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For community organisations

Something useful, built for your organisation.

Three solutions are built in parallel, each scoped to serve as many organisations as the problem allows, sometimes several, sometimes one. Each is matched with a small team of local developers working at community rates, well under what they charge commercially. Over a five-week build they work out what would help most, build it, and hand it over. There is no cost to your organisation.


What taking part actually involves

One named contact person. Roughly one to two hours a week during the build to answer questions and test progress. A willingness to give honest feedback as it takes shape. That is the whole ask. You do not need any technical knowledge and you do not need to write a specification.

  • Discovery: we sit down with you and agree exactly what is being built
  • During the build: you see working versions each week and say what is wrong
  • Handover: training, light documentation and a supported bedding-in period
  • For six weeks after handover: bugs fixed free
  • After that: the code is open source, so you are never locked in

Key dates

  1. 15 to 31 Aug
    Applications open
  2. 1 to 18 Sep
    A local panel reads every application
  3. 24 Sep
    The three builds are announced
  4. 28 Sep to 9 Oct
    Discovery, agreeing what gets built
  5. 12 Oct to 13 Nov
    Five-week build, in weekly sprints
  6. 26 Nov
    Showcase Hui, the three solutions demonstrated

Who can apply

Not-for-profits, registered charities, marae, sports clubs, community groups and incorporated societies based in the Queenstown Lakes district. Businesses can be eligible where what gets built serves the community rather than commercial gain.

How we choose

A panel of local tech and community people reads every application

Reuse carries real weight, because only three solutions get built. If five organisations need the same thing, the aim is to build it once so all five can use it, rather than once for one of them.

How applications are scored

Genuine need
25%
Reusable by other organisations
20%
Realistic scope and deliverability
20%
Readiness to adopt it
15%
Strategic and community fit
10%
Data, risk and sustainability
10%

Applications open 15 to 31 August

Bring us a real problem
Applying commits you to nothing, and we reply to everyone.
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