Business building tips and insights from Startup NZ subject experts.
Drip Waterproof Socks
In Founder Focus we introduce entrepreneurs and change-makers working on innovative startups, social enterprises and SME’s around Aotearoa New Zealand. At a glance Founder: Paul McKernan Business: Drip Waterproof Socks Founded: 2023 HQ: Auckland Can you tell us a bit about your business? We have designed a waterproof sock for outdoor enthusiasts and sports lovers, […]
Knowledge Base
Business building tips and insights from Startup NZ subject experts.
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RECENTly ON NZ ENTREPRENEUR
Māori and Pasifika young entrepreneurs navigate 36-hour Business Challenge
Forty-five exceptional rangatahi Māori and Pasifika young minds from high schools across Aotearoa were united in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland last week to attend the entrepreneurial education programme, ‘Young Navigators,’ by Young Enterprise Trust. The initiative, sponsored by One NZ, alongside Pacific Business Trust, and New Zealand Māori Tourism, is designed to immerse Māori and Pasifika […]
Squarespace website and ecommerce builder platform
Squarespace is a popular website building and hosting service that allows individuals and businesses to create professional-looking websites and e-commerce stores without needing extensive technical expertise. It provides a user-friendly interface with an intuitive “drag and drop” editor, and a variety of professionally designed templates that users can customise to create their own unique websites. […]
We’re Hiring! Could you be our new Media Lead?
Come Grow With Us! About Us Since 2012 NZ Entrepreneur has been inspiring, educating and informing thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners throughout New Zealand, every month. We are passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to make a positive impact in the world, and sharing their stories. We are looking for a new team member to support […]
Knowledge Base: Angel funding insights with Bridget Unsworth, Angel Association New Zealand
Watch now: (20 mins) In this edition of Knowledge Base, Richard Liew talks with Bridget Unsworth, Executive Director of Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ). If you are building an innovative startup and need funding, tune into this informative discussion where Bridget provides an overview of angel investment funding in New Zealand and plenty of tips […]
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OTHER RECENT NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES
BIZ WIRE
Founder Q&A: Everkind
Business: Everkind Founder: Amanda-Jane Healy HQ: New Plymouth What products, services, solutions or technology have you developed? We create certified organic body care for people who don’t want to choose between their health and what works. At Everkind, we seek to do no harm to people or planet. So from our formulas to our packaging, […]
Former software entrepreneur turns seaweed pest into a liquid spray fertiliser
Nelson entrepreneur Alex Pressman is turning an invasive marine pest into a business. He harvests a species of native seaweed and turns it into plant nutrients and crop protection products for domestic and overseas markets in Asian, American and European farmers. Pressman moved to New Zealand in 2002, settling in Nelson after he sold a […]
Hā Habit breathwork tool alleviating stress and anxiety for thousands
The Hā Tool – a Māori-inspired stress and anxiety necklace – is a breathing tool that calms the body and mind, quickly relieving mental distress through the Hā (breath). Founder Julia Wikeepa [Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi] says Hā Habit was inspired by Māori and Western philosophies and concepts and is a solution to […]
Blackball Black Garlic taste success, now levelling up their culinary offering
By day Sam Weston is a Joiner, but by night (and weekends) he, and his business partner Wayne Hanright, are producing award-winning Black Garlic. And along with a fresh batch of opportunities to grow the business, the pair are close to completing a new commercial kitchen, thanks to a grant from Development West Coast. “I […]
GEN NZ Entrepreneurship Awards Winners announced
The Global Entrepreneurship Network New Zealand (GEN NZ) recognised the winners of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Awards last week on Thursday 26 October in a ceremony and celebration at GridAKL. The annual awards recognise New Zealand’s rising entrepreneurs, their ventures, and the ecosystem that supports them. GEN NZ Chair Dave Moskovitz said that the judging was […]
RiverWatch rebrands to AquaWatch, expands water monitoring
RiverWatch, a startup that provides monitoring services to improve water quality, is rebranding to AquaWatch and extending its product offer to improve the quality of all water, not just the quality of water in rivers and other recreation areas. The startup will not only monitor municipal waters and aquaculture, it will also offer users a […]
Powrsuit join Angel Association NZ delegation to Austin and Denver
Kristen Lunman and Natalie Ferguson, cofounders of leadership platform Powrsuit, recently joined the Angel Association New Zealand delegation to Austin and Denver. Here Kristen shares their key learnings and reflections from the trip, a testament to the value of leveraging international networks. While the rest of Aotearoa was stuck in semi-isolation for a few years, […]
Discover your entrepreneurial spirit at Techstars Startup Weekend Queenstown
Marco Dingemans, General Manager at Startup Queenstown Lakes is inviting local and visiting entrepreneurs to make the most of the next Techstars Startup Weekend. In Queenstown Lakes District, the entrepreneurial spirit is more alive than ever. To enhance this force, the Techstars Startup Weekend from 10 – 12 November, Queenstown is the place to be. […]
Founder Q&A: Nanobubble Agritech
Business: Nanobubble Agritech Founders: Leon Power and Lauren Oehme HQ: Taranaki What products, services, solutions or technology have you developed? Nanobubble technology is a method for efficiently transferring high levels of gas to liquid. We have developed a unique system that allows nanobubble technology to be applied at large scale, in agriculture and horticulture – […]
NewFish to take sustainable microalgae protein to the world
Biofoodtech startup NewFish is to accelerate the commercialisation and development of microalgae-based nutrition products with new developing technology. It is using research conducted in collaboration with the Cawthron Institute, New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation, to identify better forms of nutrition from microalgae, and to commercialise its nutritious properties. The startup has also teamed up […]
“It is open for business” – Development West Coast CEO Heath Milne
Development West Coast [DWC] Chief Executive Heath Milne says the region is “open for business”. He says there’s been a steady increase in small businesses forming in the region over the last two to three years, but larger more established businesses are gaining traction. “You do have a friendly environment to move into if you […]
Inaugural ocean economy cluster, Moananui, takes off in Nelson
Moananui, a pioneering cluster in the blue economy sector, has officially launched in Nelson, with a vision to maximise New Zealand’s marine industry through innovative collaboration. Chief Executive Jodie Kuntzsch says Moananui’s aim is to harness the collective strength of its partners to fast-track economic growth in marine activities, foster connections among stakeholders, positively contribute […]
HOW-TO’S, TIPS, Insights AND ADVICE
Insights
SME&E Festival Podcast: Ian Cartwright, How to amplify your businesses sales
Got your tickets to the 2022 NZ SME&E Festival this 8th and 9th of November? Each week we’ll be sharing a podcast from some of the many great business speakers and mentors you can catch at the festival. How to amplify your businesses sales In this episode of the SME&E Festival Podcast, festival organiser Craig […]
SME&E Festival Podcast: Mike Hutcheson, Small business marketing tactics
Got your tickets to the 2022 NZ SME&E Festival this 8th and 9th of November? Each week we’ll be sharing a podcast from some of the many great business speakers and mentors you can catch at the festival. Small business marketing tactics In this episode of the SME&E Festival Podcast, festival organiser Craig Murray speaks […]
500 Founders: Deb Gilbertson, Richard Liew, Laura Nixon & Amber Taylor
Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? Welcome to ‘500 Founders’ where we ask innovators from around New Zealand for their top insights for first time startup founders. Deb Gilbertson – Founder Te Kaihau “Entrepreneurship is like parenting.” “Making your business happen is more like […]
Cyfe All-In-One Online Business Dashboards
Cyfe is a simple all-in-one business dashboard app that helps you easily monitor all your business data from one place. Social media, analytics, marketing, sales, support, infrastructure… if you’re driving yourself crazy trying to collect and report on all your key business performance metrics from a range of different apps, Cyfe enables you to monitor everything from one place, through visual […]
SME&E Festival Podcast: Wendy Thompson, Social media marketing tactics
Got your tickets to the 2022 NZ SME&E Festival this 8th and 9th of November? Each week we’ll be sharing a podcast from some of the many great business speakers and mentors you can catch at the festival. Social media marketing tactics In this episode of the SME&E Festival Podcast, festival organiser Craig Murray speaks […]
SME&E Festival Podcast: Flavio Hangarter, What is bootstrapping a business/startup?
Got your tickets to the 2022 NZ SME&E Festival this 8th and 9th of November? Each week we’ll be sharing a podcast from some of the many great business speakers and mentors you can catch at the festival. What is bootstrapping a business/startup? In this episode of the SME&E Festival Podcast, festival organiser Craig Murray […]
500 Founders: Kaila Colbin, Tom Brownlie, Yvette Shum & Simon Pollock
Want to tap in to the best startup advice from entrepreneurs who are out there doing it? Welcome to ‘500 Founders’ where we ask innovators from around New Zealand for their top insights for first time startup founders. Kaila Colbin – Founder Boma “Invest explicitly in your team culture long before you think it’s necessary, […]
See tomorrow first with NZ Growth Capital Partners: Beyond
NZ has a thriving technology start-up ecosystem with many organisations working together to provide Kiwi founders with support, knowledge, funding and connections throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. In this four-part series by NZ Growth Capital Partners we meet technology start-ups from a range of industries and the people helping them grow. This week, Beyond. About Beyond […]
SME&E Festival Podcast: Miriam Hewson, Small business structure and cashflow management
Got your tickets to the 2022 NZ SME&E Festival this 8th and 9th of November? Each week we’ll be sharing a podcast from some of the many great business speakers and mentors you can catch at the festival. Small business structure and cashflow management In this episode of the SME&E Festival Podcast, festival organiser Craig […]
Community and family a key success factor for those in Māori-led accelerator
With fewer than one percent of participants in New Zealand’s Government funded startup and accelerator programmes in 2017 identifying as Māori, the team at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa along with a long list of supporters knew more had to be done to support aspiring Māori entrepreneurs. So in 2018, the first Māori-led startup programme, Kōkiri, […]
Last call to enter Orion Energy Accelerator
The Ministry of Awesome and Orion are calling on energy innovation startups and people across the motu to enter their carbon crushing innovation ideas before midnight on the 25th of September. The Orion Energy Accelerator programme takes people with big ideas on a 10-week startup journey, providing them with all of the resources to grow […]
See tomorrow first with NZ Growth Capital Partners: ZeroJet
NZ has a thriving technology start-up ecosystem with many organisations working together to provide Kiwi founders with support, knowledge, funding and connections throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. In this four-part series by NZ Growth Capital Partners we meet technology start-ups from a range of industries and the people helping them grow. This week, ZeroJet. About ZeroJet […]
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FROM THE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
ECOSYSTEM
New stewards for NZ Tech Startups Ecosystem Facebook Group
Ankit Sehgal, the founder of the NZ Tech Startups Ecosystem Facebook group, will pass leadership of the group to the Global Entrepreneurship Network Aotearoa New Zealand (GEN NZ) on 31 January. Ankit started the group in July 2012, which has developed into an open community of nearly 20,000 entrepreneurs, designers, software developers, advisors, investors and […]
Spirit of innovation demonstrated in land transport sector
A number of startups and entrepreneurial initiatives working to address challenges in the transport sector have been approved for funding in round one of the Waka Kotahi Hoe ki angitū- Innovation Fund, with a second round of challenges now announced. The $15 million fund, which was launched in June to accelerate innovative transport projects, attracted […]
NZ Universities are spinning out market-ready ventures – what investors should know
Investors looking for the Next Big Thing are often drawn to universities. Afterall, some of the world’s most exciting and influential companies have started on campuses (think BioNTech and Google). Universities attract smart people who want to change the world and give them the support they need to make it happen. They equip academics with […]
The Factory helping food and fibre businesses raise capital
Raising capital isn’t a skill that comes naturally to many young food and fibre businesses but a new initiative is looking to increase capability among the sector to support growth and expansion. We understand the seasonality of the food and fibre sector creates unique challenges for young businesses trying to grow and there are sufficient […]
Openground teaches Westlake student-entrepreneurs business skills
An initiative supporting young entrepreneurs at Westlake Boys High School called Openground has provided a pathway between academic theory and learning, and the practical reality of running a business. Some students from this year’s inaugural Openground programme are now running their startups upon leaving school. Students successfully started their own businesses while learning essential core […]
Online education initiative launches to build NZ “grassroots” entrepreneur pipeline
An initiative to help Kiwis gain the confidence and knowledge to pursue their business and social enterprise building dreams kicks off today, the first iteration of what is set to become an annual campaign to help build Aotearoa New Zealand’s entrepreneurial capital. Dubbed “Startup Spring” the campaign organised by online magazine, NZ Entrepreneur, will see […]
Wellington UniVentures is giving startups from university research a better chance of success
A clever partnership between Wellington UniVentures and Booster NZ is helping homegrown deep-tech startups bridge the “Valley of Death” separating new ventures from global success stories. There must be something in the water – or wind – in Wellington. The region is a hub for innovation and Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington sits at […]
See tomorrow first with NZ Growth Capital Partners: Beyond
NZ has a thriving technology start-up ecosystem with many organisations working together to provide Kiwi founders with support, knowledge, funding and connections throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. In this four-part series by NZ Growth Capital Partners we meet technology start-ups from a range of industries and the people helping them grow. This week, Beyond. About Beyond […]
Community and family a key success factor for those in Māori-led accelerator
With fewer than one percent of participants in New Zealand’s Government funded startup and accelerator programmes in 2017 identifying as Māori, the team at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa along with a long list of supporters knew more had to be done to support aspiring Māori entrepreneurs. So in 2018, the first Māori-led startup programme, Kōkiri, […]
FEATURED AND FAVES
SPOTLIGHT
Why our small businesses are a BIG deal
In the entrepreneur world we hear a lot of talk about entrepreneurs and businesses needing to be “global from day one”. Investors and business commentators lament our lack of large global businesses and say the “three-B” (bach, ‘Beemer’ and boat) mentality of Kiwi business owners is holding us back. In this regard small businesses are often […]
Editorial: We owe a duty of care to founder mental health and it requires a collaborative solution
I didn’t know Jake Millar, save for a few emails swapped with our editor when he was just getting started with Unfiltered. As for so many others though, the news of his death by suicide last year still came as a shock and with a deep sense of sadness. Sadness for the loss of a […]
Why every Kiwi should back or build a startup
Not all of us are built to be founders but we can all find a way to back ambitious, world-changing businesses; whether it’s buying their products, using their services, promoting them, encouraging and supporting them or investing in them. Certainly, backing and building startups will do a whole lot more for our future and our […]
What Government funding is available for startups in NZ?
One of the questions we’re often asked is, “What Government funding is available for startups in New Zealand?” Like so many questions in life, the answer is, “It depends.” So you’ve come up with a great business idea. You know exactly what problem you want to solve, and how you’re going to solve it. And […]
Start-up or startup? And what exactly is one anyway?!
If you’ve ever thought that “startup” was simply another name for a new small business, you’d be right. But, you’d also be wrong. Richard Liew explains. The Spring blossoms are out in force here in Wanaka and if ever there was a season that represented the promise, the energy, and oh-so tantalising potential of the startup […]
5 questions every entrepreneur should ask when people offer advice
When you know nothing, even fools can sound like geniuses. This is a vital lesson that all entrepreneurs need to learn as soon as possible – one that I and other entrepreneurs I know have had to learn the hard way, many times over. When you first start out in entrepreneurship – by this I […]