The Grow North Innovation District’s school-to-scaleup Innovation Escalator came together during Techweek for an interactive discussion on the challenges and opportunities presented by digital transformation. Bridging the gap between businesses, innovators and students, TECH-Xpectations was held at the B:Hive in Takapuna, and organised as a collaborative initiative between ecentre, Massey Business School, Shore Junction, Smales Farm and Takapuna Beach Business Association.

Techweek19 kicked off on May 20 with ON: Futures in Tech and ON: Pitch, events aimed at encouraging more students to explore opportunities in technology and entrepreneurship.

Engineering students Sebastian Weaver and Connor Talbot took out the top prize for the pitch competition – which includes ecentre Sprint programme membership - for their prosthetic limb solution ProstheteX.

Electric motorcycle designer Eva Håkansson impressed product design enthusiasts at ecentre on Wednesday May 1 with a presentation about revolutionising electric motorcycle design in pursuit of a world record.

ecentre Innovator in Residence Dr Aruna Shekar has been elected for a second time as president of the NZ branch of the Product Development & Management Association. Meet the product development pioneers she works with.

Student experience platform Niesh – which was incubated at ecentre and has grown rapidly – has partnered with ecentre to present ON: Futures In Tech, a full-day conference on May 20 involving entrepreneurs, panels and a chance to pitch tech innovations in a Dragon’s Den-style competition.

ecentre celebrates graduation week with Massey Business School, sharing the importance of developing entrepreneurial, transportable skills to take advantage of the opportunities created by the unprecedented changes in society.

Guardian Angel Security, a solutions provider for lone and remote workers, has won a share of up to $500,000 for a five year interest free loan from global female entrepreneur network SheEO. The company was one of five New Zealand businesses selected by 500 women (SheEO Activators) who contributed $1100 each to support early stage female entrepreneurs.

Drones can now be raced indoors thanks to a pair of innovators setting up a competition for quadcopters which fit in the palm of your hand.