SIMON O’CONNOR/StuffGlen Stephens created the startup Sol+Sea skincare, winners of a $10,000 enhance. Pictured with Venture Taranaki Chief Executive Justine Gilliland.A Taranaki entrepreneur has received a $10,000 enhance to assist get his pure, ocean-friendly skincare model into houses across the nation. Glen Stephens is behind Sol+Sea, merchandise that, not like business sunscreens, don’t bleach and injury coral. He has been engaged on his concept for over three years, and it’s at the moment being trialled by focus teams and New Zealand professional surfers Paige Hareb and Ricardo Christie and America’s Cup-winning sailor Blair Tuke. “What drives [the product] is my ardour for the atmosphere and my ardour for ocean sports activities, and a product that works and is secure for the atmosphere,” Stephens mentioned, after successful the prize within the Venture Taranaki Power-Up Ideas competitors on Wednesday evening. READ MORE:* Celebrating our greatest companies: Taranaki natural well being meals retailer Down To Earth* Sunscreen is killing coral and reefs across the globe The competitors began with 50 enterprise hopefuls attending workshops in February and March. They had been narrowed down to 5 finalists from April to June. All acquired tailor-made assist to assist additional develop their concepts forward of the finals evening. Stephens grew up within the Pacific Islands has seen the injury finished to coral reefs. He and spouse Zoe began Sol+Sea as a couple and she or he may even work within the enterprise. The couple have used $150,000 for start-up prices, and the merchandise are produced in Auckland. Sol+Sea merchandise are set to go on sale in October.SIMON O’CONNOR/StuffSol+Sea’s skincare vary marries Stephens’ care for the atmosphere and love of ocean sports activities. “I need this to be a family model title in New Zealand and to guard folks after they’re out having enjoyable,” Stephens mentioned. The finals evening, held in entrance of a stay viewers on the Devon Hotel, noticed the 5 finalists pitch their concepts to a judging panel. The different 4 finalists had been: Lauren Oehme and Leon Power, Nanobubble Agritech (agricultural know-how) – winners of the folks’s selection awards and $2000; Karen Danenhauer, MamaGaia (a product made out of recycled merchandise); Remy Zynfogel, Calypso Science (know-how centered on ocean tides and currents) and Jenni Matheson, Mrinali Kumar and staff, Kinda Ice Cream (a plant-based meals product). Venture Taranaki chief govt Justine Gilliland mentioned the sector was prime quality.
