Collette Devlin, Te Papa kick starts $1 million Mahuki innovation hub, Stuff, 16 August 2016
Te Papa’s million dollar in-house innovation hub opened its doors to a group of entrepreneurs this week.
Mahuki, the first museum-led innovation incubator in New Zealand, will see Te Papa invest about $1m to house the facility in the national museum.
It will provide support for 10 teams of entrepreneurs and help them access international networks when their innovations are market-ready.
The teams, which have been tasked with developing digital products for Te Papa and the culture, heritage and education sectors, will have access to Te Papa’s experts, resources and millions of visitors to help develop and test ideas.
Te Papa will take a 6 per cent equity stake in the Mahuki businesses, which will receive $20,000 per company while they work in the hub.
The equity stake ensures Te Papa benefits from successful innovations, whether or not they end up being used on the museum’s floors.
One programme will run each year and a programme of activities will be organised around the main Mahuki programme during the remainder of the year.
Te Papa chief executive Rick Ellis said it was a great opportunity to develop Wellington’s growing technology sector.
