Awards
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Awards
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Awards *
Meet our winner of the
Student Entrepreneur
of the Year Award 2025
Josiah Bugden
COURSESPY/ University of Otago / Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka
Creating transparency in higher education
What began as a side-project for student founder Josiah Bugden has evolved into a platform with over 200,000 visits, helping students to make better and more informed decisions about their university study.
Josiah is a medical student and founder of CourseSpy.com, a rapidly growing platform helping students navigate university life with confidence. Frustrated by a lack of clarity when trying to choose his university papers, understand degree requirements, and access quality course advice, Josiah set out to build the all-in-one tool he wished he had.
CourseSpy now hosts over 15,000 course reviews across all eight New Zealand universities and has helped students plan more than 700 degrees. CourseSpy empowers students to make informed decisions through peer-shared advice, planning tools, and increased transparency in higher education.
CourseSpy has evolved to be more than a review site. It allows students to plan their degrees, calculate entrance scores, manage timetables, choose accommodation, and access curated study resources - removing the administrative burden so they can focus on learning. Josiah's goal is to continue scaling CourseSpy by adding tutors, textbooks, and further developing modules for CourseSpy's proprietary learning platform, while looking to expand overseas in the near future.
Despite starting with no coding or business experience, Josiah has shown a true entrepreneur spirit, learning along the way through trial and error. Over the past year, Josiah has worked closely with universities, student associations, and fellow students to build a platform that meets their needs.
Josiah is passionate about building tools that make a real difference and supporting others in the startup space, with a goal to set a new standard for student support worldwide.
See all three
2025 finalists:
Meet our
2024 Winner
Emma Arvidson
Teiny - High Protein Powdered Oat Milk / University of Canterbury
Emma Arvidson is a chemical formulation design specialist, currently pursuing her master's in product innovation at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC).
For her capstone project, to demonstrate knowledge and expertise for her thesis, Emma developed a high-protein oat milk powder that bridges the gap between the nutritional benefits of dairy and the sustainability of oats. Recognizing the potential of her creation, Emma co-founded a startup to bring this innovative product to market.
Under her leadership, the company has gained significant traction. They have successfully secured $20,000 KiwiNet PreSeed Accelerator Funding (PSAF) and $5,000 funding from the King's Trust He KāKano, a seed fund for young entrepreneurs aged 17-30 years. They were also a finalist in this year's Foodstuffs Emerging Supplier Competition. In September 2024, Teiny secured investment from The Climate VC Fund (CVCF), the largest investor in its early-stage round to bring them to market, with further support from friends and family. These achievements highlight both the technical innovation and the market potential of their product.
Emma and her co-founder also earned the People's Choice and Impact Award at the UC Summer Start-Up, further validating their concept and approach. This reflects the strong resonance their product has with both consumers and industry experts, showcasing its potential for broad market appeal.
Emma's expertise in chemical formulation design has been instrumental in overcoming industry challenges, setting her product apart in a competitive market. Her strategic vision and commitment to sustainability resonate with consumers who value nutrition, convenience, and environmental responsibility.
Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavours, Emma was recently selected for the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network, reflecting her leadership potential and her dedication to making a broader impact. Her journey from concept to commercialisation showcases her ability to translate scientific innovation into viable business opportunities, positioning her as a rising star in the food innovation sector.
Meet our
2023 Winner
Monique Lau
Endosoothe / University of Canterbury
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.
