Logan Elliott leads an interesting life.

By Claire Grant | Posted: Friday April 29, 2016

The University of Otago graduate runs several businesses – one that makes money out of fire and stilts. He also has a business supporting creatives to become entrepreneurs.

Logan entered the Audacious Challenge three years in a row while at Otago (2008-2010), with three different business idea. While he’s never short of creativity, he said the pressure of having to put two pages together for a business plan each time forced him to consolidate the idea and think about how to progress it. “Audacious is about having a platform to present an idea, and the support to refine it.”

While you might think he’d always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, in fact Logan completed his degree in biotech science, then moved into a Master of Entrepreneurship. Along the way, he joined a group of hobby performer students who liked to entertain with fire and stilts, and it gave him a good idea.

The result was Highly Flammable, a company that creates unique entertainment like fire performances, stilt walking, juggling, human statues and glow for private events in New Zealand, and overseas. The business now has 100 casual employers across the country, and have performed at corporate, community private and sporting events – large and small. International events have included festivals in Fiji and in Stromboli, Italy.

Logan has sent up Entrepreneurs Adventures, running courses, guest speaking on entrepreneurship (including at Otago) and publishing case studies and blogs to share experiences, connections and tools to help others to start their own journey. The aim is to inspire, educate and support new generations of entrepreneurs.

He’s particularly passionate about the remote-working entrepreneur, and is keen to shares information on how to harness tools like the internet while enjoying the freedom of travelling and living overseas, as he already does.

There’s been plenty of challenges for Logan’s businesses along the way and lessons learnt; one of the key ones being to keep an eye on the figures. Logan advises to surround yourself with a team of people who can bring in the skills and mentoring your business need. “Realise what you are good at and don’t hesitate to ask for help with what you can’t do well. Confidence is also vital, but being passionate about the idea you’re driving helps to push through the barriers, and the hard times.