A founder-first checklist to help you build what matters—without wasting time on the wrong admin at the wrong time.
This is not theory. It’s what actually works. Kate built this guide for real founders starting from scratch in New Zealand.
If your startup feels messy, that doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re in the middle of building. That’s exactly where you’re meant to be. Keep going!
The only way to access NZ’s startup ecosystem without building your own tracker.
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Timeline / Stage | Execution Tasks | Admin + Kate’s Reality Check |
Day 0 – You have an idea
Traditional Advice: Register your company, open a bank account, trademark everything. | Write down what feels broken. Clarify friction.
Ask: Who else feels this? Why does it matter?
Start documenting ideas. | ❌ Too early for admin. You’re not building a business yet, you’re diagnosing a problem.
Kate’s Take:
• Feel frustrated enough to email a business idea to yourself at 3am.
• Ask your friend if it annoys them too.
• Choose a business name (it’s fun!) |
Week 1 – Validate the problem
Traditional Advice: Set up GST and tax accounts immediately or go to jail. | Talk to 10 people who experience it.
Ask: How often? What’s the impact? What have they tried?
Use: customer interview template. | ❌ Too early for admin. Don’t open a bank account yet — no legal entity needed until real demand.
Kate’s Take:
• Start reaching out with a Calendly link.
• Curate questions using BANT, SPIN, and The Mom Test.
• Personalised messages > spammy LinkedIn DMs. |
Week 2 – Validate demand
Traditional Advice: Build a full website, hire an accountant, register for GST, pay for branding. | Draft solution hypothesis.
Build no-code MVP: Carrd page, Typeform, waitlist.
Tools: Carrd, Tally, Stripe (test mode).
Launch waitlist or survey. | ❌ Too early for admin. Don’t open a bank account yet — no legal entity needed until real demand.
Kate’s Take:
• Make a Google Form. Record everything.
• Add a newsletter opt-in at the end of interviews.
• Start a free Substack.
• Do competitive analysis with ChatGPT.
• Test small – iterate fast. |
Week 3 – Test with money
Traditional Advice: Write a 52-page business plan, launch marketing campaigns, start full financial setup. | Try to sell and invoice manually.
Formats: 1:1 consult, pilot, workshop.
Use: PDF invoice generator.
Track who paid, how much, and why. | ⚠️ If you're getting paid → Open a business bank account.
Kate’s Take:
• Only register your company after traction.
• Use tools like Lovable & AI — no dev needed.
• Build a free 1-page website. Speak to customer pain. |
Week 4 – Evaluate readiness
Traditional Advice: Apply for grants, formalise strategy. | Have you earned anything? Are you going public?
If a co-founder is involved, define equity and roles.
Re-interview users. Iterate offer. | ⚠️ If selling publicly → Register NZ Ltd company.
⚠️ If splitting equity → Issue shares & sign founders agreement.
❌ Still don’t need a 52-page business plan.
Kate’s Take:
• Follow traction triggers, not tradition.
• Use templates for shareholder agreements.
• Track time and money investment.
• Keep talking to users. Adjust based on signal. |
Optional – Admin triggers | Check what stage you're at. | ⚠️ If revenue > $60K/year → Register for GST.
⚠️ If hiring → Register for PAYE & KiwiSaver.
⚠️ If going public → Check ONECheck & register trademarks.
⚠️ If non-NZ citizen → Check Entrepreneur Visa pathways.
Kate’s Take:
• Pitch deck doesn’t need to be perfect.
• Publicly share the journey (LinkedIn).
• Don’t change your name just because one person doesn’t like it.
• Change it only if legally required or the domains are taken. |
Month 2+ – Build on what works
Traditional Advice: Register IP, join an accelerator. | Think about raising money.
Build a pitch deck.
Talk to more customers.
Keep iterating MVP. Kill what’s not working. | ⚠️ If hiring → Register PAYE & KiwiSaver.
⚠️ If going public → ONECheck trademark.
⚠️ If non-resident → Check visa requirements.
⚠️ If high revenue → Register for GST.
Kate’s Take:
• Build in public.
• Double down on what works.
• Spend money where it makes money.
• Find founder-aligned accelerators (like Ministry of Awesome). |
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