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The single source of truth for New Zealand startup founders.
From raising capital and government grants to legal templates and hiring tools — built on what founders are actively searching for, but can’t find.
Save Money
Stretch your runway with free resources.
Raise Money
Find the right investors faster.
Make Money
Run like a full team — without hiring one.
What’s New
WFW Monthly: March 2026
A curated monthly update of the best NZ startup funding, grants, programmes, and founder opportunities.
Not opinion, advice, or startup theory — just practical ways to save, raise, and make money.
VC Teardowns | How NZ VCs Evaluate Startups
A public series showing how New Zealand VCs evaluate early-stage startups — step by step, from first email to investment decision.
NZ Startup Super-Connectors
The inaugural list of who to follow in the NZ startup ecosystem is live. Nominations are open for the next wave.
Free Startup Templates for NZ Founders
Expanded and reorganised — now covering company setup through post-fundraise governance.
Open AGM 2025
What founders actually used in 2025, what helped them move faster, and how WFW is becoming self-sustaining infrastructure for the NZ startup ecosystem.
What Founders Want Directories
Follow What Founders Want on LinkedIn
We post 4–5 times a week, all laser-focused on one thing: helping New Zealand startup founders save money, raise money, and make money.
Expert Editions
New Zealand’s most trusted startup experts solve what founders can’t Google.
Fresh guides drop monthly — designed to replace confusion with action.
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Subscribe for Updates
Stay ahead with new tools, funding opportunities, and Expert Editions.
Join hundreds of NZ founders already on the list.
Kiwi Startup Case Studies
Starting a company is never a straight line — it’s a rollercoaster. It’s easy to say “just start,” “go global,” or “build something people want,” but the real challenge is in the doing.
This page brings together founder journeys that show what execution actually looks like — the sparks, the peaks, the setbacks, and the resilience that keeps the ride trending upward. Built to surface the key learnings at a glance, so you can build with more clarity and fewer blind spots.
Kiwi companies going global
How NZ brands grow
The stories behind NZ’s household names
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Contribute to What Founders Want
The NZ startup ecosystem changes fast.
WFW is built by founders, for founders. Share an update or resource to strengthen the ecosystem.
→ Submit an update or share feedback
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Founders Want is built by Founder VC
Founder VC is a venture infrastructure company — a new model that blends capability, systems, and capital to help founders succeed faster.
We exist to make startup success more repeatable.
Venture capital funds startups. Venture infrastructure powers ecosystems.
