Ideas and collaboration start with us.
The Cell is your starting point to make things happen. We support early-stage entrepreneurs, start-ups, solopreneurs, emerging enterprises and more; to turn their ideas into reality.
Meet the team
The Cell is driven by a small, but passionate group of people who are committed to the business and economic development of the Upper Clutha region.
With a passion for business and the start up community Kelly's motivation behind her involvement is to create a vibrant and energetic working environment that provides both stimulus and opportunities for all business. The right infrastructure, culture and environment is critical to attract new companies to the playground of Wānaka and that is what we aim to achieve.
Kelly Good
Co-founder
Arna Craig
Co-founder
A serial entrepreneur at heart, Arna's vision for the region is to create a thriving and diverse business community. With particular affection for the start up community, Arna is dedicated to supporting talent and encouraging innovative new business development.
Alistair King
As the founder of Gigatown Wānaka, Alistair is excited about Wānaka as a premier business and lifestyle destination. The Cell and CUBE initiatives will help to unleash the awesomeness Wānaka has to offer.
Co-founder
Office Manager
Yolanda Small
When she's not keeping things running smoothly at The Cell, Yolanda is busy managing HS Games alongside her fiancé or hiking in the backcountry right on Wānaka’s doorstep. Always up for a coffee and a chat, she’s the friendly face you’ll want to say hi to when you stop by.
A little history…
Gigatown was an online and real world competition developed by Chorus to help educate and inspire New Zealanders about the possibilities that a country connected with ultra-fast broadband can provide. When the competition kicked off in October 2013, 50 towns from around New Zealand signed up to become the country’s first Gigatown. In September 2014, only five towns made it through to the final round - Dunedin, Gisborne, Nelson, Timaru and Wānaka. Although Wānaka did not win the competition, it brought about many positive changes.
The Centre of Unique Business Evolution (CUBE), nonprofit economic development entity, was created to maintain the momentum that was generated by the Wānaka Gigatown Campaign. It facilitates a number of business focused initiatives including CO. STARTERS, a mentoring program, investment network, entrepreneurial seminar series and a variety of localised business support activities. The CUBE also gave The Cell its start. Here, years later The Cell team is very proud to be thriving independently as a fusion of start-up and emerging businesses working along-side one another in an environment that stimulates and supports creativity and business growth.
Building on the work of the CUBE and the input from others, Startup Queenstown Lakes was formed in November 2017. We welcome you to visit The StartUp Queenstown Lakes website to learn more about their engagements in Business Support, Business Advocacy, Knowledge and Planning Development and the operation of key initiatives for the business community.