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Practical startup directories for founders building in New Zealand
What Founders Want Directories are founder-built maps of startup infrastructure — designed to solve a global founder problem, applied clearly to the New Zealand context.
Founders everywhere struggle with the same thing:
Important information exists, but it’s fragmented, outdated, buried in PDFs, or locked inside networks.
What Founders Want turns that mess into clear, current, searchable directories — so founders can understand their options quickly and move forward with confidence.
These are not articles or opinions.
They are complete views of what exists, with direct links to the next correct step.
Why these directories exist
Across every startup ecosystem, founders face the same challenges:
- Capital pathways are hard to see end-to-end
- Government support is poorly explained and scattered across agencies
- Ecosystem organisations are difficult to discover without insider context
- Most “resources” assume you already know where to look
What Founders Want solves this global discovery problem by building infrastructure-level directories — then tailoring them to New Zealand’s legal, funding, and ecosystem reality.
Each directory is:
- Founder-first (built for decision-making, not promotion)
- Stage-aware (from first idea to growth)
- NZ-specific (accurate, local, and relevant)
- Continuously updated as the ecosystem changes
Explore the Directories
Get Funded
Capital for New Zealand startups
The most complete, real-time directory of capital providers for New Zealand founders.
Use this directory to:
- Find venture capital, angel groups, family offices, accelerators, and crowdfunding platforms
- Identify Australian funds actively investing in NZ-incorporated companies
- Explore non-equity options like revenue-based financing and venture debt
- Filter by stage, capital type, and geography
Built for founders raising from pre-seed to growth, across equity and non-dilutive pathways.
Start a Startup in New Zealand
Official setup, compliance, and visa guidance — in one place
A step-by-step directory of the actual tools and government links required to legally start a business in New Zealand.
Includes:
- Company registration and structure
- IRD, GST, and tax setup
- Visa pathways for foreign founders
- Startup launch checklists
Designed to help founders make a startup real and compliant, fast.
NZ Government Support Directory
Every active government grant, credit, and support program (2025)
A founder-first guide to non-dilutive government support for startups and SMEs.
Covers:
- Government grants and co-funding
- R&D tax credits and loss credits
- Export support and financial guarantees
- Capability building and advisory programs
- Immigration and visa support
Built to show what’s live, what fits your stage, and how to apply — without guesswork.
NZ Startup Ecosystem Directory
The fastest way to understand New Zealand’s startup support landscape
A complete, up-to-date map of the organisations supporting founders across Aotearoa.
Use this directory to find:
- Regional innovation hubs and incubators
- Māori & Pasifika founder support
- Women-focused founder organisations
- Deep tech hubs and university commercialisation units
- University entrepreneurship programmes
Designed for first-time founders, returning founders, and global teams entering New Zealand.
Free Legal & Financial Templates
Execution documents for New Zealand startups
A curated library of startup-ready templates built or vetted for New Zealand founders.
Includes:
- Company setup templates
- Hiring and employment documents
- Capital raising templates
- Governance and board materials
These are the documents founders reach for when decisions matter — fundraising, hiring, issuing shares, and running a board.
NZ Startup Perks & Credits
Verified startup perks for New Zealand founders
New Zealand’s longest open-access list of verified startup perks — no accelerators or private groups required.
Includes:
- Cloud credits (AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean)
- Productivity and collaboration tools
- CRM, analytics, and growth stack credits
- Stripe fee waivers and early-stage cap table tools
Every perk is checked for NZ eligibility — no expired offers, no US-only exclusions.
Accelerators & Startup Programs
Find the right startup program for your stage
Navigate the full landscape of New Zealand accelerators, incubators, and founder programs — without piecing together fragmented lists.
Use this directory to:
- Compare accelerators, incubators, and non-dilutive programs
- Filter by stage, sector, funding model, and location
- Access verified application links and program details
- Avoid dead ends with clear funding and eligibility notes
Built to help founders spend less time searching and more time building.
Tools & Talent
The practical tools, templates, perks, and talent channels NZ founders actually use
A single, founder-first directory covering the core execution infrastructure startups need to build, hire, and operate lean.
Use this directory to:
- Find trusted startup tools across finance, product, growth, and operations
- Access free legal, financial, and governance templates for NZ startups
- Reduce burn with verified NZ startup perks and credits
- Discover high-signal startup talent platforms and operator communities
Designed to help founders execute faster with fewer resources — without stitching together spreadsheets or advice threads.
AI Power Stack for Founders
Execute like a full team — without hiring one
A practical, founder-tested stack of generative AI and no-code tools to help startups move faster with less overhead.
Use this directory to:
- Write investor decks, updates, and outreach in hours
- Generate sales, product, and marketing content on demand
- Automate back-office and operational workflows
- Build and launch without heavy engineering investment
Built for New Zealand founders, globally applicable, and focused on real execution — not theory.
How founders use these directories
Founders usually arrive with a specific question:
- How do I legally set this up?
- Who actually funds companies like mine?
- What support am I missing at this stage?
These directories are designed to:
- Answer that question completely
- Show the full landscape, not a single recommendation
- Point directly to the next correct action
Then founders leave — and keep building.
That’s exactly how they’re meant to be used.