Marlborough
Business Competition for Intermediate Schools
Hey Marlborough - Here’s a fun, FREE, hands-on competition for Years 7–8. Give your students the opportunity to think creatively, solve real problems, and design something that makes a positive difference in their school or community.
Supported by
Challenge Overview
Subject area: Business/Commerce
Year level: Intermediate
Teams: 3-5 students
Dates: Term 3, 2026
Key concepts
Students explore a real-world problem and create a product or service that helps solve that problem. The process allows students to explore key essential skills -
Problem / Opportunity
Solution Ideation
Advertising and Promotion
Pitching
Real-World Challenge Statements
This year’s challenge has been developed alongside local businesses and organisations, giving students the opportunity to work on genuine issues facing our community.
Problem Statement #1 | Sustainability
How could we reduce waste in smarter ways that are affordable?
Building sites create a lot of rubbish. Could materials be reused, recycled, or repurposed in new ways?
Problem Statement #3 | Tourism & Community
How could we make Marlborough a place visitors remember and want to return to?
Students might think about attractions, events, family experiences, public spaces, or ways to make visitors feel welcome.
Problem Statement #2 | Culture & Storytelling
How could we share local stories in fun and exciting ways that young people and families would enjoy?
Could stories come to life through games, events, apps, books, experiences, or something completely new?
Problem Statement #4 | Technology & Safety
What technology or ideas could help people succeed in physically demanding jobs?
Could technology, devices, wearables, apps, or training tools help people work more safely and effectively?
How the Challenge Works
Students will work in teams to tackle one of the real-world challenges provided by our community partners. Throughout the competition, Ripyl provides short, engaging videos and resources to guide students through key entrepreneurial concepts, including -
Ideation and generating great ideas
Market validation and customer research
Building a simple revenue model
Creating and delivering an effective pitch
Working together, students will identify a problem, develop a solution, and build a simple business concept that explains how their idea could create value.
Along the way, teams will be supported by Ripyl resources and mentors from across the Marlborough region.
At the end of the challenge, teams will record and submit their pitches, which will be judged by representatives from the sponsoring organisations alongside Massey University.
Finalists will then be invited to present live at the Marlborough Enterprise Challenge Celebration Evening in Blenheim, bringing together students, teachers, whānau, businesses, and the wider community to celebrate a spectacular term of innovation, problem-solving, and fun.
Real-world challenges, real student thinking, real impact!
