What is EIA and how come you got there?
EIA (Entrepreneurs in Action) is an event that brings together the best Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) students from around the country to compete in challenges that lift your entrepreneurial, innovation and teamwork skills. 80 students were selected from applications and flown to Wellington, where we were put in teams of 8 and competed in two challenges.

What happened at EIA?
There was a Genesis Energy challenge, where we were tasked with developing an innovative product as well as an NZTE (New Zealand Trade and Enterprise) challenge that consisted of developing a market entry strategy into Latin America. 

Tell me a bit more about your team and your challenge
Each team was assigned a mentor company, mine being 'Asia NZ' a professional development network for kiwi professionals interested in Asia. Each challenge consisted of a highly detailed 2-page concept plan or written market entry strategy. As well as a 5-minute presentation to the judges and the other competing students. Followed by 3 minute Q&A.

What comes next for you and team?
Asia NZ is the first ever team to win both challenges. With the NZTE challenge giving my team and I the opportunity to go to Sao Paul, Brazil in early December this year through the Latin American Centre of Asia Pacific Excellence (LA CAPE). We will visit established companies and startups, meet with local leaders, and engage in a variety of cultural activities. Along with some shopping, I'm sure. 

To hear more about Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network and the team at EIA, click here.

It's awesome to see Abbey, currently developing her business OffKuts as part of the Young Enterprise Scheme at Tauranga Girls' College with co-founder Skye and Mashup 2018 Alumni, take on this opportunity and acing it! 

MADVentures is about supporting young entrepreneurs out there to Make-A-Dent and the impact of the EIA experience on not only Abbey but other aspiring entrepreneurs is huge! There are many opportunities out there and all we have to do is grab them! So get inspired, follow your passion, start that project and of course, follow MADVentures on Facebook and Instagram.