Ember innovations $100k grant and youth challenge. Closing 30th June!

In this issue

BREAKING NEWS: Innovation grants for 2023

Ember Innovations is excited to announce three $100k Innovation Grants for 2023.

Including a brand new grant this year – a $100,000 Innovation Grant tied to our “Challenging Youth Mental Distress Together" project”. This Grant will go to getting off the ground the most promising solutions that come out of the Challenge.

Because of this new development, we are extending our Expressions of Interest to people with innovative ideas or solutions wanting to be part of this exciting new way to develop supports with and for young people to the 30th of June.

Head to The Challenge website to find out more!

Our continuing 2 Research Grants in partnership with Auckland University will be launched soon. The first of these will support an Auckland University Masters or PHD students researching innovative areas in mental health, the second will go to supporting Auckland University Masters/PHD students of any discipline who values the wisdom their lived experience of mental health or addiction challenges has brought to their research. Stay tuned in the coming months to find more about these opportunities.

Rising to the Challenge: Youth Flourishing in North Auckland

In partnership with Managed Moves and Paihere Charitable Trust, our first Ember Innovations 'Challenge' explores what makes youth thrive and how we can increase innovation that positively impacts them. Using a challenge-led approach, (sometimes called a mission oriented) we're bringing together various partners, who each hold a different piece of the puzzle to address this vital opportunity.

Young people have asked that we come together to address three central themes:

1. Prevention & Early Intervention: Offering early support for emerging mental health issues and helping young people maintain wellness.
2. Supporting the Supporters: Assisting those who young people turn to when they need help, while also keeping their own wellbeing in check.
3. Joining things up: Closing gaps in support, ensuring all youth get timely, meaningful help when they need it.

We're inviting passionate people with innovative ideas aligned with these themes to join our 'innovator cohort.' This broad group will receive varied support, including coaching, learning opportunities, and connections to potential funders and partners, including an opportunity to apply for our $100,000 Innovation Grant.

The cohort will be announced in early July and will have their first opportunity to showcase their ideas and solutions and connect with supporters at an event in early August.

To learn more and see how to get involved as someone with an idea, a project that might fit, a supporter of our innovation teams or a partner-funder to the innovations that emerge, click here.

Haupu Rawa me te Oranga Hinengaro Hou

"Catalysing Capital: Accelerating Solutions for Mental Wellbeing in Aotearoa"

Our Groundbreaking Report on Wellbeing Innovation Funding tailored to catalyse and expand funding for trailblazing solutions in the wellbeing field. The anticipation is over; it's available now!  Read now.

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Celebrating innovators

Rawiri Hazel at He Waka Tapu

We talked with Rawiri Hazel to learn about who He Waka Tapu is, and what kind of innovations, insight, and learnings He Waka Tapu has found.

Adam Hutchinson at oVRcome

We talked with Adam to find out what oVRcome is, the challenges to innovation, and an innovator's insight around walking their talk about wellbeing.

Anna Dorsey at The Good Yarn Project

We talked with Anna about the creation, impact and motivation behind The Good Yarn Project and the work they do. As well as her approach to innovation.

Jase Te Patu at M3 Mindfulness

We talked with Jase about the creation and evolution of M3 Mindfulness, getting an insight about how process and journey as an innovator.

Other things in the pipeline

An ecosystem map

We have been working on a map of who’s out there and what they’re doing. This will enable us to better understand how and where we can best make a positive impact.

Our own innovation network

We are designing and building a tailor-made innovation social-network so that we can help foster more collaboration and community amongst innovators.

Safety & impact assessment tool

We are developing a platform to support both innovators and investors on the journey of creating safe and effective impact together.

Innovation Grants

Apply now via the Challenge to score a piece of $100k to get your Youth Innovation off the ground, and subscribe to be the first to hear about our 2 x $100k Research Grants.

Remember 2022?

Last year was Ember Innovations biggest year to date.  Learn about the growth of Ember Innovations, why we're different, what we're planning to solve, and what we're doing about it

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