The Startup Business Award recognises the challenges new businesses and social enterprises face. The award acknowledges those that show courage, resilience and entrepreneurial qualities; that seize the opportunity to meet a gap in the market. This award is open to all businesses that have been operating for fewer than three years and are based in the Selwyn district.
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SWARM STUDIOS SELWYN
Swarm Studios Selwyn is Rolleston's first hip-hop-only dance studio, and after one year of trading, has seen 485% growth compared to the previous year. In February of 2022, Swarm Studio's Selwyn location in Rolleston opened its doors to the public. It is primarily a hip-hop dance studio, and its mission is to educate and motivate people to become the best version of themselves that they can be. The classes place an emphasis on strengthening technique that supports this style are one of our strongest offerings. It is dedicated to the values of inclusivity, creativity, respect, and love for every person.
ELITE STUDIOS
Elite Studios is a contemporary vocal and performing arts school based in Rolleston. It offers one on one weekly singing lessons to children and adults and also runs a weekly community adult rock choir called The Elite Collective. At the end of each term, a showcase is held to allow students to perform in front of friends and family. As well as teaching vocal techniques, Elite Studios encourages students to grow their confidence and become stronger and more self-assured individuals.
LIFESTYLE LAWNS ARTIFICIAL GRASS
Lifestyle Lawns Artificial Grass has just passed its first year in business installing and supplying artificial grass throughout Selwyn and Christchurch. The company has taken an innovative approach to artificial grass by prioritising environmental sustainability, using eco-friendly and fully recyclable products and materials. A combination of high quality products and excellent customer service has led to incredible Google reviews, and the team is proud of the progress made in just one year.
LINCOLN MEDIA LIMITED
Lincoln Media is a startup business in Lincoln, specialising in real estate photography and videography. The business provides a wide range of services to agents, builders and building companies in the region, including 3D property tours, virtual staging, and social media videography. Its primary focus is on the real estate industry and more than 1400 projects have been completed within just three years. Lincoln Media is proud to be part of the community and is committed to showcasing the beauty of Selwyn and Christchurch through their videos and photos, which incorporate environmental footage of the property and its surroundings to create an immersive and engaging experience.
KIRWEE TREE HOUSE LEARNING CENTRE
Kirwee Tree House has provided early childhood education to the small community of Kirwee. This was a much needed service in the area and the Tree House not only started this new service but also weathered through adversity such as COVID-19 and ongoing industry challenges. They also introduced the first transition to school programme partnering with Kirwee Model School.
ID ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNERS
ID Architectural Designers (Ilaisa Design Limited) is a drafting company based in iZone, Rolleston with more than 20 years of combined architectural experience. It offers drafting services that cater to the specific needs of local and wider South Island clients. The business evolved from sole trading work, which Ilaisa Tabukovu worked on for seven years before starting the company in July 2021.
The team consists of three designers, one project manager, a marketing manager and accounts manager, who work diligently to provide people with a tailored experience. Services cover a range of design solutions including architectural drafting, residential design, alterations, renovations, and light commercial projects.
AURORA DANCE STUDIO
Aurora Dance Studio strives to provide quality dance education for all ages and abilities. It offers classes in classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and basic acrobatics. Aurora Dance Studio strongly believes that dance and performing arts contribute significantly to the local community and provides great opportunities for all ages.
VINTAGE FEST NZ
Vintage Fest NZ (VFNZ) was first started and run in 2022 to meet a gap for an inclusive vintage community event, including families, vintage lovers, stall owners, pageant participants, car enthusiasts, military, rock n rollers, performers, photographers, models, and travellers. It has facilitated a space for belonging and acceptance, opening the event New Zealand and Australia wide with Miss Vintage Australasia (MVA) where women of all ages, shapes, ethnicities, and sexual orientations can feel supported and uplifted. VFNZ aims to continue to encourage and uplift people in the community, to create opportunities for local people and businesses, and bring awareness to Selwyn.
S & C INSURANCE ADVISERS LIMITED
S & C Insurance Advisers provides fire and general insurance advice and solutions. It is an advice first based business, focusing on risk profiles for their clients that establish risk factors, what they're looking for from their insurance and what they can afford. From there, tailored solutions that fit their profile are developed. S & C Insurance Advisers makes sure everyone they work with receives a high level of service and care no matter what they pay, and has a focus on the Selwyn region. All claims are managed in house.
FOOD ART SCIENCE
Monika Rastogi is a foodie at heart and has been a vegetarian since birth. She likes to teach and spread her love for cooking tasty and healthy Indian cuisine to different ethnicities and people of all ages. An experienced teacher, Monika has been teaching children from five years of age how to peel and slice vegetables safely, use a pan to make an omelette, sauté vegetables, or use a blender or microwave safely. She believes cooking is an essential life skill which sets kids up for a healthy lifestyle from a young age.
KATHRYN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Kathryn Taylor Photography (KTP) is a small but growing startup business specialising in capturing authentic and candid moments through a camera lens. Owned and operated by Kathryn Taylor, the business offers a range of photography services, including commercial, stock, wedding, and lifestyle photography. What sets KTP apart is its commitment to delivering exceptional quality, fast turnaround, a story telling focus, and a diverse photography offering. The ability to capture the essence of emotions, or a business’s needs and translate them into captivating images has helped build a loyal customer base.
OATAS
Oatas is an innovative sustainability software that was launched in January 2023 after 18 months of development. Oatas (Our Actions Tell A Story) is a comprehensive sustainability reporting software designed to empower organisations to track, analyse, and report on their impact in environmental, community, and organisational sustainability.
With the increasing importance of corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship, organisations are seeking to streamline their sustainability reporting processes and provide valuable insights to drive positive change. Oatas offers a user-friendly interface and covers a wide range of sustainability outcomes, including environmental metrics such as carbon emissions, energy consumption, and waste management, as well as community and organisational impacts.
BROWN ACRES FARM LIMITED
Brown Acres is a small but mighty business - just like the microgreens it grows. Microgreens are one of the healthiest foods on the planet and add a delicious and nutritious punch to every meal. Brown Acres microgreens are family grown, spray free, and organic. Microgreens are grown in a temperature, humidity and pest-controlled environment. They face no risk of frost, floods, or heat affecting their grow which enables them to grow the same yield every few days, all year round. Brown Acres has recently installed a huge solar powered system, won a Platinum Selwyn Sustainable Business Award, and five gold medals in the NZ Artisan Awards.
NUMBERWORKS’ N WORDS ROLLESTON
NumberWorks'nWords Rolleston is a new business dedicated to providing high quality English and maths education to students between the ages of five and 16. Since opening just over a year ago, it has experienced remarkable growth with the student base now over 100. NumberWorks'nWords Rolleston strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment where students not only excel academically but also develop important life skills. Its dedicated team of tutors uses innovative teaching methods, tailored approaches and creative software to meet each student's unique learning needs.
THE CLASSY TART ENTERPRISES - LONGSHOT DISTILLERY
LongShot Distillery launched in December of 2021 and is a family distillery, based in the heart of Rolleston, Selwyn. It is a business of three people (mother, father and son) and between them they operate every aspect of the business from sourcing botanicals, crafting and distilling gin and vodka, bottling, labelling, packaging and distributing its products around New Zealand.
THIRSTY ACRES
With its origin in the historic Kirwee Tavern, Thirsty Acres sets out to reintroduce warm and friendly hospitality in the Selwyn township of Kirwee. Opening in March 2023, Thirsty Acres is the culmination of a three-year project that started soon after the old tavern burnt to the ground on Christmas Eve 2019. A collaboration between a determined landlord, an ambitious and innovative tenant, a visionary architect and a world-class project team, the result is a beautiful venue that is delivering a new standard of hospitality in the Selwyn district. Operators Jen and Jono Alve and their daughters are proud Selwyn residents and own and operate the business along with 24+ team members.
AGRI INTEL LIMITED
Agri Intel, a rural consulting firm founded in 2022, is at the forefront of the agricultural industry in New Zealand. The company operates with a strong focus on sustainability, centered around three core pillars: agribusiness, freshwater, and greenhouse gas. Their dedication to provide a unique and invaluable support system to rural communities is unmatched within the industry. Agri Intel is on a mission to make a real and positive impact for the rural communities it serves. By assisting farmers, growers, forest owners, catchment groups, Councils, and the Government, it aims to foster their growth, resilience, and ability to seize the hidden opportunities presented by the mounting domestic, global, and industry challenges.
MOVEMENT STUDIO
Movement Studio is a home-based studio located in the Faringdon Subdivision in Rolleston. Specialising in offering remedial massage therapy and reformer pilates, they are great believers in their founding philosophy that 'movement is medicine'. Their goal is to support people to enjoy pain free movement every day, regardless of their age or ability, and to do this in a positive, safe and supportive environment. Movement Studio prides itself on delivering a professional, caring and friendly service. It operates in small class sizes to allow for more personal experiences from the moment a client step foot in the door.