Māori entrepreneurs giving back to next generation with US internships
Te Ao Maori News - Māori entrepreneurs giving back to next generation with US internships
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SEPTEMBER 12, 2023: A US-based Agritech business leader is championing more Māori to get into the science and technology sector by offering internships in America for graduates.
Arama Kukutai (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Te Aupōuri) is a venture capitalist and CEO of vertical farming company, Plenty, based in California.
He has created the Te Ara Pōtiki, alongside Francene Wineti (Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa), and Dean Tilyard, founder of the Sprout Accelerator and partner at Finistere Ventures Aotearoa.
The programme is aimed at sharing his 20 years of experience, knowledge and networks he’s picked up while living and working in the USA.
“I was thinking about ways in which to share the experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have in my career with the next generation of up-and-coming, in particular science and technology graduates where we’ve seen an explosion in growth and so much capability amongst our rangatahi.
“Living here on the other side of the world and seeing this happen inspired me to think there may be a way in which that talent amongst our people can be exposed to new experiences, new networks, that are connected to some of the things I’ve been doing here over the past two decades and more.”