Innovators Fund.
Apply Now.
COIN South and Southland Chamber of Commerce fund entrepreneurial projects with prototyping grants of up to $5,000 as part of its support of the Southland manufacturing sector. Our mission is to make prototyping easy and accessible for founders and businesses who have not yet secured financial backing.
“The feedback has given me the confidence to take the next steps in creating a market-ready product. ”
“The fund has given us the ability to fast-track the development which over time will mean more income generated”
“The innovation fund was a huge boost for us and fast tracked our Carbon Bipod to the market.”
Why should I prototype?
Getting someone to invest in your product or service is easiest when you can provide a proof of concept. If someone can see how your idea would work, they’ll feel more confident in their investment.
What kind of prototypes can be funded?
Prototyping can be as simple as shaping up some foam or clay, right through to highly elaborate multi component assemblies. In the context of a start up, a prototype should be anything that allows you to test various assumptions you have made for your venture and demonstrate that customers will be as excited about the product as you are.
The Southland Industrial Innovators Fund invites innovative applications for prototype projects in the areas of manufacturing and design. However, prototypes testing mechanical properties, durability or functionality will have preference over those testing aesthetics.
You may qualify for a grant if you
Are a Southland founder/entrepreneur
Are working on innovative hardware, a hardware/software project or a process
Have talked through your idea with the COIN South team or the teams at Great South or Puna Pakihi
Funding must be matched by you and can be used for:
Prototyping material
CAD design
Hardware
Contracting suppliers to provide prototyping services
We are looking for projects that are a strong fit with the Southland manufacturing sector and fostering innovation in Southland.
They must be:
Innovative i.e. provide better solutions that meet new requirements or existing market needs
Have the potential for high growth
Address a key problem faced by users
We want to know that you will:
Use the grant to continue to develop your innovative business idea and test product/market fit
Tell us your story on completion of the work you do with the grant about your findings, what worked, what failed, what you adapted, next steps etc.
Provide us with a time frame for your project’s completion
For more information about Southland Industrial Innovators Fund please email hello@coinsouth.nz
