Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When looking to make a brand for a defined customer, market and opportunity. Close to commercialisation or commercialised. When looking to raise a round.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Fixed fee, equity swap, venture funding

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

Startup brand establishment packages with defined costs and scoped deliverables.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

Track record and very earnest policy of only working on projects where we really believe we will add value.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

Not NZ-based, but serve companies across Australasia

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When they have a novel idea and want a partner to help build and launch a new venture
• When they need product development capability to reach product-market fit
• When they are looking for venture studio support and early-stage investment

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Venture studio partnerships to co-create and build companies from scratch
• Product design and development support through an embedded team
• Early-stage venture investment in new startups
• Ongoing advisory support as companies scale

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

Not specified

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, across Australasia

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

Paloma is the leading venture studio in ANZ. Our 100+ team has forged an AUD $500M+ Venture Portfolio, and helped steer firms like Afterpay to billion-dollar acquisitions.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

Not NZ-based, but serve NZ-incorporated companies

What type of founders do you typically work with?

VC-backed startups, Startups in the process of capital raising, Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When processes suck the energy out of you.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

1. AI Audit - we interview your team 30mins each + give you a AI roadmap report
1. AI Audit runs between $2-5k depending on how many interviews you want us to do and is credited towards anything you want us to build >> super easy to get something up and running!
2. AI Build - we build AI agents for you
3. AI Labour - we maintain the agents to they never fail and you don't have to think about them

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they see a gap in the industry and have an idea on how to solve it with a digital platform, app or system.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

• Our prices are fixed, transparent and publicly listed on our website. We don't have an hourly rate.
• Initial consultation is free.
• We offer a 12 month payment plan so our clients don't have the risk of upfront cost.
• Packages start at $6.5K NZD for single-flow validation, with ongoing support available for iteration and growth.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Product validation, MVP strategy, and technical feasibility assessment for early-stage founders.

I help non-technical founders validate their ideas with real users, define what to build first (and what to skip), and create actionable roadmaps. I assess technical feasibility so founders understand what's realistic, what's expensive, and where the real risks are. I guide product decisions through first release without founders needing to become technical experts themselves.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Why do you belong in a founder-first directory?

We validate ideas, build roadmaps, and guide product decisions so founders with deep industry expertise can build confidently without needing to become technical themselves.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, Startups in the process of capital raising, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they’re asking “what do we actually need to build this?” — or they have an idea they’re ready to turn into a real, market-ready MVP.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

We offer several startup-specific engagement models, including:

• Fixed-fee, milestone-based pricing with agreed deliverables upfront
• FirstBuild: a fixed-price, 2-week sprint to co-build a market-ready MVP
• Co-design & discovery workshops with fixed outcomes and pricing
• Free initial discovery call (45 mins)
• Equity or sweat-equity partnerships for the right high-potential ventures

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Our co-design workshops follow a Human-Centered AI process, helping founders clarify the problem, validate assumptions, and design a product with clear user flows and experience foundations.

We work on milestone-based pricing, agreeing on fixed deliverables and pricing upfront — no open-ended time billing.

Our FirstBuild engagement is a focused 2-week sprint where we co-build a market-ready MVP. It’s fixed-price and includes a 3-month support period post-build to help teams launch, learn, and iterate.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Working with Do AI has been brilliant. They're not only technically excellent at what they do, but they genuinely care about our clients, which matters a lot to us since our reputation is on the line too. The partnership works really well because they understand what our clients already know about AI after working with us, so there's no disconnect. Their technical skills complement our coaching and guidance perfectly. Beyond the work itself, they're great people to work with. Principled, ethical, and fair. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Votes of Confidence:

2 years in business, with 5 products in market. 8 Startups + SMEs served in 2025

Why do you belong in a founder-first directory? We combine product thinking, engineering, and AI expertise to design, build, and validate solutions that actually create value, while empowering teams to learn skills to take the product forward.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When developing a new software product or mobile application
• When preparing an MVP or prototype for launch or fundraising
• When redesigning an existing product experience or platform
• When building brand identity and marketing websites for a technology company

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Not specified

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Product discovery and UX design
• Mobile and web application development
• Brand strategy and identity for technology companies
• Marketing websites and digital product design
• AI-enabled software development

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

Not specified

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Votes of Confidence

Edition has partnered with more than 100 technology companies and startups. Companies they have worked with have collectively raised over $1.2B, served 70M users, and created 5,000+ jobs. Clients include Kernel, Optimal Workshop, Halter, and Zipp.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

Not NZ-based, but serve NZ-incorporated companies

What type of founders do you typically work with?:

Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Other

When should a founder consider engaging you?:

When preparing to launch, raise capital, build an MVP product or is thinking of engaging a designer but may not have the full resource to hire full time.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?:

We offer project-based engagements, ongoing retainers, and flexible payment plans tailored to the pace and stage of early-stage startups. Free discovery calls available.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Project-based brand identity design, UI/UX design for MVPs and SaaS products, pitch deck design for fundraising, launch websites, and ongoing design support via retainers or fractional design leadership.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, globally

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We’ve worked with early-stage startups (both as contractors and full time employee) and understand that design leadership is often an afterthought. Founders can struggle to translate their vision into how the company shows up - we help by bringing clarity, shaping brand and product design that reflects where they’re headed. We build to stand out and disrupt, and that’s why we love working with founder-led teams.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Startups in the process of capital raising

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Ideal for non-technical or time-poor founders with a concept (but no product or only a fragile prototype) or anyone needing extra dev resources, security tightening, or IT ops support at any stage.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Our Startup Roadmap guides early‑stage founders from idea to first revenue with a clear, step‑by‑step framework. It covers validating your idea, building a minimum viable product, and taking the best steps to secure your first customers. It’s designed for individuals or small teams who want to avoid wasted time and money by focusing on the highest‑impact actions. The goal is to equip you with a practical action plan that builds momentum, proves real market demand, and does everything possible to maximise your chances of early sales success.

Firecrest SkyKeep gives startups the mix of services they need to stay secure, from device management and cybersecurity to cloud monitoring - with no minimum seats! Also, to help with focus and scale - pay as you consume: helpdesk (for them or their customers), chatbot and phone support. Choose what you need, use it your way.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Free initial discovery consultation, upfront quotes, flexible/tailorable engagement, clearly scoped fixed‑fee engagements.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

I identified an unmet need no one else had seized in my industry but assembling the right team and technology alongside my current business was not an easy task. Firecrest validated swiftly, advanced R&D with my geo-specialists (turning hurdles into strengths via their startup expertise), refined the product, and are delivering an MVP reaching customers in early 2026.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

As a non-technical founder building a new kind of cultural insights platform, I knew the problem but not the path. Your team tested feasibility, mapped a roadmap with specs, and we’re off to a great start - blending startup savvy with technical rigour to dodge pitfalls and rework. We're on track for a 2026 MVP.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

VC-backed startups, Early revenue

When should a founder consider engaging you?

At idea validation stage or early design stage, before raising your first round.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

We offer strategic design services including customer strategy and market fit, UX prototyping, user testing and digital strategy as well as UXUI design and development services. We build and scale fintech and technology companies through co-creation, product development, and investment.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Free initial consultation. Equity split billing or deferred fees.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Equity-based or equity exchange

Votes of Confidence: 5 startups launched. 3 Investments in the last 24 months.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When moving from founder-led chaos into more structured growth.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Fractional leadership, growth advisory and founder support.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We work directly with founders navigating growth.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When financial complexity increases and they need CFO-level support.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Fractional CFO support

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?:

Helping founders understand their numbers.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Founders and C-suite leaders in scaling companies, particularly during periods of rapid growth or operational complexity

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When growth creates more priorities than internal capacity
• When execution bottlenecks are slowing delivery
• During post-funding growth or periods of rapid scale
• When additional operational or commercial execution support is needed

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Short, targeted engagements focused on execution and tangible outcomes
• Operational and commercial support to unblock delivery and create momentum
• Support with integrations, scaling operations, and managing complexity
• AI-assisted decision support and execution frameworks

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, VC-backed startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Before the next fundraising round.

The transition between R&D and go-to-market (deep tech specific).

If the founders/leadership team don't have a strong commercial or operational skillset.

When a leadership team needs to grow/expand but want clarity on how to do so.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

For startups, I offer a coaching-first opportunity if they prefer to give it a go before bringing me on as a fractional.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Fractional Chief Operating Officer (Delivery & Operations)

Fractional Chief Commercial Officer (Commercial and Market)

Fractional Chief Customer Officer (Customer connection and experience)

Coach (Commercial and strategy)

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

I would like to thank you sincerely for your hard work, dedication and honesty but also for the fact that you have challenged us, asked tough questions even when we did not want to hear the answers but more importantly contributed to crafting what our company is today and treating it as your own.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

We have loved working with Sandy. She is an incredible problem solver, strategic thinker and team builder. Her experience with both early-stage startups and large organisations gives her a flexibility and depth which is awesome to work with. I definitely recommend finding a way to involve her in your work.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When growth creates operational complexity and execution starts breaking.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Fractional COO / operations support for startups and scaleups.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$5k–$10k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We help founders get unstuck operationally.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When you hit 10+ employees and have real growth plans. That's usually when people challenges start compounding — hiring, culture, leadership — and when getting ahead of them pays off most.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

• Free discovery call to start.
• From there: monthly retainers for ongoing fractional CPO support, or fixed-fee sprints for specific projects.
• Our pricing is designed with early-stage companies in mind.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

We embed as your fractional Chief People Officer - working alongside your senior leaders to build what your company needs as it grows. That includes people strategy, hiring and onboarding processes, leadership development, culture work, and navigating tricky people situations. Some founders come to us with a specific problem. Others bring us in early so growth doesn't catch them off guard.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Working with BloomHQ's Tamara was a game-changer. She felt like one of the team.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

Working with Bloom gave us a chance to take stock, to understand how to improve our practices, and benefit from their experience at a bunch of other great companies. They've taken care to really understand us and help us make long term changes in how we operate.

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

People problems are a top reason startups stall and most founders don't get serious support until something's already broken. We exist to change that.

We don't do generic HR. We work at the pace founders work at, go deep on what actually matters, and always keep the founder perspective front and centre.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

SMEs transitioning to high growth, Bootstrapped / owner-operators

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When you’re at the stage where financial decisions are getting complex, raising money, talking to a bank, building a budget that actually means something, or reporting to a board but it doesn’t make sense to hire a full-time CFO yet. You need someone senior who can just get on with it.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Pitch decks need numbers behind them. We build the models, forecasts and board reporting that give founders something solid to stand on.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes, a free initial consultation and a fixed fee package.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Early revenue, Pre-revenue / idea stage, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Right before your first hire or as soon as managing people starts to feel unclear, messy, or risky.

If you’re second-guessing contracts, dealing with a tricky employee situation, or realising “winging it” might bite you later, that’s the moment to bring us in.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

We offer simple, start-up friendly support to get your HR basics right early, from contracts and policies to hiring and handling employee issues.

You can work with us through fixed packages, on-demand advice, or ongoing support, depending on what stage you’re at and how hands-on you need us to be.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

We offer a few simple, start-up friendly ways to work together:

• Fixed-fee foundation packages – set up all your core HR (contracts, policies, hiring basics) without the surprise invoices.
• On-demand support (pay as you go) – for when things pop up and you just need quick, expert advice.
• Monthly retainer – ongoing support as you grow, like having an HR partner on standby without hiring in-house.
• Free initial consult – to sense-check what you actually need before spending a cent.
• Staged billing – spread the cost so you’re not taking a cashflow hit while building.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Angie has been exceptional since my first call. I have been incredibly grateful for her calm expertise advising each step of the way in some complex HR management. Highly recommend!

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

I love working with Angie's pragmatic and practical approach to people related issues. She doesn't shy away from tough conversations, but handles every situation with authenticity and care.

Votes of Confidence:

• 20+ years experience in HR, leadership coaching and employment relations.
• Experience working with all industries, including startups.
• 'HR Essentials' package provides startups with all the HR foundational documents they need to set them up for success.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?:

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Startups in the process of capital raising

When should a founder consider engaging you?:

We work with founders from idea stage through to scaling companies. If you're feeling stuck, unsure or things are messy we can help you get clarity and confindence and keep you accountable.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?:

• After a free intro call, our coaching service is NZ$2500 and includes 8 × 60 minute weekly sessions, prep and follow up time, document review, and ad hoc email / phone support.
• We also offer one-off sessions for specific advice at $300 per session.
• For under-represented founders (Women, Māori & Pacific Peoples, LGBTQI+) I offer a 10% discount on services. Please note this offer in your application form.
• After 3 sessions if you’re not seeing value let me know and you won’t be charged for the rest.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

We can help with anything from wider strategic planning - brand values, positioning, market assessments - to operational advice - contract packing vs manufacturing, costings, forecasts and pricing.

We coach founders and leaders to identify their drivers and help them become more authentically themselves so they can achieve more and have a better time doing it.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Joe is a legend. An elite listener and question-asker who helped me shape and clearly articulate our go to market. Calm, non-domineering, strategically sharp, and genuinely well connected. A rare combo.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for help guiding me through a tailored process for Mufftech. Since we last spoke, we've been able to 4x our business - a truly transformative achievement for us. The strategies you helped us implement have been instrumental in getting us to this point. As we continue scaling and face new challenges like expanding our team and managing cash flow during growth, I feel confident the foundation you helped us build will see us through. I'm incredibly grateful and would highly recommend your expertise to anyone looking to scale their business.

Votes of Confidence:

I have founded and run several businesses as well as coached dozens of founders building iconic companies.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When developing a go-to-market strategy for a consumer brand
• When preparing to pitch retailers or distribution partners
• When refining brand positioning, pricing, or product strategy
• When planning international expansion or new sales channels

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Not specified

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Go-to-market strategy and commercial planning
• Brand and category strategy development
• Product and IP development guidance
• Pricing, promotion, and margin analysis
• Retail and channel strategy
• Partnership and distribution pitches (local and international)

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

Peter has a unique combination of skills being both commercial savvy and comfortable out in front, whilst having deep operational experience to understand the inner workings required to fulfil any new opportunity created. Together this makes him a valuable asset to any businesses seeking to step-change growth.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2

Peter has been outstanding, diligently supporting all of our retail business with a prompt and professional approach. Peter is clearly experienced in dealing with retailers around the world, and this has been extremely helpful for us both domestically and internationally. Working with Peter has been a delight and we look forward to our continued business growth and partnership.

Votes of Confidence

Peter Torrington has more than 30 years of commercial leadership experience including senior roles at Colgate-Palmolive, Chief Sales Officer at Whittaker’s, and CEO of The Produce Company. He has advised and supported New Zealand brands including Grin Natural Products, Bostock Brothers, and Kiwigarden.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When seeking clarity on career or business direction
• When building confidence as a founder or leader
• When navigating workplace challenges, decision-making, or growth transitions

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• One-to-one coaching sessions focused on leadership, confidence, and decision-making
• Tailored coaching programmes designed around individual goals and challenges
• Practical tools and exercises to support personal and professional development

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

• $180 per session
• $450 for a 3-session coaching package
• $500 per month for unlimited support (3-month minimum)

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

I would highly recommend Laura for coaching. She has tailored the sessions to exactly the kind of coaching I needed… helping me build my confidence around finances and navigate my career and life. Coaching with Laura is an absolute game-changer.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they need to hire their first key team members or scale their team quickly.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Flexible recruitment models for startups

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We work closely with founders building teams.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Technology startups and scaling tech companies

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When building or scaling a technology team
• When hiring engineering, product, or specialist technical roles
• When needing access to a curated pool of experienced tech candidates

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Talent acquisition for technology teams
• Recruitment focused on engineering, product, and technical roles
• Access to an established network of technology professionals
• Shortlisted candidate searches focused on quality fit

Votes of Confidence

Companies we have worked with include Sailthru, Timely, Zapier, Xero, PaperKite, Optimal Workshop, Vend, ImagR, Octopus Energy, and Marketplacer.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Founders, CEOs, and senior leaders building and scaling startups, deep tech, and growth-stage businesses

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When a critical hire needs to be made

When replacing or adding leadership capability

When they need support defining the role before going to market

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

Executive and specialist recruitment

Leadership hiring across technical, commercial, and operational roles

Role scoping, market mapping, and hiring advisory

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

This is the best executive recruitment experience we have ever experienced.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2

Brilliant …a deep understanding of the here and now, but also a strong grasp on the future requirements of our businesses.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

Not NZ-based, but serve NZ-incorporated companies

What type of founders do you typically work with?

SMEs transitioning to high growth, Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, Other

When should a founder consider engaging you?

A founder should consider engaging Kinetic when they need reliable team support but want to keep hiring flexible and cost-efficient. This is especially useful when building an early operations team, supporting growth after new customer acquisition or funding, filling admin or customer support gaps, or scaling marketing and back-office work without the overhead of local hiring.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

• Flexible support for one hire or a small team
• Free demo call to discuss hiring needs
• Replacement guarantee for added hiring security

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

We help companies build teams with Filipino talent across key functions such as admin, customer support, marketing, sales support, and operations. Our service includes sourcing, screening, hiring support, payroll support, and a replacement guarantee, giving startups and growing businesses a more reliable way to scale.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

We have been able to fill roles with top talent quickly. Each role has worked out exceptionally well. TOP JOB Vernie!! I have no problem in 100% recommending you!

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

Kinetic has assisted in providing top-level staff in the field of customer service for our business. We have been able to provide efficient, professional, quality service at an unbeatable price, and we are looking to expand into other departments with Kinetic.

Votes of Confidence:

Kinetic has over 13 years of experience supporting businesses with offshore staffing solutions.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Other

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When you are looking at hiring. Hiring the right people is important at every stage of a company, specially in the early stages, as this could shape your success or throw you back.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Instant shortlists, fewer mis-hires.

CVs explain where someone has been. We reveal what they can become while saving 40+ hours in hiring time.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Start-ups will get 12 months free use for up to 3 roles.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Fixed fees under $1k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based, with offices and clients globally

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, founders expanding into the US market

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When planning to relocate to or build a company in the United States
• When exploring visa options such as O-1, E-2, L-1, or EB-1A
• When hiring or relocating international team members to the US

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Free strategy consultation

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Strategic guidance on US visa pathways for founders and startup teams
• End-to-end support preparing and filing visa applications
• Evidence building and narrative development to strengthen applications
• Immigration support for founders, executives, and skilled professionals

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

Concord focuses on helping founders and high-growth teams navigate US immigration so they can build companies and access global markets without being blocked by visa complexity.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, VC-backed startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When hiring international employees
• When applying for or maintaining Accredited Employer status
• When navigating visa requirements for overseas hires
• When ensuring immigration and workplace compliance for migrant staff

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Not specified

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Employer accreditation applications and ongoing compliance support
• Work visas and immigration applications for employees and their families
• Immigration programme management for employers hiring overseas talent
• Immigration compliance audits and advice for HR teams
• Support recruiting and relocating international workers

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When operational overhead starts slowing down the founder and they need support systems in place.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Operational systems, finance support and HR frameworks for startups

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?:

We support founders by removing operational burden.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When setting up the right legal and tax structure for a startup
• When establishing founder arrangements, cap tables, or employee share schemes
• When preparing financial reporting for investors or shareholders
• When managing tax compliance and accounting as the business grows

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Not specified

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Tax structuring and advisory for startups
• Founder arrangements, cap tables, and employee share scheme support
• Accounting, management reporting, and annual tax returns
• Shareholder reporting and financial information for investors
• Practical tax advice for growing technology companies

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

Not specified

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Not specified

Votes of Confidence

Boutique chartered accounting firm with specialist tax expertise, working with technology startups alongside SMEs, commercial property businesses, and family offices.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, VC-backed startups, Startups in the process of capital raising

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they are doing eligible R&D work and want to claim the NZ R&D Tax Incentive.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

End-to-end R&D tax credit support including eligibility assessment, documentation and claim preparation.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

Helping innovative companies access non-dilutive funding.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

At any stage in the start up journey. Earlier is always better to ensure we can provide guidance on the right time to access support.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Our fee structure is flexible to take into account the unique circumstances of each start up

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Accessing non dilutive funding - R&D Tax Incentive (RDTI) expertise (part of the regulators R&D Advisory Group), Grants, R&D tax loss cash out tax credit

Assisting with the creation of financial models for capital raising and ongoing financial management

Fractional CFO services - structured to meet the requirements of the stage and complexity of the business

Governance and advisory

Founder coaching

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

Helping founders access funding and building strong foundations for growth is what we care about most.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When your spending first ramps up past $100k/yr or so - or when first raising

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Fixed-fee packages, and staged billing to keep the cashflow positive

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Advice on non-dilutive funding, strategy to leverage off private investments, tax/grant application writing, funder liaison, year-end claim preparations. Usually as a full-service model (where we write the applications, go through your books, and prepare the accounting calculations).

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Tom and Corey at BlueRock took us through our RDTI application to a successful result. They clarified and simplified the process, and translated the information we gave them into the form required, minimising our time spent getting it in order. They also followed it through, helping it over a couple of final hurdles. We will definitely use them again, and highly recommend them!

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

Corey and Tom have materially contributed to our business ... Interactions with government and funding bodies is not in our nature, so we are extremely grateful to be able to use their skills and experience to point us to opportunities and avenues for support we did not know even existed, and did not have the time to explore. They have done a great job, and I hope we can continue to benefit from their insights.

Votes of Confidence

Now with a Wellington outpost, in NZ since 2002, building off 18 years supporting entrepreneurs in Australia.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they need to understand and manage business risk.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Insurance advisory tailored for startups

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

High-growth technology companies and startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When raising capital
• When dealing with commercial, technology, or data agreements
• When setting up corporate governance or ESOP structures
• When navigating mergers, acquisitions, or company exits

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Capital raising support for venture funding rounds
• Commercial, technology, and data law
• Corporate structuring, governance, and ESOP design
• Mergers and acquisitions advice for growth companies

Founder (Customer) Examples

• Hnry — advising on Seed, Series A, and Series B funding rounds including investors such as Left Lane Capital, EVP, and AirTree.
• Mint Innovation — assisting on its $60m+ Series C funding round led by Inspire Impact.
• Nilo — advising on its Series A investment from Inter IKEA.
• Vend — advising shareholders on the sale of Vend to Lightspeed POS.
• Timely — advising shareholders on the sale to EverCommerce.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Ideally early - before fundraising, before governance issues arise, and before signing important contracts.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Fixed fee startup packages, capital raise support, governance set up, ESOP advice and general startup legal support.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We care deeply about founders and have worked with many startups as they grow.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

VC-backed startups, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Before signing a term sheet.

• Raising capital.
• Setting up an ESOP or a corporate structure.
• When considering redomiciling to another jurisdiction – we leverage Dentons’ global network to coordinate across borders.
• Commercial contracting.
• M&A transactions.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

• Capital raising – term sheets, subscription agreements, SAFEs and convertible notes, shareholders’ agreements and constitutions.
• Corporate structuring and ESOPs.
• Commercial contracting – NDAs, terms of use and privacy policies
• M&A for high growth companies.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

We structure fees to suit the stage and budget – including a free initial conversation, fixed fees for clearly scoped work, and staged billing.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Startups in the process of capital raising, Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Before raising their first round.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Legal advice in relation to getting investment ready (founder splits / vesting, company structuring and formation), cap raises (cap tables, term sheets, SAFEs / convertible notes, subscription agreements, shareholders agreements, constitution, side letters), ESOPs (rules, letters of offer, etc.), terms of business (website Ts & Cs, SaaS terms, privacy policies), etc.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

We typically will offer an hour (which often stretches to two!) of initial consultation off the clock. Once engaged, the for cap raise instructions we typically defer invoices until first close. We can also offer fixed fees for discrete pieces of work and have a bank of precedent agreements tailored to the NZ market that help keep costs down.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

We engaged the Criterion team last year to support our cap raise for Ternary. The process involved coordinating with international investors and working through complex documents and negotiations. Derek provided high-touch guidance throughout, helping us secure strong terms while ensuring we fully understood the strategic implications of each decision. Their ability to drive the best outcome for Ternary, combined with clear, real-time input on the legal and commercial aspects and a clear understanding of the New Zealand early stage space, made a real difference. Criterion should be on the very short list of any founder or company looking for expert legal support.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

The Criterion team have been incredible in supporting my pre-seed raise. This was a significant round with 7 different funds all to be negotiated and navigated through the process, along with a first-time founder trying to make all the right moves. Derek and his team were amazing at both driving the best result for the company, and educating me on the strategy and consequences of my decisions in real time. I have no hesitation in recommending Criterion as a partner for your next raise.

Votes of Confidence:

Active advisor to (and sometime investor in) early-stage companies in NZ since 2014 and have worked with scores of startups of all shapes and sizes both in NZ and overseas, including SaaS, deep-tech, ag-tech and digital assets.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Innovators building technology and IP-based companies

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When they want to protect and manage their intellectual property
• When they need IP searching, insights, or due diligence
• When they are building an IP strategy or preparing for investment

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Patent drafting, filing, and management
• IP commercialisation advisory
• IP portfolio management
• Innovation capture and idea assessment
• Novelty searching
• Data sufficiency assessment for patents
• IP due diligence and strategic IP planning

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

Developed the company's in-house IP framework and a phased patent strategy aligned with funding and R&D. This strategic clarity was instrumental in securing investor confidence.

We have become a significantly more sophisticated company to a large extent due to our IP development - thanks to you!

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

As early as possible, ideally before public disclosure of an invention or launch of a new brand.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Startup-friendly IP advice, patent and trade mark filing strategies, freedom to operate advice, IP due diligence and commercialisation advice.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We work with founders to help them build defensible value in their businesses from the outset.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When starting a company and wanting to understand cybersecurity risks early
• When building software products and needing security integrated into development practices
• When preparing to improve internal security processes or security culture

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Free cyber risk consultation for startups

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Cybersecurity reviews to assess risk and identify practical improvements
• Workshops and training bridging technical security and business decision-making
• Security Champions programme to embed security practices into the software development lifecycle
• Guidance on building proportionate security processes for growing companies

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

Anna has been fantastic in our Cyber Security Journey. Helping us with processes and overall mindset to keep PAM safe within our acceptable risk appetite.

She has opened our eyes to risks we never even considered and reassured us on areas that need less attention at this stage.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

Not NZ-based, but serve NZ-incorporated companies

What type of founders do you typically work with?:

Bootstrapped / owner-operators, VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Startups in the process of capital raising

When should a founder consider engaging you?:

When they start doing newsworthy stuff. For most, it's after their big first raise, or big first client or big news to announce, or when they are doing things anyone at the pub would want to hear more about, not just their mums.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?:

Yep

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

First press pack (AU$500/m) but we are the most competitive non-newswire PR option on the market at AU$10k/year + AU$2,500 onboarding fee.

We are good too (check out Nevam CX raise announcement, or FlixBus' launch in Australia).

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$5k–$10k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, globally

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?:

Newsary is a founder-led startup launched specifically to make great storytelling affordable for startups doing big things on small budget the world should still hear about.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?:

Not NZ-based, but serve NZ-incorporated companies

What type of founders do you typically work with?:

Early revenue, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?:

When they want to consistently generate inbound leads through LinkedIn.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?:

Retainers

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

LinkedIn ghostwriting and founder brand building

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?:

Yes, globally

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?:

We work specifically with founders.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they have news to share or want to build visibility with media and investors.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

PR campaigns, media outreach and founder visibility support

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

$1k–$5k

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

FoundrPR helped us sharpen our story and secure media coverage that supports business development in a tangible way. The process was clear, efficient, and gave us credible content we use in our conversations with prospective clients.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

One of the best ways to increase your brand awareness, tell your story and introduce your products is through a good PR agency. I have been using FoundrPR since I started my company's PR journey and highly recommend them! If you want to find out how they can help you reach out to Richard Liew.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 3

We are a small business venture expanding into NZ and received great coverage by the team at FoundrPR. They were very efficient and easy to work with, and our company has had some wonderful exposure in the media over the past few weeks which has generated a good level of public interest. Highly recommend reaching out to FoundrPR - affordable and a great investment.

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

We focus on founder stories and startup media visibility.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

Not NZ-based, but serve NZ-incorporated companies

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Breakout brands

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When preparing for a fundraise, launch, or major announcement
• When trying to define positioning and category narrative
• When expanding into new markets or building sustained visibility
• When managing public voice and reputational risk

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Yes

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

• PR strategy and media relations
• Brand and category narrative development
• Launch campaigns (product, funding, market entry)
• Content, social, and creator-led campaigns
• Executive profiling and thought leadership

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Sling & Stone has some of the brightest minds in the PR game. The team’s attention to detail and genuine enthusiasm for the work has not wavered in the time that Xero has partnered with them. Sling & Stone are strategic, creative and get results. But above all, they’re a great bunch of people that myself and the Xero exec team like and respect.

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

• From idea to reality
• Global from day one
• Brand building sans vanity metrics

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

SMEs transitioning to high growth, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, VC-backed startups, Startups in the process of capital raising, Early revenue

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Before entering the market or before moving into a new market. Before raising a round.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

• Market and brand positioning
• Investor and presentation decks
• Websites
• Market ready assets

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

• Free consultation
• Ready for market concept to creation programme.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

KISSLabs was the only brand I trusted to help bring my vision for Thorn PR to life when I launched in 2019, and did a brand refresh in 2023. Each time the team exceeded my expectations, helping create a brand I feel ultra passionate about and uncovering new ways to communicate what we do. I can't speak highly enough about the care they show to all of their clients, and can only say you're in safe and very talented hands when you work with KISSLabs.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

I think of Excellence when I think of KISSLabs. Its clear they love what they do, and walk the talk of brand strategy. The process they ran to create Goodlife Collectives Logo and website was a well oiled machine of good process and good communication and I could not have been happier with the results.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When requiring a visual identity for a new startup, a digital presence, or design support for marketing materials.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

• Brand positioning
• Visual Identity
• Print design
• UX/UI design
• Website development
• Newsletters

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Fixed-fee packages for:

• Brand identity
• Marketing website
• Brand identity + marketing website.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, globally

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

Debut's work is consistently exceptional, showcasing both a high level of professionalism and creativity. Their attention to detail and commitment to quality make them a valuable partner on any project

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

SMEs transitioning to high growth, Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Anytime

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Startup Essentials Package. (Includes branding, website and social media templates for launching their business)

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Logo Design
• Branding
• Website, SEO and Mobile friendly
• Social media and Content creation

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

Adriana has been absolutely brilliant to work with. She does all our graphic design work and recently has started taking professional photos of your products as well. I would recommend, and have recommend, her services to anyone.

Votes of Confidence

1.5 years founded 15 years experience in marketing and visual communication

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

Once product-market fit is established.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

• PR strategy and media relations
• Community and partner communications
• International PR for Kiwi start ups going global
• Founder profiling and thought leadership

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Free initial consultation.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1:

I identified an unmet need no one else had seized in my industry but assembling the right team and technology alongside my current business was not an easy task. Firecrest validated swiftly, advanced R&D with my geo-specialists (turning hurdles into strengths via their startup expertise), refined the product, and are delivering an MVP reaching customers in early 2026.

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2:

As a non-technical founder building a new kind of cultural insights platform, I knew the problem but not the path. Your team tested feasibility, mapped a roadmap with specs, and we’re off to a great start - blending startup savvy with technical rigor to dodge pitfalls and rework. We're on track for a 2026 MVP.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth

When should a founder consider engaging you?

• When they are considering a user conference, customer event, or community-building initiative
• Before committing money to trade shows or exhibitions
• When sales and marketing want to “do events” but aren’t aligned on the purpose or ROI
• When you need customer insight, pipeline, or partnerships - not just brand exposure
• When internal teams don’t have the time or experience to run events properly

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

• Fixed-fee strategy workshops to assess whether an event is worth doing
• Clearly scoped delivery projects (no open-ended retainers)
• Staged engagement: strategy first, then design and delivery only if it makes sense
• Ability to work alongside in-house teams rather than replacing them

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings

• Event strategy workshops to define purpose, audience, success measures, and budget
• User conference and customer event design (content, format, experience flow)
• Trade show and exhibition strategy - deciding where to show up, how, and why
• End-to-end delivery of selected events, or support for internal teams running them
• Post-event review to capture learnings and inform future growth decisions

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing)

Varies significantly by engagement

Do you work with founders outside your local region?

Yes, nationwide

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

We worked with Terri and the Verve team to design UX New Zealand at Optimal Workshop. We used the event series as a lever for customer understanding, community, and better growth decisions. We brought real customers and everyday UX heroes to our doorstep from around the world, and it helped our whole team connect with customer realities in a way you just don’t get from blogs and dashboards alone. It became a profitable, enjoyable series with genuinely relevant content and a great attendee experience, and it produced reusable content that supported our marketing and growth long after each event. Andrew Mayfield - Founder Optimal Workshop

Votes of Confidence

25+ years designing and delivering events and founder-led programmes Long-term partner to MORGO (NZ tech founder community) for over two decades Increasingly working with startups and scale-ups exploring events as a growth and community tool

Why do you think your service belongs in a founder-first directory?

Start-ups often include events in the marketing activity but don't know how to get the results they are looking for. We work with them to build a strategy, understand what they are wanting to achieve and design events and activations that get results.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, VC-backed startups, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Other

When should a founder consider engaging you?

As soon as they want to take payments. It takes ~5 minutes to set up an account.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

Free to sign up, no monthly fees. Only pay per transaction. Even then it's low fees (1% + $0.25 per transaction).

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement

Votes of Confidence:

We have been used by events already, many different types of businesses, from small retail business - buskers.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

Pre-revenue / idea stage, Early revenue, Startups in the process of capital raising, Bootstrapped / owner-operators, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Other

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When seeking grant funding to support positive impact initiatives.

Best suited for social enterprise founders or teams pursuing non-dilutive funding.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

2K+ database of funding opportunities, matching tools to surface relevant grants, and AI-assisted drafting of applications to reduce time spent writing and tracking submissions.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Startups can try out Fundsorter, see relevant matches to grant opportunities, and draft their first application within the free trial offer.

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Fixed fees under $1k

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 1

The platform is easy to use, simple and ‘clean’. An absolutely brilliant tool which uses the best of AI capability to support you in your role (rather than replace you!)

Founder (Customer) Testimonial 2

Straightaway I entered what we were looking for and it came up with an absolutely new funder that we'd never considered before as the #1 choice... within 24 hours, I'd done that application and had a response.

Votes of Confidence:

1,000 organisations have signed up for Fundsorter to date.

Are you NZ-based or do you actively serve NZ-incorporated companies?

NZ-based

What type of founders do you typically work with?

VC-backed startups, SMEs transitioning to high growth, Bootstrapped / owner-operators

When should a founder consider engaging you?

When they’re looking at office spaces and growing the businesses in person customer and staffing experience.

Briefly describe your startup-specific offerings:

We design epic office spaces for epic companies, looking to show off the awesome businesses that they’re building.

Do you offer any startup-specific engagement models?

Monthly payments, deposit to start, pause at any time

Typical price range (if comfortable sharing):

Varies significantly by engagement