Entrepreneur Learning & Mentoring
“Life’s too short to learn from your own mistakes. So learn from others” – Unknown
Expand your mind. Build your knowledge.
As entrepreneurs, it’s important that we do not let not knowing how to do something, hold us back. Part of our job description is stepping into the unknown so embracing an attitude of lifelong learning, and seeking and absorbing the knowledge required to achieve our goals is key.
Whether you’re a student, a first time business builder, or a seasoned entrepreneur, there are numerous organisations, programmes, workshops and competitions available to prepare you for the road ahead and bring your business to life.
Many are low cost, or no cost, and are a great way to learn more about building businesses and modern startup methodology.
Featured
Powerhouse Ventures
Who: Powerhouse Ventures What: Startup Incubator HQ: Christchurch Established: 2006 INTRODUCTION Powerhouse Ventures champions outstanding science by commercialising innovative research and creating the next generation of world-leading technology companies. Launched in Christchurch in 2006, Powerhouse Ventures founding was based on models run successfully in the UK and US by the likes of Mercia Technologies and […]
Young Enterprise Trust
Who: Young Enterprise Trust What: Student Programme HQ: Wellington Established: 1981 INTRODUCTION Young Enterprise is a charity that works with NZ youth in primary and secondary schools, to give them their first taste of business and teach them how to manage their money well. Determining and focusing on the types of skills and knowledge young […]
WNT Ventures
Who: WNT Ventures What: Startup Incubator HQ: Tauranga Established: 2014 INTRODUCTION With two investment funds, WNT Ventures is a deep tech investor providing the investment capital and the support that pre-revenue, innovative technologies and companies need to grow into successful businesses. WHO DO YOU WORK WITH AND WHAT KEY CHALLENGES DO YOU HELP THEM SOLVE? […]
Lightning Lab
Who: Lightning Lab What: Accelerator HQ: Wellington Established: 2013 Introduction Lightning Lab is a four-month, mentor-intensive, business acceleration programme based on the best of breed accelerator model developed by TechStars in the US. Who do you work with and what key challenges do you help them solve? We work with entrepreneurs who have a business […]
Startup incubators and accelerator programmes in New Zealand
Startup incubators and accelerator programmes play a vital role in startup ecosystems throughout the world and it’s no different here in New Zealand.
New Zealand has numerous incubators and accelerators, helping hundreds of entrepreneurs every year to identify and validate market opportunities, plan and build out their products and teams, and get “investment ready”.
Some programmes are delivered by organisations dedicated to startup business incubation and acceleration, while others are delivered by organisations (such as Regional Economic Development Agencies) as part of a broader range of services.
While some are focused on helping founders with business ideas (“Founder Incubators”), others may be focused on specific verticals or commercialising emerging technologies and scientific research (“Tech Incubators”).
As the name implies, incubators are generally focused on helping entrepreneurs in the very early stages of business formation – often before a product or service has even been created. Market validation and business model development are a key focus, and the startup is often provided with space in a dedicated shared workspace, with easy access to the incubators mentors and business support services, and allowing the startup to stay focused on the iterative process of product development and market fit.
Startup accelerators tend to be short, fixed term sprints of no more than 3-6 months focused on helping existing teams with potential to scale up, and may not require participant businesses to work onsite.
In addition to business development assistance, incubators and accelerators may invest seed money into participant companies in return for a share of the company, and programmes generally end with investment pitches to angel investors when the startup is considered investment ready.
Incubators and accelerators can be invaluable for entrepreneurs, allowing them to access years of entrepreneurial experience, knowledge, connections and investment they may otherwise not enjoy, and fast-track their development. If you have a business idea and are not sure what to do next, most incubators offer drop-in sessions and are happy to chat with you.
Callaghan Funded Founder Incubators
Icehouse Ventures Auckland
SODA Inc Hamilton
The Factory (formerly BCC) Palmerston North
Creative HQ Wellington
ThincLab Christchurch
Callaghan Funded Tech Incubators
WNT Ventures Tauranga
Sprout Palmerston North
Callaghan Funded Accelerator Programmes
Icehouse Ventures Auckland
Kokiri Te Awamutu
Sprout Accelerator Palmerston North
Lightning Lab Wellington
Other Incubators, Accelerators and Startup Hubs
Northland Inc Whangarei
Venture Centre Tauranga
Startup Taranaki Taranaki
Ministry of Awesome Christchurch
Te Ohaka Christchurch
Startup Central Otago Alexandra
Startup Queenstown Lakes Queenstown
Startup Dunedin Dunedin
COIN South Invercargill
Health Innovation Hub Auckland & Christchurch
Vodafone Xone Christchurch
Programmes, courses and other Support Organisations
Startup NZ Entrepreneurs Programme Online/Nationwide
Venture Up Online/Nationwide
BMNZ Startup Mentoring Programme Nationwide
PopUp Business School Nationwide
Startup Weekend Nationwide
Tech Futures Lab Nationwide
The Validator Nationwide
The Pick Northland
Auckland Unlimited Auckland
Co.starters – AUT Auckland
Co.starters – Te Korau Auckland
Enspiral Dev Academy Auckland & Wellington
Mums Garage Startup Series Auckland
The Icehouse Auckland
Innes48 Startup Competition Hamilton
Co.starters – Venture Centre Tauranga
Ministry of Awesome Launchclub Christchurch
Challenger Series Dunedin
Co.starters – Startup Dunedin Dunedin
Student Programmes and Organisations
Young Enterprise Scheme Nationwide
Velocity – University of Auckland Auckland
Practical Innovation & Entrepreneurship Paper – AUT Auckland
Wellington School of Business and Government at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington Wellington
UC – Centre for Entrepreneurship Canterbury
The Hatchery (University of Canterbury) Christchurch
ecentre (Massey University) Auckland
Learn more
TechRepublic.com Accelerators vs Incubators: What startups need to know
Forbes.com Is a startup incubator or accelerator right for you?
Stuff.co.nz Government renews millions of funding for start-up incubators
Wikipedia.com Wikipedia – Business Incubators
Wikipedia.com Wikipedia – Startup Accelerators