For students

How Openground works.

One year. One real business. Your name on it.

Open to Year 12 students at Westlake Boys, Westlake Girls, Rosmini College and Carmel College from 2027. One cohort, learning together at the B:HIVE, Smales Farm.

The year

Term by term.

Term 1

Learn the fundamentals

How business actually works: spotting opportunities, market research, and building an MVP. You finish the term with an idea worth chasing, ready for mentor matching.

Steve Anderson talking the cohort through a session at the B:HIVE

Term 2

Get your mentor. Make your first sale.

You are paired with a mentor with genuine real-world business experience. Together you build the thing, take it to market, and make your first real sale.

A student talking through his business one-on-one with his mentor

Term 3

Grow it. Hear from guest speakers.

More customers, more revenue, a sharper pitch. Guest speakers run right through the year: founders, investors and innovators who have walked the path before you.

A guest speaker presenting to the cohort at the B:HIVE

Term 4

Showcase Night and prize giving

Showcase what you have built over the year to a full room, hear from a guest speaker, and celebrate at the prize giving. Parents welcome.

Students and guests meeting after Showcase Night

Joining

Getting started.

There is an application process. You submit a business idea, which can and often does change later, and a short video on why you should get a place.

Accepted students are invoiced a $1,500 upfront fee for the year. Limited scholarships are available for genuine financial hardship, and we will ask for evidence.

Full details on the Get Involved page →

ApplyApplications for Year 12 in 2027 go through our application form, linked on the Get Involved page.
Your idea and a short videoWhat you want to build, and why you should get a place. No polish needed.
Hear back in Term 4Accepted students are notified and invoiced on acceptance.
Start in 2027Sessions run after school at the B:HIVE from Term 1.

Questions

What students and parents ask.

Do I need a business idea already?

To apply, yes. It can and often does change in your first term, but it is important to apply with an idea, or several, of what you want to do.

When and where does it run?

After school at the B:HIVE, Smales Farm, Takapuna. Sessions run Monday to Thursday, 3:30 to 5pm, across the school year.

Who can apply?

From 2027, Year 12 students at Westlake Boys, Westlake Girls, Rosmini College and Carmel College. All four schools learn together as one cohort.

What does it cost?

$1,500 for the year, invoiced on acceptance. It covers the full programme. Limited scholarships are available for genuine financial hardship.

Is the money students make real?

Completely. Students sell to real customers and keep building from there. Many ventures have grown into companies that outlasted school.

Year 13 is currently only available at Westlake Boys High School. It runs as a course during school time, with full details announced during 2027.

The course

Step by step.

Step 1

Start Learning

Create a business plan, conduct market research, and develop an MVP (minimum viable product). You’ll take real, actionable steps to bring your business idea to life.

A Year 13 student building his business plan at a laptop

Step 2

Get Paired With a Mentor

You’ll be matched with a mentor who has genuine real-world business experience. They’ll guide you through the ups and downs of building your business and help you navigate challenges along the way.

Students and mentors meeting in the Year 13 classroom

Step 3

Hear From Expert Guest-Speakers

Throughout the programme, you’ll hear from leading entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who have walked the path before you. These sessions will inspire you, expose you to new industries, and give you valuable insights that most students never get while still in school.

A guest speaker presenting to the Year 13 class

Step 4

Pitch For Funding In The Dragon’s Den

Put your ideas to the test in front of real investors, business leaders, and mentors. The Dragons’ Den is your chance to pitch for real funding to take your business to the next level, just like the entrepreneurs you see on TV.

The Dragon's Den judges listening to a pitch

Step 5

Go to Market

Once your product or service is ready, it’s time to launch. You’ll take your business to market, start making sales, and experience what it’s really like to run something of your own. This is where everything you’ve learned comes together: strategy, communication, resilience, and entrepreneurial thinking in action.

A notebook of business ideas, ready to take to market

Get involved →

Alumni

In for good.

Openground does not end at graduation. Alumni events run all year, and as our alumni grow, many give back: the founders on our success stories page all came back as mentors.

Meet the alumni →