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Innovation Franklin’s AUT Youth Shark Tank has proved to be an amazing event for the region’s young entrepreneurs.
Pukekohe High School students Hannah Baillie, Hayley Newton and Dacie Duke proudly took home the winning title with their skincare business, Second Shot.
“We were over the moon, very pleased and excited,” Newton says. “So, we celebrated with cake.”
The trio developed a range of exfoliating soap bars, repurposing used coffee grounds from Pukekohe cafe, Your Local Coffee – teaming up with the café was an exciting opportunity for the girls and one that paid off.
“We were confident in our idea but there was strong competition,” Baillie says. “Your Local are very popular and have a great community behind them so we wanted to support that.”
Among 17 strong entries, narrowed to five finalists, Second Shot stood out to the judges for its innovative concept and presentation. The team was awarded a $1000 cash prize and a business support package to continue developing their project.
The soaps are available at Your Local Coffee until December. The group plans to sell Christmas-themed fragrances at local markets.
The trio would like to keep their business going beyond the end of the school year.
“We’re all going different places next year after school, so we just have to navigate that and work out how we’d continue,” Baillie adds.
Innovation Franklin board member Merritt Watson says the students’ real-world knowledge and expertise made this year’s youth competition feel no different from the version for adults.
“Our main Shark Tank is always a massive hit, but to see the younger generation come through at the level that they have is phenomenal,” he says. “Judging would have been very difficult and it’s shown the calibre of people we have coming through the ranks here in Franklin.”
Watson, who is also a member of the Franklin Local Board, says the competition is an investment in the region’s future.
“We try to get people thinking outside the box, to encourage the next generation to think about how they innovate, enable them to do well and become those businesses in the future.”
More details about this year’s entrants are accessible at innovationfranklin.org.nz.
