How to align grants with your roadmap, avoid funding gaps, and apply effectively.
1. How to Apply for Government Support Effectively
Map NZ startup grants to your business plan, hiring, and product roadmap — and then reverse to sense check funding required versus what is available.
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Examples:
R&D Plan written → | THEN apply for Callaghan Innovation eg New to R&D Grant | https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/products/fund/new-to-r-and-d-grant/ |
Hiring & resource requirement planned → | THEN confirm Career Grant eligibility | https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/products/fund/r-and-d-career-grants/ |
2. How to Stack & Sequence Government Support
Stack government grants the smart way — avoid ineligibility and boost success odds with the right order.
Stage | Grant | Best Time to Use |
Pre-trading | MSD Grant | Before revenue |
Early Ops | RBP Capability Vouchers | When developing strategy and ops |
Scoped R&D | Callaghan N2R&D | After planning |
Scaling | Career / Ārohia | With co-funding confirmed |
Venture Raise | Aspire Seed Fund | Lead investor required |
Avoid: applying out of order, skipping RBP, or lacking a co-funding plan which shows how a Founder will fund their portion of the Grant. Generally Founders need 50-60% of total Grant. This could be seed capital from angel groups or equity through NZGCP, it just can’t be from another grant as rules preventing double dipping from other government grants!
3. How to Stack Government Grants & Support (Without Burning Eligibility)
Smart founders use one grant to fund activity and on-ramp to the next. Grants and support are often stage-based — a planned approach will enable you to optimise and ‘stack’ them with intent.
Stage | Grant | When to Use It (examples, not definitive as cover a timeline) | Why It Comes at This Stage |
1 | Capability Voucher (RBP) | Early stage; proof of concept, product market fit; pre-scale | Helps fund building capability and early stage activity. |
2 | MSD Startup Grant | Pre-revenue or trading; on government benefit | Must apply before revenue. Can be the first capital eligible founders get to get started. |
3 | New to R&D (Callaghan) | Early stage funding of R&D as a business venture; ideally first tranche of funded commercial R&D. | R&D focused funding with some capability funded support included to open pathway for commercial success and on ramp to RDTI. |
4 | Ārohia / Career Grants | Validated R&D and in commercialisation phase - getting ready to go to market; funding extra specialist resource linked to R&D | Proof of capability and impact on innovation ecosystem with spillover benefits. Providing students first step into a commercial role |
5 | Aspire Seed Fund (NZGCP) | Early expansion + lead investor secured | Requires lead investor, most often, so start up is attractive to private sector investors such as angel investors or Venture Capital |
Execution Tip: Create a Capital Journey Map that shows how each grant is aligned to core activity and milestones and builds a high level view of your funding journey and venture milestones.
Common Stacking Mistakes
Mistake | Why It Hurts |
Applying for Aspire without a lead | Aspire co-invests only, start up still needs a lead. |
Using Callaghan R&D for commercial activity | Other Grants fund commercial readiness — only R&D focus and new to R&D as a start up. |
Missing Capability Vouchers | Missed funded support and build capability that can increase success in future Grants and investment. |
Applying too early before financially ready | No co-funding = rejection. Low co-funding limits overall Grant funding |
Applying for Grants without a RoadMap | Reactive, not strategic and can mistime Grants and eligibility . |
Don’t Burn Eligibility Early
- Some grants are once-off.
- Applying too soon means you lose stacking leverage.
- You risk rejection on timing grounds — even if you're fundable later.
Always Talk To:
- Your RBP Growth Advisor
- Your Callaghan Customer Engagement Specialist _ Funding or RDTI
Bonus: NZ Government Grant Application Checklist
Before You Submit:
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