Lightning Lab AKL back for round 2

This year’s Lightning Lab Auckland programme is expected to see a massive $2.6 million NZD raised for six of the nine digital startups. After the success of the first programme, Lightning Lab Auckland is now back and taking applications for their 2016 programme. 
 

Lightning Lab is New Zealand’s leading digital startup accelerator. It takes high-growth startups and provides them with funding, networks and expertise to help them launch their ideas into the market. Lightning Lab provides $20k of funding as well as connecting teams to over 100 successful New Zealand business mentors, who provide hours of their time to rapidly accelerate the digital startups. 
 

The success of the last programme has the Lightning Lab team and Director, Mark MacLeod-Smith, excited to see what’s in store for the 2016 programme. 

“We are really pleased with the results of the 2015 programme and are looking forward to closing all the investment rounds and seeing the companies continue to grow,” says Mark. 
 

However, the 2016 programme is expected to be bigger and better. 

Mark MacLeod-Smith continues, “After running our first programme we have captured a huge amount of learnings and enhanced our ability to help startups. This positions us well to deliver stronger results in subsequent programmes. We now have a track record to talk about, an established and engaged mentor pool, and an incredible group of supportive partners, including Spark and Microsoft Ventures, all of which we believe will assist in attracting the very best startups to the 2016 programme.”
 

The 2015 Lightning Lab programme saw over 250 expressions of interest and 71 applications. Nine digital startups were picked to take part in the programme. Those startups were Broker Better, Designer Wardrobe, Future Insight, Justly, Logicore, Preno, Roll, Tomato and Wearit.
 

Amelia Gain, CEO and founder of Lightning Lab startup Preno, says the programme was the key in taking her business to the next level. 
 

“Lightning Lab has given us the skills to help us build a global company and I feel like I now have an MBA in startups. I think Lightning Lab is the best way to meet other passionate people and grow a network to help grow your business further.” 
 

The 2016 programme is supported by a range of partners including: National Foundation Partner, Spark; National Partner, Microsoft Ventures; Auckland Foundation Partner, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development; Lab Partners Bank of New Zealand, Simpson Grierson and Loyalty New Zealand; and Delivery Partner, The Icehouse.
 

Applications are now open and will close on December 18 2015. Visit www.lightninglab.co.nz