vegan, or have other dietary requirements, we’ve got you covered.
Our experienced team understands the challenges of long-distance adventures, having pursued numerous outdoor missions including the Te Araroa trail. We provide personalized assistance to ensure that your food parcels are ready for pickup at a location of your choice, whether it’s on the trail or at your doorstep before your journey begins.
Jade Luxton
Sterineedle- Summer Startup 2024/25
Jade founded Sterineedle as part of a high school agri-business program in 2022 since then she has gone on to have huge sucesses in university business competitions as well as attending New Zealand National Field Days.
The concept for Sterineedle emerged when a deer farmer shared the tedious challenges of frequently changing needles or disinfecting them while velveting. This led us to realise that a practical solution to this problem didn’t exist in the market.
Jade is now studying a Bachelor of Product Design in Industrial Design at UC and is expecting to graduate in 2026. Jade competed in the Entre Enterprise Challenge in 2024 taking away first place honours and earning herself a spot in the 2024/2025 Summer Start Up Program where she took home Best Overall Ventre and Best Presentation.
Acomplishments
2022 Fieldays Young Innovation Award
Entre Enterprise Challenge - 1st Place
UCE Summer Startup Program - Best Overal Venture and Best Presentation
Christchurch Foundation Womens Entrepreneurship Fund Recipient ($10,000)
Kiwinet Momentum Student Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist
Read more about Jade and Sterineedle in this Farmers Weekly Article
Emmalee Abbott Joe
FROTH - Summer Startup 2024/25
Travelling with shampoo and conditioner can be fraught with challenges - the bottles are added weight, difficult to take in carry-on, and the vision of soapy, gooey liquid throughout your luggage doesn’t bear thinking about. But an innovative Kiwi has developed a solution.
The tablets, designed to replace haircare in liquid and bar forms, are stacked in a cylindrical paper roll, and come in refillable Berocca-type tubes.
Currently studying a joint degree in chemical formulation design and marketing at the University of Canterbury, Abbott-Joe has been making inroads into the product since last year, gaining inspiration while backpacking across South East Asia.
There were a number of disadvantages to travelling with traditional haircare products, she said, including spillage and the weight. The travel-size bottles also ran out quickly and needed to be replaced, while the empty ones were thrown into landfill.
Acomplishments
Christchurch Foundation Womens Entrepreneurship Grant ($10,000)
Red Bull Basement International top 10 (read about it here)
Kiwinet Momentum Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 Finalist
Read more about Emmalee and FROTH in this Idealog article
Emma Arvidson & Renee Tauwhare
Teiny - Summer Startup 2023/24
At Teiny, we believe that we can make true impact in the world with your help. We're combining the nutrition of dairy with the sustainability of plant-based milk to create a protein-rich oat milk powder, perfect for health-conscious consumers. We're on a mission to redefine the milk industry in Aotearoa, addressing environmental concerns, nutritional values, and packaging waste, while delivering a delicious taste and texture experience. Choosing Teiny means choosing a sustainable future for your health and the planet.
The name Teiny, pronounced "Teeny" is a fun play on the spelling of protein, paired with our desire to make a smaller impact on our environment. Founders Emma and Renee, lifelong friends, bring personal passion to the business. Emma’s health challenges and Renee’s commitment to vegetarianism have shown them the importance of essential nutrients and sustainability.
Acomplishments
Friends and family raise - $250,000
Kiwinet Momentum Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 (Read about it here)
Monique Lau
Endosoothe - Summer Startup 2022/23
For seven years, doctors told me to “just suck it up”. That heavy periods, unbearable cramps, and nausea were just some of the many problems that women had to endure. That it was normal.
And so, I trudged through countless pain relief and hormonal medications, but was only met with additional health problems and side effects. It wasn't until I turned 21 that I was diagnosed with endometriosis and received a surgical laparoscopy. I was frustrated.
Through my pain and experiences, I created Endosoothe. A brand born from a simple yet resounding mission, to empower and educate. Together, we are redefining menstrual care, one step at a time through products that are inclusive and informative. Because no one deserves to go through what I went through — period.
Acomplishments
Kiwinet Momentum Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2023
Jack Carrick & Tom McGuinness
Nailed It Nutrition - Summer Startup 2022/23
It all began with an idea in the gym, where Tom, Jack, and Tom found themselves immersed in a discussion about the persistent issues they faced with Whey protein, notably its impact on their skin and stomach. The available alternative, plant protein powder, presented its own set of challenges, notably an unappealing chalky and grainy texture that made it a reluctant daily drink.
"Surely we aren't the only ones," they said. And indeed, they weren’t. Many others were on a constant hunt for a good tasting plant protein. This shared struggle sparked a determination in them to create a revolutionary change in the plant protein world. Their vision was clear: formulate a delicious, effective, and nourishing plant protein powder that catered to people from all walks of life.
The journey was far from smooth. Balancing University with the demands of starting a business was a tough job. Long nights, endless research, and countless hours of brainstorming became a ritual. From the help of expert food technologists, they tested potential formulas for a long time. Feedback from potential customers of various ages and genders was gained over this time which was very valuable, ensuring the product was loved as much by others as it was by them. The feedback was common for both flavours: they had Nailed It.
So, 2 years later.... with recipes perfected and confidence in their stride, they were ready to introduce their creations to the world.
Join us on our journey, as we have more exciting products coming.
Alli Kennedy
Sharnanigans - Summer Startup 2021/22
Alli’s journey of creating Sharenanigans began based on her own personal experiences. She wasn't taught about investing in school or by her parents. By the time she was introduced to investing, she had created perceived barriers leading her to believe she didn’t fit the ‘mould’ of who you need to be to invest.
Alli quickly realised too many others were in the same boat. The game provides an engaging way for families to learn about investing together, making it accessible and fun for all.
While at the University of Canterbury, Alli began working on the concept. Originally starting as an app, Sharenanigans quickly shifted to a board game format for great family collaboration, faster development and greater creative control.
This decision proved crucial, allowing for rapid prototyping and iteration, along with a much greater attractiveness to families. The result is a game that brings family and friends together, to highlight key investment principles through play, encouraging players to make smart financial decisions based on market conditions and goals.
Partnering with Pete and Clive from Be Better Group and owners of Antony and Mates, Allis’s drawings on cardboard were turned into a game that looked as fun as it is to play.
Sharenanigans is now ready to become the game for future generations, in households across NZ and Beyond.
Ben Scales & William Murray
Kiwifibre - Summer Startup 2020/21
We can learn a lot from nature; scale, strength and harmony.
That's why KiwiFibre is Reinforced by Nature.
KiwiFibre was established in 2020 as a result of a university group project that will never finish. Founders William and Ben met at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, with a mutual interest in designing and making things. Frustrated with fibreglass and inspired by the strength of nature from their childhoods building treehouses, they set out to blend nature and engineering to solve significant problems the world is facing. As they gained a deeper understanding of the human, technical and environmental problems of the composites industry, the idea of using natural fibres in composite applications was a no brainer.
KiwiFibre was born, out of a love for creating things, and a desire to solve problems for Aotearoa New Zealand and the world.
Luke Campbell & Lucy Turner
VXT - Summer Startup 2019/20
VXT started in 2018 when two University of Canterbury students, Luke Campbell and Lucy Turner, set out to make communication easier for professionals and organisations alike.
Today, VXT is all about helping businesses save time and reduce hassle with our phone system and contact management tools. We’re a young, driven team passionate about making communication simpler and more effective for everyone. We’re just getting started, and we’re excited to keep growing with you.
Ron Park
Kōrure - Summer Startup 2018/19
Kōrure’s founder, Ron has been a health food enthusiast as long as he could remember. His mother has been a big believer in “What you put in is what you get out” and encouraged him and his family to lead a healthy diet.
The day Ron learnt the fact that 90% of fish population are unsustainably fished, he began his search for alternative source for fish. Also, as a big fan of fish oil and omega-3 supplements, he sought to find an alternative source for fish oil supplements.
This is when he discovered green lipped mussel oil. He now calls mussel oil, 'fish oil on steroids'.
Jack Wood & Chris Bacon
Komodo Wellbeing - Summer Startup 2018/19
At Komodo, we’re on a mission that we’re pretty honoured to have. We work with the most inspiring schools across the globe to enable them with a wellbeing-first approach.
All the work we do on a daily basis contributes to the wellbeing of students - whether it be the code we write, the customer support we provide or the psychology we embed within our product, it all goes toward impacting the lives of young students.
In some instances it prevents a child from being bullied, in others it highlights someone in need of academic support. Overall, our work aims to help schools become a safer, happier place for all.
By ensuring all schools worldwide have access and love for our product, we allow our team the ability to help shape and support the next generation.
The same mission and drive we have for our product is mirrored in how we operate our day-to-day for our people: we are a people-first organisation that focuses on allowing our employees to become the healthiest and happiest version of themselves they can be.
Oliver Hunt
Medsalv - Summer Startup 2017/18
Born with the single purpose of making healthcare more sustainable; we’re helping the health system care for the planet as well as the people on it.
We’ve remained relentless in our pursuit as we continue to tackle the escalating environmental and financial waste generated in the health sector.
