CEO wins Social Entrepreneur of the Year!

We are super happy to say that our CEO Sasha Lockley won Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the Global Entrepreneurship Network New Zealand Awards 2023!

“I was so stunned when I heard my name. This award means so much to me, Team Spotty and our Kaupapa. When I initially had the idea in 2019 many people thought that I was more than a little bit bonkers. Over the past four years I’ve found a tribe that doesn’t just believe in our mission, but lives and breathes it each and every day. This award is for the many good people doing good things across Aotearoa to support whānau who are juggling and struggling their finances.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari kē he toa takitini. My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, it was not individual success but the success of a collective“

🌟 An unforgettable night celebrating innovation, impact, and entrepreneurship!

Other winners on the night were:

🏆 Academic Initiative of the Year: Velocity: The University of Auckland Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme

‍🏆 GEN NZ Connector of the Year: Pauli Sosa ✨

‍🏆 Entrepreneur of the Year: Rick Kiessig / Kimmer Med

🏆 Entrepreneur Support Organisation of the Year: Doso (formerly Startup Taranaki)

‍🏆 Investor of the Year: Maria Jose (MJ) Alvarez / WNT Ventures

‍🏆 GEN NZ Member Representative of the Year: Pascale Hyboud-Peron

‍🏆 Māori Entrepreneur of the Year: Kaye Maree Dunn /

🏆 Public Sector Initiative of the Year: Jenny Douché / Callaghan Innovation

‍🏆 Social Entrepreneur of the Year: Sasha Lockley / Money Sweetspot

‍🏆 Youth Programme of the Year: The Brave Venture🏆

🏆 Special Award: Suse Reynolds

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GEN New Zealand's mission is to connect Kiwi Ecosystem Enablers with the talent and resources they need to thrive nationally & globally and to grow the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in New Zealand through building partnerships with the Government, Ecosystem Enablers, Investors, Service Providers, and Academia.