MOMENTUM STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2023 WINNER

Monique Lau

Endosoothe

Reimagining menstrual care through innovation and community

Meet our winner!

Monique Lau

University of Canterbury

Endosoothe

Reimaginging menstrual care through innovation and community

Having lived with endometriosis, Monique has first-hand experience not only of the discomfort and stigma surrounding endometriosis and menstruation, but also of the efficacy of her innovation. Add a background in chemical formulation, and the value proposition becomes more and more enticing.

Endosoothe is committed to redefining the menstrual experience by offering a comprehensive range of products that address the challenges women face during their menstrual cycles. They provide a range of thoughtfully crafted menstrual care products using natural active ingredients that prioritise comfort, sustainability and effectiveness.

One of the standouts of this project is the community that Endosoothe is building online prior to product launch; emphasising their commitment to education, raising awareness and support rather than just selling product. This also informs a unique human-centred market research approach that targets consumers directly to inform product development and remain transparent with regard to information, solidifying the trust of the community affected before investigating medical regulation.

Monique is an active and valued member of UC's entrepreneurial community, and we commend her on continuing her commitment to community through her product.

Take a look at our 2023 finalists

Thank you so much for submitting your applications, we’re blown away by your incredible work!

We now have three amazing finalists for this year’s award. Thank you all so much again for taking part!

If you missed it this year, keep an eye out for this time next year. Here’s a reminder of what we’re looking for and what’s up for grabs:

Momentum recognises highly motivated New Zealand tertiary students who have made significant progress developing their idea, who have created an innovative business through technology licensing, who have created a start-up, or who have provided expertise to support innovation.

Together with our sponsors, we want to make sure that you, our Kiwi innovators, get as much recognition and support as possible.

This year, we have scaled the award to include attendance at the US Angel Capital Association (ACA) Summit 2024 as well as the Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ) Summit 2024.

Key Dates:

Applications close: 4th August

1st round of judging (Zoom interview): 14th - 18th August

Filming for KiwiNet Awards (finalists): 28th August - 1st September

2nd round of judging: 4th - 8th September

KiwiNet Awards Night: 28th September

Prize Package:

1st place:

Attendance at the U.S. Angel Capital Association (ACA) Summit in May 2024 in Columbus Ohio. This is the largest Angel conference in the U.S. with over 450 Angels attending.

Comprises:

  • All flights and accommodation

  • Full access to the 3-day Summit including networking event

  • Participation in the ACA Innovation Funders Showcase (2-minute plenary presentation).

  • Inclusion in exclusive Summit e-Flipbook, providing investors a sneak peek at presenting companies

  • Inclusion in all marketing collateral sent to ACA screening committee and members

  • Mentorship workshops: governance, US markets, intellectual property, how to pitch

Attendance at the Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ) Summit in February 2024 in Auckland (flights and accommodation provided if necessary)

Attendance at the Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ) Runway Event (flights and accommodation provided if necessary)

Runners-up:

Attendance at the Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ) Runway Event (flights and accommodation provided if necessary)

Mentorship workshops covering governance, US markets, intellectual property, how to pitch

FAQs

  • You do not have to be a current student, however, you will have had to have been a student in the past 12 months.

  • The Angel Capital Association (ACA) Summit is the international flagship angel investing event of the year. Held in the USA, it supports professional development of new and experienced angel investors and ecosystem leaders exploring critical topics facing the angel investing community.

    It’s the must-attend event to gain insight from industry experts on the latest findings and best practices and to network with a diverse community of investors and entrepreneurs.

    ACA is the largest angel investor professional development organisation in the world, representing more than 15,000 angels who invest individually or through 250+ angel organisations, online platforms, and family offices. ACA members work side by side with other motivated, successful early stage investors to identify prospective investments, conduct due diligence research, mentor and advise early-stage companies and enhance local startup ecosystems.

  • Selected companies that have been nominated, present a member-coached pitch to investors attending the ACA Innovation Funders Showcase (IFS). This is not your traditional pitch event. Each company gives a two-minute plenary presentation to angel investors who not only make personal investment decisions but also take the next hot commodity back to their home angel group for further investment consideration. ACA offers an incredibly efficient and economical path to capital that can pay dividends for months following the presentation.

  • The Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ) Summit is New Zealand’s flagship angel investing event of the year. This will be a knowledge-sharing and networking event for everyone across the investment and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

    AANZ is our local champion for early stage investment. It aims to increase the quantity, quality, and success of angel investment in New Zealand and in doing so create a greater pool of capital for innovative start-up companies.

  • An angel investor (also known as a private investor, seed investor or angel funder) is a high-net-worth individual who provides financial backing for small startups or entrepreneurs, typically in exchange for ownership equity in the company. The funds that angel investors provide may be a one-time investment to help the business get off the ground or an ongoing injection to support and carry the company through its difficult early stages.

  • The workshop dates will be aligned with the finalists’ availability.

  • Don’t worry, initial interviews will be held on Zoom. And if you are selected as a finalist, travel and accomodation will be covered for filming and attending the KiwiNet Awards.

Award Sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors for their continued collaboration.

SEOTY is an initiative created by Auckland UniServices Ltd flagship Momentum Programme and is sponsored by Matū Group. Matū is a venture capital fund targeting early-stage science and technology ideas. They invest funds through a hands-on approach, and have a vision to get research out of the lab and into the real-world.

2019 was the inaugural year that this award was included as one of the KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards. Kiwi Innovation Network (KiwiNet) believes in the power of New Zealand science to transform lives and change the world.