PROVE IT: WIDGETS.
Applications Now closed.
Southland’s heritage is pockmarked with innovators, tinkerers, and makers – from Burt Munro to Bill Richardson, Ernest Godward to Paul Adams. At COIN South we know ideas can come from anywhere, but more and more we’re seeing founders doodling clever solutions to everyday problems and engineering them into existence. We want to ensure these start-ups kickstart their ideas in the very best way possible.
What is Prove it?
Prove It is specifically designed for those ready to validate, make sales and prove their startup idea has legs.
Prove It runs twice a year and is sector-themed to ensure you get the most practical value we can offer. We ask Southlanders with clever ideas to apply with a quick video, and those judged the best by leading industry experts, will gain access to a range of support like interns, accountability sessions, and showcase opportunities. Plus:
Up to $5000 matched funding to create a prototype
1:1 bespoke accounting session with local experts, Malloch Mcclean.
1:1 product design session - idea teardown with innovation experts Fi Innovations.
Machining time to the value of $1000 with the team at McLeay Precision Engineering.
Marketing support from The Custom Bubble.
Media placements in relevant local and national publications
We’ll work intensively with each winning team to get the company into the best shape possible. Prove It culminates in a Demo Day when the three start-ups present to an audience of their peers, community organisations as well as possible stockists and investors.
Finalists also get access to a wealth of support, workshops, as well as valuable feedback from judges.
Huge shout out to our sponsors for making this happen.
how to apply
Share your idea.
Complete the application form to explain your idea, the problem is it solving, and what help you need to get it off the ground.
Video yourself sharing that idea - don’t stress about the quality of the video. Use your phone or Zoom, we just want to see your face.
Email us your application and video by February 21st.
Once our judges have reviewed your application, a group of finalists will be announced by February 28th.
We’ll invite finalists to present to our panel of experts on March 2nd, so they can get to know you and your business better.
Winners will be chosen and announced on March 4th.
Is this for you?
Got a clever solution to a customer problem?
Are you an industry expert, worker, and tinkerer who has found a customer problem and invented a clever workaround or gadget to fix it? Do you want to commercialise the idea?
We’re looking for founders, teams, and innovators who:
Need real talk and practical advice
Have a product idea to take to market
Have found a sizeable market in which they can see a gap
Are potentially sitting on a great Southland business but need help to move it forward
Are ambitious & coachable
Looking for scale, quality connections, and capital.
“Thanks for everything, for changing my thinking and giving me a shot of get-up-and-go. Inspiring to say the least.”
