Funding
There are a wide range of funding options for high-growth technology start-ups and companies in New Zealand. From incubators and grants, to Angel investment, venture capital, and private equity. Here are a few entities that may be able to help kick-start your funding journey, and if you're not sure what funding is best for you, HERE is an overview of the various types.
Connect with us to add more funding options to this list.
AGMARDT
Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) strategically invest in initiatives to encourage innovative thinking, research capability and collaboration and to develop emerging leaders in New Zealand’s primary sector
Alt Ventures
Gaming, creative media and tech specialist fund at pre-Seed and Seed investment stages
Altered Capital
Focused on private growth companies pursuing strategies in technology, healthcare, and financials. They specialise in companies that need capital to support their ambitions for expansion, innovation, and acquisitions
Angel Association New Zealand
Check out AANZ and their comprehensive list of Angel investors and networks across New Zealand. For Angel investment, your first point of contact should be Angels located in your region.
Blackbird Ventures
A generalist technology investment firm based in Australia and New Zealand
Bridgewest Ventures
Investment for deep-tech start-ups that will have social, economic, or environment impacts
Callaghan Innovation Founder Incubator
Callaghan Innovation supports a range of Founder Incubators around NZ. They are targeted at people with great ideas, providing services to help you and your team validate your idea in the market and build a strong business around it
Callaghan Innovation Technology Incubator
Technology Incubator commercialises deep technologies with funding and business incubation support to build a business around unique and complex technologies
Callaghan Innovation: Career Grant
Career Grants are a way to add more resources to your R&D programme via Masters and PHD students. They provide the first six months’ salary to assist recent Masters and PhD graduates get their first job while they work on a research and development
Callaghan Innovation: New to R&D Grant
Expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2022. This is a new grant designed to help Kiwi businesses with the high costs and steep learning curve associated with getting started in R&D. Designed for businesses new to a R&D journey
Climate Venture Capital Fund
The Climate Venture Capital Fund invests in New Zealand and Australian companies that deliver high growth, high returns on investment – and high climate impact.
Creative HQ: The Incubator
A 6-month hybrid programme for Wellington start-ups requiring support for raising your first investment round
Crown Research Institutes
Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are Crown-owned companies that carry out scientific research for the benefit of New Zealand
Cure Kids Ventures
A Seed and early-stage investment firm that invests in the commercialisation of innovations in products and services with a potential to benefit child health
Direct Capital
Investment in the New Zealand and Australian mid-market private company sector in expansion, succession and pre-IPO situations
Finistere Aotearoa Fund
Agriculture, food and sustainability technology investment fund focused on Series A and B investment
Founder Catalyst
Powered by Ministry of Awesome, Founder Catalyst helps early-stage companies validate markets, gain traction, secure funding, and achieve their unique global ambitions
Global from Day One (GD1)
A generalist firm investing in technology from enterprise software and internet, to connected hardware, deep-tech and health-tech
Hillfarrance
A venture capital firm investing in early-stage companies with a focus on machine learning, the future of media, content, gaming and climate change solutions
Icehouse Ventures
A generalist firm investing in pre-Seed, to series A and beyond technology companies
Impact Enterprise Fund
Investment for companies who deliver social and/or environmental impact, alongside attractive financial returns
K1W1
Seed and Venture capital investment for early-stage businesses from bio-tech, environmental technology, high-tech, software and other high export potential opportunities
Kiwi Innovation Network
KiwiNet is a collaboration of public research organisations that champions people who commercialise research by helping them to access the tools, connections, investment and support needed to create science and technology-based solutions
Matu
Investment for scalable science and deep-tech start-ups
Ministry for the Environment: Plastics Innovation Fund
Support for projects that will minimise plastic waste and its harm on the environment
Movac
Investment in exceptional teams solving tough problems in big markets
MPI: Sustainable Food + Fibre Futures
SFF Futures supports problem-solving and innovation in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector by co-investing in initiatives that make a positive and lasting difference
Nuance Connected Capital
Investment for technology companies seeking solutions to global problems which improve the earth or the way people live
NZGCP Elevate fund
A $300m fund of fund programme that invests into venture capital firms; aimed at filling the Series A and B capital gap for high-growth New Zealand technology companies
NZPC (NZ Private Capital)
Check out NZPC and their comprehensive list of Private Equity firms within their members list. NZPC act as members and mentors for businesses seeking capital from a New Zealand venture capital or private equity fund manager
NZVC
Investors in cutting edge companies at the edge of the world
Outset Ventures
Providers of investment, space, and support for deep-tech ventures.
Pacific Channel
Investment for ground-breaking science and advanced engineering deep-tech companies that create meaningful global impact and value
Phase One Ventures
An early-stage founder community that consists of an incubator programme connecting “been there, done that” operators who have scaled in product and growth as well as a vibrant founder community filled with social events and expert sessions
Prospa small business grants
Prospa also offers small business loans up to $500,000 with daily or weekly repayments that tie in with cash flow cycle. They are designed to help existing businesses jump on opportunities to grow or to cover cash flow fluctuations
Punakaiki Fund
Investment in high-growth companies, in particular SaaS businesses
Purpose Capital Impact Fund
A collaboration between the New Zealand business, investment, and philanthropic sectors. Combining commercial and philanthropic expertise to bring new resources and capital to projects and organisations working toward social and environmental solutions.
Quidnet Ventures
Investment for science-based, deep-tech companies working to solve the world’s most pressing problems
Soda: Seed Grants
Seed grants for innovative ideas or start-up that needs funding to gain traction
Startup Dunedin: The Distiller Incubator
For Dunedin start-ups that are looking to launch or grow, through mentorship and customised support to achieve goals
ThincLab
A fully funded founder-based incubator, partnering with Canterbury entrepreneurs to scale their businesses
TRIREC
Singapore-headquartered global venture capital investor focused on decarbonisation investments. Supporting Kiwi start-ups from pre-Series A to B stages.
UniServices (University of Auckland)
A pre-Seed and Seed investment fund focused on commercialisation of research opportunities within University of Auckland
Whakatipu Ōtautahi
A 6-month incubation programme designed to unleash the ambitions of māori entrepreneurs. Delivered by HTK Group for Christchurch and Canterbury based founders
WNT Ventures
Investment for deep-tech companies
Zino Ventures
An investment fund focused on empowering New Zealand based technology companies expand into the Chinese speaking markets