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9. Attend Electrify Aotearoa 2025 (Main Conference Day)

Date: 2025-06-08
Status: Accepted
Tags: community, events, startup, funding, networking

Context

StartMeUp.nz is a mission-driven initiative focused on supporting ethical, sustainable, and open startup infrastructure. As part of ecosystem engagement, attending relevant events provides valuable connections, inspiration, and strategic visibility.

Electrify Aotearoa 2025 is a two-day conference focused on empowering women founders in Aotearoa. It is powered by the Ministry of Awesome—who also run the Founder Catalyst program that StartMeUp.nz has applied to—and features over 500 participants, including founders, investors, and startup champions.

The Main Conference Day (Wed 25 June) costs $286.35 NZD (inc GST). The Two-Day Pass is sold out. The following day, the Aurora Climate Lab Summit (26 June) is available for free to Startup Weekend participants (including myself).

Decision

We will purchase a ticket to attend the Main Conference Day of Electrify Aotearoa 2025 on 25 June at the cost of $249 NZD (excl. GST).

Rationale

  • 🧩 Strategic Networking:
    Speakers include:
  • Janine Grainger (Easy Crypto) – of interest as a customer
  • Jenny Douché (Callaghan Innovation) – former Startup Weekend judge; speaking on funding post-Callaghan

  • Representatives from Ministry of Awesome – aligned with the Founder Catalyst application

  • 🔁 Ecosystem Continuity:
    The event is hosted by an organization we’ve already engaged with. Attending builds credibility and strengthens those early ties.

  • 🎯 Mission-Aligned Content:
    Topics directly support our goals as a founder-led tech initiative, including:

  • Brand storytelling
  • Financial models for early-stage startups
  • Customer discovery and early validation

  • Sales and funding insights

  • 🚀 Amplifies Visibility Before Aurora:
    The free Climate Tech Summit occurs the next day. This gives us a back-to-back presence in Wellington’s startup scene during a high-activity week.

  • 🔍 Commitment to Open Practice:
    Logging this decision publicly reflects our values of transparency and community-first development.

Consequences

  • $249 NZD (plus GST) is allocated from the operating budget.
  • Follow-up report or reflections to be posted post-event (blog post to be written)
  • Internal CRM notes and follow ups post event