The Tauranga Branch of Rural Women New Zealand is looking for a rural woman with a fantastic business idea to nominate for the RWNZ Activator Programme.

The initiative is a joint project between RWNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries, aimed at helping rural women entrepreneurs and innovators develop and grow their businesses.

Nominations from RWNZ branches around the country will be considered, with a small number of rural women selected to take part in a session on March 24, in Wellington or March 25, in Christchurch.

'The experience will be like being part of a friendly Dragon's Den,” says RWNZ chief executive Liz Pennington.

'Our rural entrepreneurs will have a session with a panel of experts who will advise on how to take the next steps to bring their business ideas to reality.”

The friendly dragons, who come from a range of backgrounds, will be led by Marian Johnson, chief awesome officer at the Ministry of Awesome.

Each successful entrepreneur will have an hour-long session with the experts, which will include the opportunity to explain their concept and plans and where they are up to in achieving them.

The entrepreneurs will then work with the experts on identifying any existing or potential obstacles that might impede their progress and the next steps for their business.

The last part of the session will involve creating a plan to move the business forward and identify ways and means of supporting the entrepreneur to achieve this. This plan will be specific to each candidate, their business and what tools or connections or planning they might need.

Financial assistance to cover travel and accommodation costs to enable the successful rural business women applicant to be part of the RWNZ Activator Programme will also be available.

Rural women are invited to apply by sending a brief summary of their business/innovative idea to: rwnztauranga@gmail.com