Red Bull Basement invites NZ innovators to Tokyo finals

Red Bull Basement is inviting young innovators from New Zealand to participate in its global programme, culminating in a world final in Tokyo this December.

The initiative provides a platform for participants to bring their start-up visions to life, leveraging resources such as AI technology, networking, and collaboration opportunities, the company states. Successful national teams will advance to the World Final where a winning project will be chosen for 2024.

Applications are open until October 30, 2024, for the Red Bull Basement programme. Students and innovators in New Zealand can submit their ideas, with each team creating a business plan assisted by AI tools provided by Red Bull Basement.

Nyssa Waters, CEO & Co-Founder of Being AI, Iyia Liu, Founder of several enterprises including Explosive Social and Tidal Hair, and Sian Simpson, Founder of Public Rally and Kiwi Landing Pad, will serve as judges assessing the submissions from New Zealand's participants.

After the selection process, the national winners will undergo a development phase from November 12 to December 1, 2024. This phase includes working with mentors, AI technology, and industry experts to refine their business ideas.

The global final in Tokyo, from December 2 to 5, 2024, will assemble finalists from 40 countries. Participants will engage in workshops, networking opportunities with international entrepreneurs, and a dedicated AI session. The event will culminate with the announcement of the global winner, who will receive a unique opportunity for further development through a hands-on experience in Silicon Valley.

"Red Bull Basement opened many opportunities for me. I gained a lot from the whole experience – from developing my idea and preparing for the Red Bull Basement global final to traveling to Canada and being inspired by all the speakers and other teams. It will always hold a special place in my heart," said Magdeline Huang, the 2019 winner, reflecting on her experience with the programme.

For 2024, Red Bull Basement is collaborating with Microsoft and AMD, focusing on AI technologies to enhance the experience. The Red Bull Basement Chatbot will use Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service and AMD Instinct accelerators to help teams develop their ideas. During the development phase, national winners will receive AI-enabled laptops equipped with AMD's latest RyzenTM AI processor technology.

Red Bull Basement is open to individuals aged 18 and over who reside in New Zealand. Interested applicants should visit the Red Bull Basement website to submit their business plan applications.