Across Northland, entrepreneurship is being reframed not just as business creation, but as a vital mindset for navigating an increasingly uncertain world. Through the Startup NZ Initiative, communities are being equipped with practical skills, resilience, and confidence that empower individuals to create opportunities for themselves and contribute meaningfully to their regions.
Delivered in the final quarter 2025, the Startup NZ Initiative in Northland formed part of a wider, business-led collaboration that has now unlocked more than 50 scholarships nationwide, with 22 scholarships delivered locally in Northland.
The initiative is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: when businesses, community leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs work together, the impact reaches far beyond individual participants and strengthens the fabric of local economies.
This collaboration delivers both social and commercial impact for sponsors, while fuelling long-term regional growth.
Building an Entrepreneurial Mindset for an Uncertain World
At its core, Startup NZ focuses on building an entrepreneurial mindset. This includes adaptability, problem solving, initiative, and resilience, which are essential whether someone is starting a fresh venture or applying innovative thinking within existing employment.
By bringing people together to complete the programme alongside others, Startup NZ also creates space for shared learning, collaboration, and connection.
Participants grow not only through the content, but through learning with and from one another, strengthening capability and community at the same time.
Reaching into the Heart of Northland
The scholarships were intentionally directed to reach diverse and underserved communities. Fifteen scholarships supported students at Broadwood Area School, six scholarships were delivered through Whāriki Māori Entrepreneurs to empower the Māori business community, and one scholarship was awarded through an online application, to ensure broader access.
At Broadwood Area School, students will combine science with the Startup NZ Entrepreneurs Programme to bring learning to life. They will grow their own food, explore the production of charcoal and methane, and develop a mini business, applying their learning in a practical, real-world context. These hands-on experiences are designed to help young people see themselves as capable creators, problem solvers, and contributors within their own communities.
“Each community leader activates the potential of the community they serve in their unique way. Equipping them with the resources to start a business allows this magic to go one step further.” says Manuela Klevisser, leader of the Startup NZ Initiative and founder of the EmpowerMe Collective.
A Model of Shared Value
The collaboration between Startup NZ and EmpowerMe Collective connects entrepreneurs with the wider business community through a simple yet powerful model.
Local businesses sponsor scholarships to remove financial barriers for those starting out. In return, these sponsors gain visibility and authority through NZ Entrepreneur Magazine and the satisfaction of enabling innovators who may one day become customers, collaborators, or strategic partners.
Scholarships are distributed locally through EmpowerMe Collective, the impact partner, which weaves a trusted network of community leaders. to receive and deliver the scholarships. This ensures the programme remains community led and culturally relevant to the Northland region. The model generates tangible social impact while strengthening the regional business ecosystem as a whole.
From Recipient to Sponsor
One of the strongest indicators of long-term impact is the journey from scholarship recipient to sponsor. In Northland, Bonno’s story captures this cycle perfectly. After receiving a Startup NZ scholarship, Bonno later returned as a sponsor, helping fuel opportunities for others.
This transition reflects the deeper vision of Startup NZ: entrepreneurship as an ecosystem where success is reinvested locally and momentum continues to build.
Thank You to Our Northland Sponsors
The Northland delivery would not have been possible without the businesses who stepped forward to back local entrepreneurship. Sincere thanks go to Australasia Moulding Ltd, Bizzy, Bonno, Kaitaia Construction 2015 Ltd, LegalVision, Moody Lemon, Nomad8, Peak Recruitment, and the Ontrack Group for their commitment to building stronger communities through opportunity, education, and collaboration.
The impact achieved here is only the beginning of a much larger movement. Startup NZ and EmpowerMe Collective are now building on this momentum across other regions to fuel entrepreneurial thinking throughout Aotearoa.
Businesses wanting to gain visibility while supporting the next wave of innovators are invited to connect and play a direct role in shaping a more resilient future.
About the Author: Manuela Klevisser is a growth and partnerships activator dedicated to unlocking new business avenues through strategic alignment. As the lead of the Startup NZ Initiative, she champions a social impact model designed to fuel local entrepreneurship by leveraging mighty collaborations across the ecosystem.
