Startup and founder support Te tautoko mā te pakihi hou

As a startup founder you might be working alone or with a small team to turn an innovative idea into a scalable business. You bring ambition and commitment, and you’re focused on creating new products, services, technologies or business models. You’re aiming to shake up existing industries — while also building a business that can quickly grow and attract investors.

To help you, we've teamed up with leading organisations that specialise in supporting promising Kiwi startups and founders during their early stages. They provide accelerator and incubator programmes that are led by experts and designed to grow your business at speed.

The programmes:

• provide mentoring and coaching from startup experts
• build your skills in areas like market research, financial planning, raising capital, and marketing and sales
• help you take a deeper look at your business, to find different approaches and practical solutions
• provide connections to industry and investors to help you commercialise faster and more successfully.

The programmes are free. We part-fund them, and the rest is funded by other organisations and groups that are involved in the programmes and want to support startups to succeed.

The programmes are designed for founders and their early-stage ventures working to solve big problems.

Personalized one-to-one coaching to start up founders delivered by startup experts throughout Aotearoa.

Programmes: Founder Catalyst Incubator and events and Startup Aotearoa delivery partner 

Founder-focused programmes, mentorship and community connections to help early stage-entrepreneurs.

Programmes: Specialist accelerators and events and Startup Aotearoa delivery partner

Delivery of industry-tailored programmes, mentorship and capability-building support to help founders launch and grow innovative ventures.

Programmes: Incubators and events

Supports founders and startups through a range of economic development initiatives that foster innovation and connect entrepreneurs to networks and opportunities throughout the region

Programme: Agritech accelerators

Focuses on agrifood and agritech, and investment into emerging technologies and helps accelerate selected deep tech ventures

The Tupu Accelerator is for Māori founders to support them to become investment-ready and scale into global markets.

Programme: Accelerators

An impact-focused accelerator that supports founders developing solutions to ocean health challenges, providing specialised programmes, mentorship and access to a global network.

Programme: Accelerators

Early stage founder and start up support to build traction and scale ventures through practical support and shared networks across the wider ecosystem.

Programme: Events & Resources

Waikato-based innovation hub and incubator that supports startups and founders through tailored programmes, mentorship and connections to industry and investment.

Programme: Events & Resources

Regional start up support in Dunedin, providing support through programmes, mentorship and community initiatives to champion early-stage ventures, validate ideas and grow sustainable business.

Programme: Events & Resources

Fosters collaboration within the South Island innovation network by supporting founders and startups through the provision of programmes and industry connections.

Programme: Events & Resources

A locally-led startup hub delivering founder support through events, workshops and tailored mentoring that connects early-stage entrepreneurs with peers, investors and industry.

Programme: Events & Resources

Actively fosters a growing tech and innovation ecosystem by providing support through founders through localized grass-roots growth programs and tech focused networking groups.

Programme: Events & Resources

Comprehensive local guidance and support through practical workshops, capability-building accelerators, mentorship matching and grant opportunities. 

Programme: Events & Resources

Startup support for aspiring founders and entrepreneurs in Te Tai Tokerau by offering business mentoring and coaching right through to innovation grants and tailors training tools.

If you’re interested in applying for a programme, you should have already taken the first steps to developing your startup.

Before you apply:

• check which programme is a good fit for you — some are sector-specific or for startups solving specific challenges
• review the criteria for each programme to make sure you meet requirements.

Innovation Services aims to increase diversity in startups and entrepreneurship. Many of the programmes we support have a particular focus on supporting Māori and female founders.

The organisation that runs each programme will have more information about the application and selection process.

If you’ve got an idea, we also provide information on how to:

• turn that idea into a business
• protect your ideas and assets
• grow your business.

Founding a startup can be demanding and you might feel like you’re under a lot of pressure. Mental health and wellbeing are important but, sometimes, finding the right support for your situation can be difficult.

Find out more about looking after your mental health, finding time for rest and relaxation, and being resilient. We also have an e-learning series on how to reduce financial stress and perform under pressure.

If you need to talk to someone urgently, there are a range of hotline services available.

In an emergency, always call the police on 111.

Creating a positive work culture and a mentally healthy workspace means your team feels supported and safe. Find your leadership style and learn how to communicate clearly with your team.