Hello Everyone:
For those lucky enough to have tickets, we’ll see you later for WellyForge6 (The Christmas Edition). Thank you again to Mark Pascall’s social-good project, The Wellbeing Protocol and its new brand, hum.community for sponsoring.
WellyForge is also sponsoring another Wellington infrastructure event on Weds Dec 17th, SaaSmas run by KiwiSaaS, which does still (just) have tickets left.
It’s been quite a year. We now have 649 subscribers, a reported average open rate of 70%, and average click thru rate of 30% - that’s a pretty good start - and all the events sell out, we love the Undercurrent (“very Wellington”). We’ve reported on new companies forming (Rentl, Wise Gear NZ, Volley, Uunafit, HELPP Vet, MyTrove amongst others), start-ups getting funding (Volition, PAM and others), bigger start-ups getting funding (Litmaps, Inhibit, Mevo, Wellumio and others) and bigger companies getting funding (BlackPearl $15m+, BioOra $15m, ProjectWorks $10m+, Sharesies $20m, Starboard Maritime Intelligence $23m) - one message there: you can do it, and you can do it from Wellington.
And today, Hnry have closed a $30m raise, that’s massive investment into Wellington over the last 6 months, must be close to or over $100m.
Our companies clean-swept the cybersecurity awards, are in the running for games-of-the-year, won Hi-Tech Awards, film awards and so on.
On top of that, we’ve had world-class conferences and accolades galore for local academics, Universities and the new Public Research Orgs (PROs), and see science innovation progress well.
Let’s keep that momentum going in 2026. We’ll keep tracking news throughout the holiday period and aim to be back late Jan.
Updated map, welcome to Mevo which seems to be on Cable Car Lane:
Rule #1 - Celebrate the Wins
Hnry raises $30m! Movac, Icehouse and others pile in as they supercharge growth in Australia, NZ and the UK, and build out the team more to “help as many sole traders as possible”. Full NBR Article, “there’ll be a significant number of new roles… quite a few right here in Wellington”
Inhibit Coatings have hit first close at $1.4m, the Vic spin-out is working on antimicrobial technology for healthcare.
Mevo raises $2.8m+ via Snowball, the car sharing company are aiming for $3.2m at valuation 61% over their previous round in early 2024.
And other recent media coverage of local interest:
Wellington’s Vibrant Animation Sector, a report by WellingtonNZ
Keyhook (property tech) podcast, celebrating them being the fast growing PropTech in NZ
OpenStar’s Junior’s plasma results are published (this is open access, and the paper is mostly understandable!)
Prof Rob Weinkove: Cutting edge cancer treatment on RNZ, look forward to seeing him talk tonight at WellyForge6.
Rule #2 - Understand Your Environment
Open Banking starts in NZ, I don’t full understand this (yet), but clear FinTechs in Wellington are happy as per Leighton Roberts from Sharesies post.
Rule #3 - Nothing Falls Thru The Gaps
The Fission Project - 8 weeks over summer to get your idea moving by working collaboratively with the team that’s made the Atom such a pumping community - last few spots available!! Make sure you check out the video.
TedX Studio Ideas Wanted! Contact Alex Matthews, this is where they film you professionally giving a TedX style talk for distribution. If LinkedIn doesn’t work for contact, then email me.
Aurora Climate Lab by CreativeHQ is looking for the next wave of CleanTechs, apply by Feb 23rd.
Code Camp Wellington 2026, 21st March 2026, speakers from the tech community wanted, apply to Jan 23rd, can you inspire local tech?
Rule #4 - Get Inspired, Meet the Locals
Highlighted entries are new from last week.
NEXT 10 DAYS:
Wed Dec 10th, 12.30-, Angel HQ Xmas Lunch - many of the companies noted in this newsletter get funding from Angel HQ, make it your 2026 resolution to become one!
Wed Dec 10th, 12-1pm, AI in Prostate Pathology by Prof Egevad at the Malaghan.
Wed Dec 10th, 7-9pm, WellyForge6 Christmas Edition (click for full details)
Sat Dec 13th, Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere at the Embassy!
Mon Dec 15th, 6-9pm, Creative Tech Summit 2025 at the Great Hall, Massey, hosted by Screen Wellington and covering film, games and creative tech.
Wed Dec 17th 5pm+, Wellington SaaSmas Party Tickets, hosted at Dockside
KNOWN, MAJOR, FUTURE EVENTS
Thu Jan 22nd, 5pm, FinTech Lab Launch Party at CreativeHQ
Tue Jan 27th, 4.30-6.30pm, Hi-Tech Awards Launch at Duncan Cotterill
Wed Jan 28th, 2-5pm, Grounding Your Product Strategy with Vidya Dinamani event run by Taiawa and Victoria, a “hands-on, get mucky… workshop”
Mon-Thu, Feb 9-12th, Climate & Cryosphere Open Science Conference at Takina, note this includes an opportunity for students to ask experts about working in coooold places.
Thu Feb 19th, 3.30-5pm Morgo “Managing Up”, 5-6.30pm Morgo Networking Drinks
Tue-Wed, Feb 24-25th, Capital City Complex Systems at the National Library
Mon-Wed, Mar 9-11th, Life Sciences NZ at Takina
Wed-Thu, Mar 11-12th, FinTechNZ Hui Tamata at Takina
Sat Mar 21st, Code Camp Wellington hosted at Xero and Trade Me.
RECURRING EVENTS
The Atom at Victoria is open for any unfunded Founders (Students, Early Stage, Idea Stage) and is run by Entrepreneur in Residence, Adiraj Gupta - Email [email protected] , or join the Facebook community.
Mondays 8-9am, Atom - Founder Mentoring ON-LINE
Weds 12-1pm, Atom - Founder Support Drop-In Hour
Thursdays (every other), TBC, Kapiti Start-Up Network Meet-Ups
Fridays (every other), Dec 12th 5pm, Founders Meet Up at Southern Cross hosted by Jack Shennan, Alistair St Pierre and Adiraj.