Innovation nation 2025

Join us as we showcase emerging Kiwi tech innovators and their vital contribution to New Zealand’s vibrant and prosperous future.

grow awareness with customers and investors

Are you a founder or supporter of companies in one of our 10 featured categories* this year? If so we invite your organisation to be part of a collaborative nationwide PR and social impact campaign to raise awareness of the contribution of our tech innovators to a thriving Aotearoa New Zealand and support the next generation of young entrepreneurs.

For participating startups and scaleups, Innovation Nation presents an exciting opportunity to grow awareness and interest for their ventures via a comprehensive package of media opportunities, subsidised and coordinated by the founder-friendly PR experts at NZ Entrepreneur and FoundrPR.

inclusions For participating companies

• PR campaign plan
• 750-1000 word feature story including interviewing, writing, review and editing
• Story published by NZ Entrepreneur as part of Innovation Nation series for sharing with your team, customers, investors and partners (between 1 July & 31 October)
• Distributed to NZ Entrepreneur subscribers via email (5K+ subscribers) and social media (15K+ followers) (between 1 July & 31 October)
• Story pitched to relevant NZ business media by our professional PR team eg Stuff, NBR, BusinessDesk, NZHerald, Radio NZ, Newstalk ZB, NZBusiness etc (between 1 July & 31 October)
• 10 minute video interview with your designated spokesperson published on APAC Innovator including 2 minute cut for social media (between 1 July & 31 October)
• Inclusion in the Innovation Nation social media showcase during Global Entrepreneurship Week (17-21 November)
• Free “Intro to PR” training and media preparation workshop for your relevant team members (online)
• Plus: Your contribution will enable us to present 5 x Startup NZ Entrepreneurs Programme Scholarships to a high school of your choice to educate young entrepreneurs in the community. Great for you, great for NZ!
• $1500+gst (Limited to 5 participating companies per *category.)

“If I can see it, I can be It” The why behind Innovation Nation

Throughout history, tough times have been the catalyst for breakthroughs that lay the foundation for new periods of growth and stability. Never before has the entrepreneurial spirit and optimism of New Zealand’s tech innovators been so important, finding new paths to value creation and providing role models for future Kiwi innovators.

For this to continue, New Zealand must prioritise investment in the education, infrastructure, policy and culture that precludes world class, innovation-led economies. And for that to happen, we need high levels of awareness and engagement in the New Zealand tech success story, not just from policy makers and media, but from everyday Kiwis who can see how homegrown innovation changes the world.

To do this, our storytelling must transcend platforms, verticals, C-suites and geographies. That’s what makes Innovation Nation much more than just a media campaign. It’s a movement, a mindset, a snapshot in time… And we’d love you to be part of it!

Richard Liew, Founder & Editor, Founder Media Group

Questions? Email me at richardl@nzentrepreneur.co.nz or call or text 021 994 136.

How to apply

Interested in being featured in Innovation Nation as a Participating Company or Partner?

For expressions of interest, and more information, email our editor Richard Liew at richardl@nzentrepreneur.co.nz

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Key Dates

1 June: Participating Company and Partner invitations open

1 July: Participating Company media & PR campaigns begin

31 July: Partners confirmed

1 September: Partner interviews begin

17-21 November: Social Media Showcase (Global Entrepreneurship Week)

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*cATEGORY STATUS

• Fintech – Filling

• Agritech (incl Food & Fibre) – Open

• Health, Biotech & Medical – Filling

• Consumer, Leisure & Lifestyle – Open

• Energy, Cleantech & Sustainability – Open

• EdTech – Open

• AR/VR & Gaming – Open

• SaaS & B2B – Filling

• AI/Data/Machine Learning – Filling

• Transport, Logistics & Property – Open

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