Incredible Innovator: AUT Student is Lighting the Way for Live Gigs
Live concerts today often feature LED wristbands that light up the crowd, but what happens to all that plastic and tech once the encore ends?
During a throwaway conversation, a friend half-jokingly suggested building an app that turns audience phones into a light show instead. For AUT Bachelor of Design student, majoring in Visual Effects, Nathan Reynolds, that passing comment sparked an idea he couldn't let go of.
"I thought it would be an interesting way to learn more about web technologies and networking," Nathan explains. "It was originally just a fun prototype idea, but over time the possibilities became apparent."
Today, that prototype has grown into Crowdlight: a software service that allows live event lighting designers to create synchronised, stadium-wide light shows using the screens of the audience's smartphones.
Driven from day one
Nathan's drive to build Crowdlight began in high school. Balancing his studies with his passion for theatrical audiovisual production, he entered a school business incubator to refine the app’s technical and commercial foundations.
His hard work paid off spectacularly when his Crowdlight submission earned him an NCEA Technology Scholarship, an elite award achieved by just 1.6% of students nationwide.
For AUT Ventures Venture Director Chris Hill, Nathan’s entrepreneurial spirit is exactly what the university's innovation ecosystem is all about. “It's incredibly rewarding to see an idea sparked by a casual conversation grow into something with real-world potential," says Chris. "Nathan has combined creativity, technical ability and determination to turn an interesting idea into something that could genuinely change how people experience live events.”
The Next Chapter at AUT
Now studying for a Bachelor of Design, Nathan is determined to keep pushing Crowdlight forward. He recently joined the AUT Ara Tipu Start-Up Programme, delivered in partnership with The King's Trust, where he strengthened his business skills and successfully pitched his venture to secure He Kākano funding. Behind the scenes, AUT Ventures has been working alongside Nathan, providing the strategic support needed to navigate the startup landscape.
"AUT Ventures has provided helpful advice around intellectual property and continues to connect me with opportunities and support that fit exactly where Crowdlight is heading," Nathan says.
Lighting the Way Forward
With Crowdlight set to debut at live events in the near future, Nathan remains grateful to the community of mentors, teachers, and supporters who have backed his vision.
"Seeing how many talented and knowledgeable people want to help when I talk about Crowdlight really validates that this is something people are looking for and worth making," he reflects. "It's so cool that I could achieve this just by starting with an interesting idea and learning about technology."
From a throwaway conversation to an innovation with global potential, Nathan's journey with Crowdlight proves that with curiosity, creativity, and incredible drive, you can turn a simple idea into something spectacular.
See Nathan and Crowdlight in action at the AUT Innovation Showcase on 3 September.