WELCOME TO
The Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2026!
Open to all students enrolled in a tertiary institution in the last 12 months
SEOTY 2026
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SEOTY 2026 🏆
SEOTY 2026
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SEOTY 2026 🏆
The theme across Momentum this year is execution and SEOTY is no different. We’re looking for student entrepreneurs who are actioning an idea into something real – who are executing.
Execution is, in the end, what underpins Momentum. It is everything.
We asked what you need to keep executing; and the feedback is that executors need money.
SO, we’ve iterated!
Momentum Student Entrepreneur Of The Year is an annual national competition that backs students and their businesses.
The Student Entrepreneur
Of The Year 2026 winner will receive:
$20,000.00 cash!
Yup, our awesome ecosystem has stepped up to show their support for all of you doing it hard
But SEOTY is about more than just cash, it’s also a platform — with national visibility across media, interviews, and exposure — putting you and your venture in front of the people who matter.
A huge thank you to Kiwinet for hosting the awards, and the PR and marketing platform they provide to all three finalists.
Application Format
We’re calling for applications in video form again this year.
But think of it more like a pitch than a presentation.
Tell us a bit about yourself but save the good stuff for your product. Let’s see it in action. If not already in market, then on the way to launch.
We’d also love to see evidence: user data, feedback, waitlists, (projected) sales. Present it however you like; and do it all in 3 - 5 minutes.
If you want to share evidence in a document, there will be capability to do so in the application portal.
Good Luck!
Dates to Note
Entries close: 11:59pm 19th July 2026
Top 8 Interviews: 27th July 2026 (Zoom)
3 Finalists Announced:30th July 2026
Finalists Filmed for Kiwinet Awards*: TBC;
one day in the week 10th - 15th August 2026
Final judging: TBC;
one day in the week 1st - 4th September 2026 (Zoom)
Kiwinet Awards*: 8th October 2026 (Auckland)
*flights and accommodation provided if outside Auckland
Sound like you
or someone
you know?
1) Read the application brief
2) Record a video
Past Winners
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Past Winners *
Past Winners
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Past Winners *
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.
Small Print
Information provided in this application will be used to support the judging panel to select finalists.
We may also share the information anonymously with MBIE for reporting purposes. Information is kept only as long as required to fulfil these purposes.
The Prize Package is subject to availability of the winner.
You have the right to request access and correction to your personal information. To do so, email jardin.green@auckland.ac.nz
Applications are open to students enrolled in a tertiary institution in the last 12 months
If you do not live in Auckland, travel and accommodation will be covered.