Startup Dunedin's 2025 student pitch competition wrapped up this week, culminating in an evening celebrating the bright ideas and fresh new startups and businesses being run by students at Otago Polytechnic and the University of Otago.
This year we had a whopping 35 pitches submitted (and you can read more on that here!). As a result, we were able to host a showcase that truly highlighted just how impressive and diverse the entrepreneurial energy is across Otago, from fashion and food to tech, science, and beyond. Not only that, but our students below are living proof that great ideas come from any area of study - and a testimony to making entrepreneurship accessible and something you can do alongside your studies.
Keep reading for a lowdown on all our amazing finalists and the great ideas coming out of students at Otago, plus a deeper-dive into this year’s prizewinning pitches!
Highly Commended
Wilding Pines Otago
Founders: Jonathan Chan, Samuel Mitchell, Nkanyiso Ndlovu, Harold Pence Saldiva
Studying: University of Otago - Software Engineering
Startup: An AI Machine Learning model which generates a heatmap of wilding pine sapling infestation areas
Future Potential Winners
Competition was fierce. These teams demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset, business acumen and creativity and the judges wanted to acknowledge their ideas and hard work, and were awarded our Future Potential prize - $100 per person - to help further their startups.
Crumb Folk
Judges: We love seeing students build something from what they are learning. We can’t wait to see where Crumb Folk goes next!
https://www.instagram.com/crumb_folk/
Founder: Janet Hollard and John Shaw
Studying: Otago Polytechnic - Culinary Arts
Startup: A Micro-Bakery selling affordable artisanal bread, filled bread, and cake
Horizon Tutoring & Coaching
Judges: Horizon is solving a really crucial problem in NZ around water safety. Emma is bringing water safety to rural New Zealand and places that don't currently have access to swimming education.
Founder: Emma Kinney
Studying: University of Otago - BSc in Mathematics and Physics
Startup: A summer swimming education programme focusing on rural communities in Otago.
Store My Stuff
Judges: Otago students have a lot of problems that are unique to the experience of studying at Otago. It was great to see Store My Stuff address a problem that arises every year with a practical solution.
Founders: Misha Craig and Anton Hawkins
Studying: University of Otago - BCom, Majoring in Finance and Economics
Startup: Store My Stuff offers storage solutions tailored to first-year students.
TidalForge Studios
Judges: Gaming studios are a significant part of the Dunedin startup ecosystem, and we’re really excited to see the new perspectives that TidalForge brings to the gaming landscape!
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tidalforgedstudios
Founders: Glen Williamson and Joey Milton
Studying: Otago Polytechnic - Bachelor of Communications (Games)
Startup: TidalForge Studios is an emerging game development company with big ambitions. Currently working on a game demo, the studio is building momentum to begin pitching next year, carving out a space for local talent in the global games industry.
Churner
Judges: Sometimes it's the founder and the entrepreneur more than the idea. Thomas has thrown himself into every opportunity in the ecosystem, including Momentum, and we can't wait to see where he takes Churner in his career next.
Founder: Thomas Jenson
Studying: University of Otago - BCom in Finance and Economics
Startup: Churner is a study resource designed specifically for Health Science First Year students. With lecture-by-lecture multiple-choice questions, it gives students a reliable, organized way to prepare for exams.
GymPal
Judges: Daniel is very entrepreneurially-minded; following the startup process and also applying his studies. We can't wait to see where he takes us after some more validation!
Founder: Daniel Bradley
Studying: Otago Polytechnic - Design and Exercise
Startup: GymPal is here to improve how people stay committed to the gym. Through online training videos and improved engagement strategies, the platform is focused on boosting attendance and helping people achieve lasting fitness results.
Our Prize Winners for 2025
Too Many Discs Limited - Winner of Most Audacious ($500)
Founder: Nicholas McDermott
Studying: University of Otago - LLB and BSc in Marine Science
The Most Audacious prize almost always goes to someone building something left field, either in its business model or in what it's looking to disrupt. It can even be the industry they’re tackling, or a big hairy moonshot goal - but it’s always, always, audacious.
The judges have awarded Too Many Discs, an online marketplace designed especially for used disc-golf discs, this $500 prize for their bold idea tackling a clear problem with impressive market validation. The judges admired the ambition and customer understanding - they’re definitely one to watch as they push to scale up fast!
Piller - Winner of Best Entrepreneur ($500)
@piller_hijabs on Instagram
Founder: Sofea Haizal
Studying: University of Otago - Law & Politics
Sometimes, it's just as much about the journey, the individual and how coachable they are. We ask, do they make the most of every opportunity put in front of them? We love a cheeky ask, a cheeky introduction, or seeing students making the most of the resources they have around them.
Piller are making Kiwi-made, sustainable hijabs using deadstock fabrics. Sofea built her idea through YES, came through Audacious and now has made it through the 35 pitches to take out Best Entrepreneur; the judges wanted to especially recognise Sofea for really listening to customers and adapting along the way. The judges were impressed by the progress and clarity of thinking - now it’s all about testing that market demand and taking it further!
Frolic Events - Winner of Best Service Business ($700) - Sponsored by Cue-Go
Founder: Sean Galdeman
Studying: University of Otago - Law
Cue-go, our prizewinning Audacious alumni for 2025, is super passionate about the businesses you can't always see, as service businesses in general might not be the most flashy. But many service businesses are exceptional; strong and impactful, with innovative and disruptive solutions to common problems.
This $700 prize went to Frolic Events, a team with fantastic storytelling and great progress so far. The judges saw real potential here for a service that clearly connects with its market. The next challenge will be staying ahead of competitors and keeping that momentum year-round!
Made to Grow, Built to last: Sewlutions Studio - Winner of Applied Innovation Award ($250) and the Best Emerging Startup Award ($1000), Sponsored by Emerge
Founder: Yasomali Sandaruwani
Studying: Otago Polytechnic - Master of Design (Fashion)
Sanda’s startup, Made to Grow, Built to Last, is an exciting and ambitious concept with huge potential. Her startup idea for a sustainable childrenswear collection that grows with the kids who are wearing it was designed with adjustability, expandability, and durability in mind.
The judges saw a big opportunity here and are keen to see in more detail how it can grow beyond its first market and where it goes next. With traction and media attention already beginning in the Otago Daily Times, we know it’s only a matter of time before Made to Grow, Built to Last has carved their name into the sustainability and innovation side of the fashion industry.
Mud - Winner of Applied Innovation Award ($250) and the Best Momentum Award ($1000), Sponsored by Momentum
@mud_aotearoa on Instagram
Founder: Emily Gilbert
Studying: Otago Polytechnic - Bachelor of Culinary Arts
Mud are a potato based dairy free ice-cream, currently available at Patti's & Cream. They have already made waves in the food & beverage industry, have gotten some great traction (or dare we say… momentum?) and are already in the market right now. They’re already doing the thing.
It’s pretty hard to find a bad word to say about Ice Cream, and the judges absolutely loved this product. Mud have a clear market, have undertaken some seriously strong customer validation, and therein lies a big potential for them to scale. With potatoes sourced from Heartland, they’re also leaning into sustainability really well; making Mud a really clever piece of innovation with heaps of promise. Also - and we might be biased here - it’s just plain yum.
