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Startup founders can’t afford to waste opportunities. But it’s easy for something to get lost when there is no central point of connection.
That’s the purpose of WFW Monthly.
New opportunities for Kiwi founders to save, raise, and make money.
Updated on the first of the month, every month.
Submit a Program or Opportunity to WFW Monthly
October 2026
Quick Navigation:
Need a co-founder? Start here.
https://whatfounderswant.com/find-a-co-founder
Lineup is a free NZ platform for finding a co-founder, a first hire or a skill you don't have. Every project shows its stage, what's missing and how much time it needs, and you can browse before you publish a profile.
Building solo? Come build with us.
https://whatfounderswant.com/hackaotearoa
HackAotearoa is a free co-working day for founders, every second Friday. No speakers, no pitching, just a day to ship something. WFW runs the Wellington chapter. Queenstown & Christchurch are coming soon.
🚨 2, 16 and 30 October 2026 · Auckland & Wellington
If You Only Do Two Things This Month
WFW’s Ecosystem Experts highlight two opportunities they’d prioritise from this month’s list.
Lane’s October Highlights:
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Save Money
How to Start a Business in New Zealand - What Founders Want
Industry Agnostic
https://whatfounderswant.com/start-a-startup
Everything you need to set up a business in New Zealand, in the order you do it, on one page. It covers sole trader or company, registering, GST, ACC, banking and first equity documents, with links to the official source for each step. A company costs $148.05 to register, and a sole trader costs nothing.
Deep Tech Entrepreneur-in-Residence - Outset Ventures
Deep Tech
https://excessive-amethyst-2d0.notion.site/3e90f494511880089c45e9db85055e85
One founder gets 10 weeks at Outset's Parnell campus in November and December: a desk with 24/7 access, a weekly 1:1 to pressure-test the idea, and access to Outset's deep tech founders, researchers and investors. Outset takes no equity, and there's no pay. It suits deep tech ideas that can grow without building factories or owning infrastructure, such as engineering software, simulation, robotics or chip design, and you don't need a company yet.
🚨 Applications close 15 October 2026
Te Aka Pakihi - Te Matarau a Maui
Industry Agnostic · Māori / Pasifika
https://survey.tematarau.co.nz/eoi2026
Te Aka Pakihi is a 3-month business amplifier programme for pakihi Māori (Māori businesses) in Te Upoko o te Ika Wellington Region. Register your interest for future cohorts.
🚨 Rolling
Opportunities to save money from last month that are still active and worth acting on.
Still Open (from September)
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Where's Serge?
https://whatfounderswant.com/wheres-serge
Serge van Dam is one of New Zealand's most active angel investors, a director across half a dozen NZ tech companies, and Operating Partner at Movac. He also hosts more startup events than almost anyone else in the country.
Most of those events are free or low-cost. WFW now tracks his full events calendar in one place, updated on the first of every month.
Raise Money
Investment Cycle 6 - Sydney Angels
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://www.sydneyangels.net.au/founders
Sydney Angels runs six structured investment cycles a year and this is the last of 2026: applications 6 October, screening 13 October, members meeting 27 October. They want raises of $100k to $1m at a $1m to $4m pre-money. (Higher valuations considered with strong rationale.)
🚨 Applications close 6 October 2026
Runway 2026 - Angel Association New Zealand
Industry Agnostic
https://www.aucklandstartupweek.mobi/buy/for/aanz
An afternoon inside Auckland Startup Week that ends in investor speed dating: short pitches to every investor in the room, one after another. AANZ runs the country's angel networks, so the room is the people actually writing first cheques. Talks on building, backing and scaling fill the earlier part of the day.
🚨 14 October 2026 · Auckland
AI for Science & Safety Nodes - Foresight Institute
Artificial Intelligence · International Opportunity
https://foresight.org/grants/grants-ai-for-science-safety/
Grants of usually US$30,000 to US$100,000, with no equity taken, for AI work on science and safety, including security, neurotech, longevity biotech and nanotech. Companies can apply but must explain why they need grant money rather than investment. People who will work in person at the San Francisco or Berlin hubs get priority.
🚨 Applications close 31 October 2026
a16z speedrun
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://speedrun.a16z.com/apply
US$500,000 upfront for 10% on a SAFE, plus another US$500,000 in your next round within 18 months, with no board seat. It's 12 weeks in person in San Francisco, late January to April 2027. Founders from any country can apply and they help with visas, but travel costs aren't stated.
🚨 Priority applications close 1 November 2026
Open House - Startmate
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://universe.startmate.com/open-house
Pre-seed or seed stage community for AU/NZ founders looking to join Startmate's accelerator programme, connect with Startmate investors or get invites to relevant events. Previously Launch Club.
Startmate Accelerator
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://www.startmate.com/accelerator
A$120,000 at a A$1.5M post-money valuation if you haven't raised before, which is 8% of the company. If you've raised A$250,000 or more from institutional investors, Startmate matches your last round's terms. It runs 25 January to 29 April 2027, remote except three required weeks in Melbourne, and travel costs aren't stated.
🚨 Applications close 1 November 2026
Innovation Investment Round - Ag Emissions Centre x AgriZeroNZ
Ag Tech · Deep Tech
https://www.ag-emissions.nz/news-and-events/second-2026-innovation-investment-round/
R&D funding for new ways to cut nitrous oxide or methane from farming. The Idea track gives up to $50,000 for a six-month feasibility project, with only four funded and no full team needed. Full proposals share $2M over up to two years. Individuals and overseas applicants qualify, and the page doesn't say what you give up in return.
🚨 Applications close 18 November 2026
StartUp+ - Kiwibank
Industry Agnostic
https://www.kiwibank.co.nz/business-banking/borrowing/business-loans/start-up-plus/
A loan of up to $150,000 without putting your personal assets on the line, with more unlocked as you hit milestones, plus two years of waived Business Edge fees. You need under 24 months of trading and either an accelerator or incubator behind you or a business you've scaled before. The interest rate isn't published.
🚨 Rolling
Solo Grants - Solo Founders
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://sologrants.com/guide/solo-grant
Grants of US$100 to US$1,000 for a passion project, with no equity, board seat or repayment. Open to all ages and nationalities, and you don't need a company. It's enough to test an idea or cover first costs, not to fund a business.
🚨 Rolling
Māori Agribusiness Innovation Fund - MPI
Māori / Pasifika · Ag Tech
Up to $250,000 per project for primary sector innovation, open year-round while money remains. You must be a GST-registered legal entity, at least 51% Māori owned with Māori making the key decisions, and able to put in in-kind co-investment. The co-funding share isn't published.
🚨 Rolling
Breakthrough Energy Fellows
Deep Tech · International Opportunity
https://befellows.smapply.org/
For climate hard tech. Innovator Fellows get up to US$500,000 on a SAFE for R&D, but the SAFE terms aren't published. The Explorer track gives US$50,000 to US$250,000. You can apply from any country and don't have to relocate. This round only asks for a concept paper, and the cohort starts September 2027.
🚨 Applications close 2 November 2026
2027 Global Challenges - MIT Solve
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/2027-global-economic-prosperity-challenge
Every selected team gets a US$10,000 grant with no equity taken, and can compete for further prizes of up to US$150,000 each. For-profits and non-profits qualify from prototype stage with no country restriction stated. Winners must attend four days in Cambridge, Massachusetts and four in New York.
🚨 Applications close 2 November 2026
Techstars London
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/london
Techstars' standard offer is US$220,000 for 5%: US$200,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE plus US$20,000 for common stock. The three-month programme starts 8 March 2027 and takes founders from anywhere. The London page doesn't confirm those terms or say whether you must relocate. Companies incorporated outside Techstars' approved countries must restructure first.
🚨 Applications close 18 November 2026
NZ Angel Pitch Nights - Nationwide
Industry Agnostic
https://www.angelassociation.co.nz/members-events/
Four networks run investor pitch evenings between September and November: Flying Kiwi Angels, Mainland Angel Investors simultaneously across five South Island cities, Angel Investors Marlborough in Blenheim on the third Wednesday, and Enterprise Angels in Hamilton, Tauranga and online. None publishes a founder deadline, so you get on stage by approaching them months ahead, not by the pitch date.
🚨 September to November 2026 · Nationwide
Emergent Ventures (Mercatus Center at George Mason University)
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://www.mercatus.org/emergent-ventures
Non-dilutive grants for anyone aged 13 or over with an ambitious idea to improve society, open worldwide and to for-profit companies. Amounts aren't published, but past awards run from a few hundred US dollars for travel to around US$50,000. The application is short, and they give no feedback or status updates, so apply and move on.
🚨 Rolling
Thiel Fellowship
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
A US$250,000 grant paid over two years, with no equity taken and no need to move to the US. It's open to anyone aged 22 or under without a university degree, and you must drop out of study to accept it. You don't need a company or a team, but you do need to show real progress on a concrete idea.
🚨 Rolling
Z Fellows
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
A one-week programme for ten technical builders at a time, run mostly online and ending with an in-person day in San Francisco or New York. You can join without taking money, or take a US$10,000 investment at a US$1B valuation cap that converts at your next priced round. There's no age limit, and you don't need a company or to quit your job. The site doesn't say whether travel is covered.
🚨 Rolling
Founders-in-Residence - Afore Capital
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://www.afore.vc/residence
For technical people with two or more years of work experience who are ready to quit and build, with or without an idea. Afore invests at least US$100,000, or US$250,000 to US$750,000 on custom terms, but equity terms aren't published. The two-month residency is in San Francisco, though they ask you to apply even if you can't attend.
🚨 Rolling
Founders, Inc.
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
Invests US$100,000 to US$250,000 for 4% to 7% equity, through programmes of four to six weeks in San Francisco. Some applicants build at the lab for a week or two before a decision, and responses come within a month.
🚨 Rolling
Carbon Removal Innovation - Frontier
Deep Tech · International Opportunity
https://frontierclimate.com/apply/innovation
Money with no equity taken for carbon removal companies: advance purchases of about US$250,000 to US$1.5M, or R&D grants of about US$250,000 to US$750,000. Purchases need lab-scale proof and first tonnes removed within about two years. Selections are announced twice a year, three to four months after you apply.
🚨 Rolling
Opportunities to raise money from last month that are still active and worth acting on.
Still Open (from September)
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Make Money
Find a Co-founder - What Founders Want x Lineup
Industry Agnostic
https://whatfounderswant.com/find-a-co-founder
Most NZ founders find a co-founder or first hire through whoever they already know. Lineup is a free NZ platform where projects list what they're building, their stage, the skills they're missing and the time they need, and people list what they can do and when. You can browse before making a profile, and introductions come with that context already attached.
🚨 Rolling
Tauranga Business Awards 2027 - Tauranga Business Chamber
Industry Agnostic
https://tauranga.org.nz/awards/
Two categories suit young companies: Best Emerging Business and a new Excellence in AI Adoption and Impact award. Businesses of any size or stage can enter or self-nominate, but you must be based in Tauranga or the western Bay of Plenty and be GST registered. No cash prize is published, and the gala is 18 March 2027.
🚨 Applications close 12 October 2026
Tech Solopreneur Accelerator - Mission Ready
Industry Agnostic
https://www.missionreadyhq.com/become/tech-solopreneur
Ten weeks to turn your idea into a working product — with three kinds of mentor in your corner and AI as your build partner. Paid programme with scholarships for female and minority entrepreneurs.
🚨 Programme starts 19 October 2026 · Auckland and online
💸 $2,500 founding cohort / $3,320 standard
SWITCH 2026
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
Singapore's government-backed innovation week: over 25,000 attendees, 400+ startups and exhibitors, and 30+ global pavilions. The Attendee Pass is free to register, though they don't publish what it covers or what a booth costs. The NZ Chamber's mixer falls on the 29th, so one flight covers both.
🚨 27 to 29 October 2026 · Singapore
Founder Catalyst - Ministry of Awesome
Industry Agnostic
https://ministryofawesome.com/founders_founder-catalyst/
Seven months with a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence, plus workshops and access to their mentor and investor network, with no fee and no equity. Expect two to four hours a week, mostly online. The company needs a strong tie to New Zealand.
🚨 Applications close 1 November 2026
Singapore FinTech Festival 2026
Industry Agnostic · International Opportunity
https://www.fintechfestival.sg/
The world's largest fintech event, 70,000 participants from 142 countries at Singapore Expo on 18 to 20 November.
🚨 18-20 November 2026
evokeAG. 2027
Ag Tech · International Opportunity
https://www.evokeag.com/2027-event/
Asia-Pacific's main agrifood tech conference, Adelaide 16 to 17 February 2027, with a Scaleup Partnership stream for commercial-ready companies chasing trials, procurement and adoption rather than investment. International early bird is AUD $1,170 against $1,500 at general sale.
🚨 16-17 February 2027
Opportunities to make money from last month that are still active and worth acting on.
Still Open (from September)
Standout Regional Opportunities & Events
Agritech Unleashed: Dunedin - AgriTech New Zealand
Ag Tech
https://events.humanitix.com/agritech-unleashed-dunedin-2026
A day on Otago's agritech strengths, with innovations shown in their natural environments and industry connections in the room. It's most useful for agritech founders who need to meet the people who buy from them. No pitching or exhibitor options are published.
🚨 12 November 2026 · Dunedin
💸 $149 member / $299 non-member
Startup Weekend Taranaki
Industry Agnostic
https://events.humanitix.com/startup-weekend-taranaki-2026-yudz2ld3
A weekend of taking an idea from pitch to prototype with a team, with meals, mentors and pitch training included. There's no cash prize, just coworking access for the winner, so go to test an idea cheaply rather than to win money.
🚨 13 to 15 November 2026 · New Plymouth
Auckland Startup Week 2026
Industry Agnostic
https://www.aucklandstartupweek.com/
A week-long festival of events bringing founders, innovators, investors, and corporate partners together across Tāmaki Makaurau. Designed to inspire, challenge, and connect the ecosystem, with a full programme of sessions across the week.
🚨 12 to 16 October 2026 · Auckland
Waikato Entrepreneurial Meetup (SODA)
Industry Agnostic
https://events.humanitix.com/waikato-entrepreneurial-meetup-oct-2026
A series of free events, designed to strengthen Waikato’s entrepreneurial community by providing an accessible space where people at different stages of business can meet, share experiences, learn from others and discover new opportunities and support. Network over free drinks and nibbles.
🚨 15 October 2026 · Hamilton
SaaSpocalypse Now - KiwiSaaS
B2B SaaS
https://www.kiwisaas.com/saaspocalypse-now-auckland
For SaaS founders with sales, product or ops teams who want to see how those teams compare with peers, in a room of 150 SaaS leaders. It suits companies that have started hiring beyond the founders. The agenda and speakers are still to be announced.
🚨 15 October 2026 · Auckland
💸 $299 excl. GST
The Jam: Leadership Edition - Movac
Industry Agnostic
Six NZ founders and operators, including Phil Thomson (Auror) and Angie Judge (Dexibit), each give 10 minutes on a hard leadership moment, then take 10 minutes of questions. It's only for people working in NZ tech startups, and entry needs host approval. No price is listed.
🚨 16 October 2026 · Auckland
Stelar- Women Business Conference
Women
https://stelarbusinessevent.com/
A one-day event for established women in business, with talks from Karen Walker and Ethique founder Brianne West plus workshops. Your ticket includes audio sessions before the day and a 21-day programme of group calls afterwards. It's built for women already running a business, not early-stage founders.
🚨 17 October 2026 · Auckland
💸 $270 general admission / $570 Diamond / 4 general admission tickets for $800, all excl. GST
Sunrise Aotearoa 2026 - Blackbird
Industry Agnostic
https://events.humanitix.com/sunrise-aotearoa-2026
Blackbird's festival for founders, a day of creativity, technology, and ambition where Kiwi and Australian founders come together to meet people, get inspired, and learn. Blackbird's flagship celebration of the people building new things across Australia and New Zealand.
🚨 29 October 2026 · Auckland
Community Spotlights
HackAotearoa- NZ’s Free Founder Co-working Community
Industry Agnostic
HackAotearoa is a free co-working day for founders, every second Friday. No speakers, no pitching, just a full day to ship something. WFW runs the Wellington chapter, and Queenstown and Christchurch open next.
🚨 2, 16 and 30 October 2026 · Auckland
🚨 2, 16 and 30 October 2026 · Wellington
Prompt Poets Society - AI Engineering Auckland
Industry Agnostic
https://www.meetup.com/prompt-poets-society-ai-vibe-coding-auckland/
A free evening meetup on building with AI coding tools, for everyone from sceptics to experts. Each event runs short talks from people using these tools in their own work, then open discussion, with food and drinks covered by sponsors. The group has 2,300+ members, which makes it a good room for a founder looking for an early technical hire.
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Just Shipped on WFW
A quick roundup of what we shipped this month, so you don't have to keep checking the site.
What Founders Want × Lineup
Find a co-founder, a first hire or a skill you don't have. Every project shows its stage, what's missing and how much time it needs, and you can browse before you publish a profile.
How to Start a Business in NZ
Every step to register a business in New Zealand, in order, with the official link and what it costs at each step. Updated for 2026.
Get Help, Anytime
Foundational support every NZ founder should know about. Always available, high-leverage, and often free.
Talk to a Human
Get Investor-Ready
Expand Overseas
The Ecosystem Experts Behind WFW Monthly
WFW Monthly only works if the people scanning the ecosystem have actually built inside it.
This is not a content role. It is judgement.
Our Ecosystem Experts are founders, directors, accelerator leads, investors, and operators who have carried real commercial accountability - and understand the difference between activity and traction.
Joe Slater
Joe Slater is a founder, director, and startup operator who has built and exited multiple New Zealand consumer brands, including Six Barrel Soda. He has led accelerator infrastructure at Creative HQ, delivered national coaching through Startup Aotearoa, and now holds executive responsibility for Product at Consumer NZ and coaches startups at Cascade Coaching.
He brings cross-sector, revenue-first judgement to WFW Monthly - shaped by operating, governing, and scaling companies inside the realities of the NZ market.
Lane Litz
Lane Litz is the founder of What Founders Want and a former founder, operator, and VC. She was employee #6 and Head of Education & Teacher Services at VIPKID, helping scale the company to 700,000+ students at a $1.5B valuation. She later founded and exited Speakia, and served as Venture Partner at Icehouse Ventures, vetting startups across climate, deep tech, medtech, edtech, and SaaS.
Lane brings operator-to-investor perspective to WFW Monthly - focused on decision speed, capital pathways, and building companies for both success and scale.
Tamara Buckland
Tamara Buckland is the founder of BloomHQ, a fractional people and culture consultancy supporting startups and high-growth businesses. They also run Leadership Treehouse, designing and facilitating immersive, story-based experiences that help teams practise hard conversations before they hit them in real life. Their background includes scaling People Experience at Sharesies from around 26 to 140 people, and a fractional CPO role at CoGo. They are currently fractional CPO at The Attention Seeker.
WFW Monthly: The Archives
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