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Who to Follow in the New Zealand Startup Ecosystem
The New Zealand startup ecosystem runs on people.
Opportunities, events, funding windows, programmes, and new initiatives rarely appear in one central place. In practice, they become visible through individuals who consistently share and amplify ecosystem activity in public, most often on LinkedIn.
This page is a founder-first reference list of NZ startup super-connectors: people whose public activity makes the startup ecosystem easier to see, understand, and navigate.
This is not an endorsement list.
There are no paid placements, rankings, or sponsorships.
What is a startup super-connector?
In the NZ startup ecosystem, a super-connector is someone who is consistently visible in ecosystem information flow.
They often make the ecosystem easier to navigate by:
- sharing or amplifying startup opportunities, events, and programmes
- surfacing context that helps founders orient themselves
- making people, initiatives, or activity easier to discover
Super-connectors are sometimes the source of opportunities.
They are often how founders become aware that something exists.
NZ Startup Super-Connectors (2026 List-to-Date)
People founders consistently follow on LinkedIn to stay informed about what’s happening across the New Zealand startup ecosystem.
Pauli Sosa
Why follow: Broad visibility across startup events, initiatives, and ecosystem activity.
Serge van Dam
Why follow: Creates and surfaces startup ecosystem activity through events, founder conversations, and public commentary.
Saara Tawha
Why follow: Māori and Pasifika startup initiatives and cross-ecosystem connections.
Mat Rowe
Why follow: Deep tech funding, events, programmes, and ecosystem initiatives.
Anna Guenther
Why follow: Startup funding opportunities, including alternative and non-dilutive funding, and ecosystem events.
Eve Charles
Why follow: Startup hub activity, founder events, and ecosystem coordination.
Rudi Bublitz
Why follow: Angel investment activity, funding context, and early-stage capital visibility.
Zach Warder-Gabaldon
Why follow: Startup programmes, funding windows, and opportunities for founders.
Pascale Hyboud-Peron
Why follow: Ecosystem activity across the full founder journey, including diverse pathways.
Lee Timutimu
Why follow: Māori and Pasifika voices, opportunities, and ecosystem updates.
Kirsty O'Hara
Why follow: Startup events, programmes, and cross-sector ecosystem activity.
Mahesh Muralidhar
Why follow: Early Canva leader with practical insight on building high-growth startups.
Richard Liew
Why follow: Startup news, events, and founder-led storytelling.
Maddie White
Why follow: Makes research, startups, and industry pathways more visible for deep tech founders.
Stu Lees
Why follow: Makes early-stage startup marketing approaches visible, especially for small budgets.
Mark Bregman
Why follow: Commentary on deep tech, venture capital, and NZ’s innovation pipeline.
How this list is built
This list builds on a public What Founders Want LinkedIn series highlighting people founders already rely on to navigate the NZ startup ecosystem.
Inclusion is based on visible ecosystem contribution, not job title, seniority, or commercial services.
The list is reviewed and refreshed periodically.
Nominate a startup super-connector
If there’s someone you consistently see:
- sharing startup funding or programme opportunities
- making ecosystem activity easier to find
- connecting people or initiatives by making them visible
you can nominate them for the next update.