Meet our Business and Entrepreneurship Panel for The Muster.

Anna Guenther is the co-founder and Chief Bubble Blower of PledgeMe, Aotearoa’s first licensed equity crowdfunding platform and one of the first in Australia. She has helped hundreds of founders and doers raise the funds they need to grow their ideas — and has crowdfunded her own ventures many times too. Since launching, more than 1,700 creative, community and entrepreneurial campaigns have raised over $75 million through @pledgeme
Anna has also worked for MIT and Harvard, and holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship from the University of Otago Business School, focused on crowdfunding. She’s also held several roles at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, supporting companies to grow for the good of Aotearoa and the world.

Motueka-born and raised, Miriana Stephens (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngā Potiki) is a director of Wakatū Incorporation. She currently leads AuOra, Wakatū’s mātauranga Māori, research and innovation arm, which reconnects whānau to whenua and protects traditional knowledge, genetic resources and the wellbeing of our taiao and people for generations to come.
Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in New Zealand History and a Law Degree majoring in Commercial Law. Miriana started her own business 20 years ago, focused on entrepreneurship and education. She has co-authored publications including the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy and Taking Care of Business series.
She was awarded the 2016 Aotearoa NZ Māori Woman Business Leader award and continues to serve in governance roles, including as a director of the Riddet Institute, a trustee of AGMARDT and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua, and chair of the Te Āwhina Marae Redevelopment Programme, which recently completed 20 new whare for whānau in Motueka. Miriana has four adult children - some still at home!
Miriana will be running two workshops and sharing her knowledge on our business panel.

Davaar Knitwear began in the woolshed of a Southland farm. Founder Kate Macdonald grew up on Davaar Station, her family’s property, where generations of Macdonald’s have worked with modest, quiet pride. Farming with intention and a focus on quality has always been front and centre at Davaar Station, underpinned by a deep commitment to the land and its legacy. Today, Davaar Knitwear jerseys are spun and knitted entirely in New Zealand: a modern expression of traditional craft and rural know-how. At its heart is Kate’s commitment – to make garments that reflect where they come from and establish Davaar as a leader intent on promoting a larger movement to revitalise wool’s place in the New Zealand economy.
Kate will be joining our business panel where she'll be sharing insights on being a rural entrepreneur – and you'll be able to shop Davaar Knitwear at their stall.