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Practical templates for running a startup and raising your first round — built or vetted for New Zealand founders.
This page brings together the core documents founders need to:
- make a startup real and credible
- operate legally in New Zealand as the team grows
- secure early funding (often non-dilutive first, then equity)
- put the right governance in place once investors or a board are involved
These are execution documents — the artefacts founders reach for when decisions matter: hiring, applying for funding, issuing shares, taking investment, and running a board.
🚨 Disclaimers:
- This page is in beta while the What Founders Want team continues to add templates and incorporate founder feedback.
- The resources on this page are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Use of these materials does not create a lawyer–client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified New Zealand lawyer.
How This Page Is Organised
This page follows how New Zealand startups actually grow:
Company Setup → Team → Capital → Governance
1. Company Setup
Making the company real and credible — before equity enters the picture.
This is where most NZ founders start. These documents help you operate properly, apply for grants or visas, and engage with institutions before private capital is involved.
Includes:
- IP assignment agreements
- Founders / early legal setup documents
- Privacy policy & terms of service (NZ)
- Basic compliance documents
- Grant application templates & guidance (NZ)
2. Team
Bringing people in — and doing it properly.
Once you move beyond just the founders, documentation matters. NZ employment obligations apply earlier than many founders expect.
Includes:
- Independent contractor agreements
- Confidentiality agreements (NDAs)
- Advisor agreements
- Employee agreement builder
- Employee exit / termination checklist
3. Capital
Raising money and managing ownership.
This section begins the moment equity, dilution, or investor rights enter the picture. Everything here affects ownership structure or investor expectations.
Includes:
- Cap table templates (NZ)
- Shareholders’ agreement templates (NZ)
- SAFE & convertible note templates (NZ)
- Equity term sheets (NZ)
- Subscription agreements (NZ)
4. Governance
Running the company once investors or a board are involved.
Governance is what changes after capital is raised. These documents help founders meet investor expectations, protect directors, and prevent expensive clean-up work later.
Includes:
- Board agendas & minutes
- Conflicts of interest registers
- Committee charters
- Director governance resources
- Board reporting templates
Need the Context Behind These Templates?
Most founders download templates before they fully understand them.
For deeper context on: founder equity, dilution, SAFEs vs priced rounds, investor expectations and staying investor-ready without overspending early –
See Startup Legal — an Expert Edition built by Tony Davis (Avid.legal), designed to help Kiwi founders manage legal before the first dollar in.
NZ-Specific vs Global Templates
Where possible, we prioritise New Zealand–specific templates.
Some global templates (YC, Founder Institute, OpenVC, etc.) are included because they are:
- widely recognised by investors
- commonly used reference points
- adaptable with NZ legal guidance
Always sanity-check global documents before using them locally.
Know Something We Don’t?
Startup documentation evolves as the ecosystem matures.
If you know of:
- a better NZ-specific template
- an updated resource
- a broken or outdated link
→ Submit an update or share feedback
Access Everything We Ship
Drop your email to get updates as we add:
- new NZ-specific templates
- Expert Editions
- fundraising and governance resources founders actually use