'Significant expansion' for Southland startups, businesses network
“We are now able to respond to the needs of the Southland business community as a broader innovation hub.”
COIN South - a collaborative network for Southland startups and businesses - is expanding.
The organisation will deliver innovation services to existing businesses and support for the wider innovation ecosystem across the Southland region.
COIN South is backed by the support of strategic partners Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), Environment Southland, Community Trust South, Ngāi Tahu, the Southland Business Chamber, and various corporate partners.
The “significant growth phase” is supported by funding that was allocated in May from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) as part of the region’s Just Transitions programme.
COIN South’s General Manager Cathy Peters said over the past four years they have been able to support economic growth through fostering innovation across the startup ecosystem.
“We are now able to respond to the needs of the Southland business community as a broader innovation hub.”
To spearhead this new direction, COIN South has recently welcomed two experienced Senior Innovation Leads to the team.
Brian Bell and Saskia van der Geest will work with established businesses across the region to assist them in uncovering new opportunities for growth and productivity using proven innovation tools and support.
van der Geest is a New Product Development Specialist, she has worked with over 70 businesses in New Zealand helping them to improve their product development productivity.
She’s backed by a Master’s degree in Industrial Design Engineering and has worked as a speaker, trainer, coach, facilitator, and mentor over the past 20 years.
Bell has 25 years of experience leading innovation and managing people, projects, and products for a wide range of industries. He has led two innovation labs to transform product concepts into commercial realities employing advanced technologies and has been involved in ten start-ups and early-stage businesses.
This expansion aims to integrate innovation into Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across various sectors, with a special focus on the Manufacturing and Engineering cluster and enabling opportunities for businesses to support new industries and technologies.
COIN South board chair and Southland Business Chamber president Neil McAra said through this expansion of services they are aligning with the region’s vision for growth, the nurturing of emerging industries, and the pursuit of a high-wage, low-emission future.
“Together with our regional partners and community, we are committed to building a brighter future that aligns with our shared values and priorities.”
COIN South has also welcomed Shane Evans into the board.
Evans is SBS Bank’s Chief Transformation Officer.
“Shane brings considerable expertise in driving transformational change which will be invaluable in helping to steer COIN South in this next phase of innovation and growth,” McAra said.