Lightning Lab Tourism week 9: Meet the managers

29th July 2019 By Bridget O'Connell | bridget@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Jeffrey Ling and Erica Austin

As we hurtle towards the conclusion of the programme we speak to Lightning Lab Tourism programme director, Jeffrey Ling, and programme manager, Erica Austin, about how they got involved in the Christchurch-based accelerator, some highlights and lowlights from the journey, and life after the lab.

Q. Jeffrey, you first. You are a Malaysian-born, University of Canterbury-educated lawyer who made the leap into the start-up space during a 12-year stint in Taiwan. Tell us about that?

A. I had been in New Zealand for around 13 years and worked in a couple of legal roles after graduating from UC, before I moved to Taiwan in 2007. I initially worked in law again, but went on to work in three different startups spanning online quasi-legal services, enterprise SAAS and travel tech. I completed an accelerator programme with the first of these businesses, so I know what it is like to be on the other side of the fence. It was a fun experience – I learnt a lot and I got told off a lot for doing things I shouldn’t be doing as part of that programme – all good experience for being a programme director here.

I also spent just over two years with the Taiwan Startup Stadium , a government-funded initiative which helped startups scale internationally. I was working with around 130 businesses and my job in particular was match-making startups and investors. I dealt with around 400 investors of which around 60% were based outside of Taiwan – so whenever anyone had any question about fundraising I would connect them to investors.

Q. Great credentials then, but how did you actually get involved in this programme?

A. I had just moved back to Christchurch and was looking to get involved in the startup community here. A friend of mine is also a friend of Creative HQ’s head of acceleration, Laura Reitel, and suggested I get in touch with her. I did just that, and here I am.

Q. Erica, you have a passion for people and places among other things. How did you come to be involved in the startup scene here in Christchurch?

A. My background is in architecture, I completed my Masters in architecture in Auckland – my thesis was around creating an experience economy in Christchurch and using architecture as a catalyst for growth. That gave me a year of researching and understanding Christchurch from Auckland but I thought it would be really good to be here on the ground and contribute in my own way. I really wanted to make a difference – to get in to the community and understand what was needed to build a sustainable and thriving city.

I packed one suitcase and got on a plane to Christchurch – I had no job and no accommodation when I arrived so I stayed in a hostel until I found a flat and spent my first year volunteering. I now wear many different hats working with various organisations such as Ministry of Awesome and Te Putahi (Centre for Architecture and Citymaking), Young Enterprise Trust, Leadership Lab and more.

I also volunteer organiser to TEDxChristchurch, PechaKucha Night Christchurch, Startup Weekend Christchurch, WWGSD and am a Trustee at Watch This Space – Christchurch Streetart and is a member of Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network.

Q. Wowsers. So how did you get involved with Lightning Lab Tourism, and quite frankly, how do you find the time and energy?

A. I was involved with the 2015 Lightning Lab that was held in Christchurch when I was working with the Ministry of Awesome. When I saw Lightning Lab was coming back I reached out to Laura to see what support I could offer and one thing led to another and I ended up as programme manager.

Q. So how has the experience been for you guys – we’re heading into the last few weeks of the programme – are there any highlights or challenges from the last two months that you would like to share? Jeffrey?

A. For me the highlight is seeing teams – especially with very early stage teams who come onto the programme with no idea what to do – gain the knowledge about how to actually build a business.

That is what it is all about – it’s not just about the idea you have and creating stuff – it is about giving everyone the tools and the methodologies to create sustainable business that can grow and scale.

When it comes down to it, it is actually quite a scientific process, every step of the way there is a method to help you progress. It is so important that this is on offer for startups because so many entrepreneurs just don’t know what they are doing. And the skill sets you learn on the programme are useful in many ways not just creating companies.

I haven’t found it difficult running the programme, I haven’t found it difficult running the teams, in fact the more challenging it is, the more I have felt energised. The challenge for me is around making sure all the stakeholders are also befitting from the programme. Yes, they are here as a sponsor, but we are also hoping they get something concrete out of it – for me it is about finding out what each of them need and thinking not just about how we can deliver that, but also thinking about how we can go beyond it.

I also want to make sure that the programme is beneficial to the local ecosystem here in Christchurch – that is also something Erica and I have talked about.

Q. What would you add to that Erica?

A. Yes, on top of that, a challenge I am thinking about is how do we make sure that the teams continue to use all the tools, and processes and resources that they have learnt on the programme after it finishes. How can we help them keep momentum beyond the programme – that is something I battle with in terms of accelerator programmes in general – how can we make sure there isn’t a drop in momentum and motivation to carry on.

My highlight has been to really get to know the teams from a personal and business point of view. Yes, there is a process, but what it really comes down to growing the people, and I have seen that growth with the teams in this cohort.

The Lightning Lab Tourism accelerator runs until 23 August and is supported by Callaghan Innovation, Christchurch International Airport, Centrality, Tourism Industry Aotearoa and ChristchurchNZ. It is being delivered by Creative HQ – a member of the Global Accelerator Network.