Articles
Insights and inspiration for entrepreneurs
How Two Bay Of Plenty Trusts Are Paving The Path To Homeownership For Māori Whānau
On ancestral whenua (land) at Ōwhata in Rotorua, a unique development is turning the tide on homeownership for Māori. Led by Ōwhata 2B and Ōwhata 7 Ahuwhenua Trusts, operating under the name Ōwhata Kōhanga Rākau (OKR), a new initiative is bringing affordable and well-designed housing to whānau of Ngati Te Roro o Te Rangi and […]
From Chaos to Clarity: How ThinkGo is Helping Software Founders Cut Through the Noise
Many software startup founders say the early days can feel like building a plane while flying it. Plans shift week to week. One minute it’s about product-market fit; the next it’s about rewriting the pricing model at 2am. Devin Deen has been there a few times. This time, with his new venture ThinkGo, the seasoned […]
First Auckland Startup Week To Showcase Innovation From The Edge Of The World
GridAKL/John Lysaght, one of the main venues of this exciting week. [Photo Supplied]
Whare Hau Tutū
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/s: Julz Nonoa [Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Tangahoe, Ngaruahine, Tainui] and Kiri Leach [Ngati Konohi, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti] Business: Whare Hau Tutū Founded: 2021 HQ: Waikato Can you tell us a bit about your business? […]
Nexture: The Kiwi AI Startup Revolutionising Gastrointestinal Healthcare
When Wei Sun fell in love with New Zealand while on holiday in 2016, little did he know that he would be back nearly a decade later, launching a healthcare technology startup in Christchurch to build an affordable, effective AI gastrointestinal (GI) health management platform. Sun – a seasoned entrepreneur with a 25-year track record […]
GEN NZ Unconference and Workshops for Entrepreneurs, Auckland 7-8 August 2025
Unconference and Workshops at AUT in Auckland on 7 and 8 August 2025. The event brings together entrepreneurs and supporters from all over New Zealand in a two day festival of networking, collaborative education, and getting sh!t done. At the Unconference on 8 August, the attendees set the agenda, and discuss items of importance on […]
From the backyard to Bonno – a uniquely Kiwi dog chew with global potential
It started with a fishing trip, a smoker, and a piece of Mānuka wood. A few years later, a simple stick has been transformed into an exciting natural pet product – Bonno, a uniquely Kiwi chew for dogs. But Bonno is more than just a dog chew. It’s a product with iconic New Zealand roots, […]
The unusual story of an unusual company – Melanie Langlotz and Geo AR Games
This is the story of an unusual games company making unusual games, built by a woman who followed an unusual career path. Melanie (Mel) Langlotz is the founder and CEO of Geo AR Games, a game design studio that utilises augmented reality for “creating digital experiences that positively impact the world, fostering education and empowerment […]