AUT students backed to grow businesses
Eight AUT students have received a total of nearly $60,000 in joint seed funding from AUT and The King’s Trust to accelerate their business ideas while studying at the university.
The students were part of the pilot Ara Tipu Start‑Up programme, a 10‑week summer course for young people looking to start or grow a business. Ara Tipu is a partnership between AUT and The King’s Trust, initially supporting 90 AUT students, over 15-months, with training, mentoring and potential access to matched funding by AUT and The Trust’s He Kākano Seed Fund.
At the end of the summer school, the first round of funding was awarded following a pitching panel held in Auckland in March.
The King’s Trust CEO Rod Baxter says, “The quality of ideas was impressive, with grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 awarded across a diverse range of businesses.”
One recipient, Maioha Tawa, an AUT law student and illustrator, is neurodiverse and was non- verbal up until she started school. Her business Toi Manako Studio uses live illustration to communicate information in inclusive and engaging ways.
Maioha says Ara Tipu helped her gain confidence and develop practical, lifelong business skills, while building valuable connections with other pakihi owners.
“Share your ideas with people who can show you a different perspective. Sometimes we don’t see things from the same angle and that’s good, diversity is a strength.”
Don’t underestimate yourself. A lack of experience doesn’t mean you aren’t skilled, talented, and valued. Sometimes a fresh new perspective is needed for innovation,” she says.
The He Kākano funding will support the growth of Toi Manako Studio and the development of new resources and Maioha plans on staying connected with her colleagues from Ara Tipu.
The remaining recipients were funded for ideas including creative services, technology solutions, community ventures, product development, a local food initiative, and an ethical apparel concept.
AUT Assistant Vice‑Chancellor Engagement Amy Malcolm says, “As a university of opportunity, AUT is proud to work with The King’s Trust to create real pathways for young people to turn their ideas into impact. Ara Tipu shows what is possible when we back our students’ creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship with the right support,” she says.
“Our students come from many different communities and bring a wide range of ideas and experiences with them. When we pair education with the chance to develop real entrepreneurial skills, we help them build confidence and open additional pathways for their futures.”
Demand for AUT’s Ara Tipu programme is high, with 58 students with business ideas enrolled in this semester’s cohort and strong interest already building for the rest of the year.
Enrolments for the semester 2 cohort are open via The King’s Trust website: www.kingstrust.org.nz