Hello Everyone:
Firstly, for various reasons, Ralph will be stepping away from WellyForge after WellyForge7 on March 18th. The other founders are keen to continue WellyForge but have limited time, so we would be very keen to hear from anyone with resources to continue the work we've all started - please contact one of: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
On the topic of WellyForge7, in addition to hearing the amazing PartsTrader story we’re also going to hear from space explorer Dr Morgan Cable, a recent recruit to Victoria from NASA who specializes in exploration of ocean worlds. Tickets here.
Rule #1 - Celebrate the Wins
JobAlchemist goes live - we’ll claim a win for this, particularly as this is Suhel Mangera’s baby and he seems to know everyone!
Cogo releases a supplier marketplace to make it even easier to electrify your house, that’s a win for the world
And other recent media coverage of local interest:
The Atom Preview of 2026, following on from their successful Fission Project, the energetic team at The Atom have posted an exciting preview of the year ahead.
The Publons story - CreativeHQ is running a set of stories about local start-ups, this week it was about Publons which helped researchers get credit for doing peer review work and was acquired.
Dragonfly Data Science, 11,000 slips across East Cape, analysis of this very topical issue from Wellington based Dragonfly.
Tractor Ventures will be coming through Wellington around 9th March
Matomo Analytics, CEO change, Matthieu Aubry moves to Chief Product Officer, at this highly under the radar, highly successful Wellington founded company. More time for saunas, Matthieu.
Falling Walls Lab launches, learn to pitch, and win a trip to Berlin, deadline is April 8th. This is for students and early-career professionals, and they want breakthrough ideas.
Rule #2 - Understand Your Environment
N/A
Rule #3 - Nothing Falls Thru The Gaps
TEDxVUW returns in May, express interest at that link.
Play by Play wants local speakers for the “cosy games conference”, deadline is 28th Feb, and the conference is 8th/9th May at the Michael Fowler
Enter the NZ Hi-Tech Awards, entries close 2nd March, one of NZ’s highest profile events and great fun to be part of.
Creative Tech Activate, run by CreativeHQ, apply by 3rd March, for 19th March-14th May programme.
Wellington Gold Awards entries are now open, deadline is March 31st.
Rule #4 - Get Inspired, Meet the Locals
Highlighted entries are new from last week.
NEXT 10 DAYS:
Thu Feb 26th, 5pm, Women of Poneke, at the National Library - “What could our Capital become if we dared to dream bigger - together?”
Thu Feb 26th, 4.30-6pm, AI Tools for Investors, Parisha Shademan at the brand new Tiemann & Co Offices on Clyde Quay Wharf - waiting list open.
Fri Feb 27th, 4-5pm, “English - the next programming language?”, at the Atom and part of the kick off of the AI Engineering Meet up for the year.
Fri Feb 27th, 4-5.30pm, “What’s new in AI and AI Governance in 2026?”, talk by Ali Knott at Victoria.
Fri Feb 27th, 4.30-6.30pm, Welly Biotech ‘n’ Beers, at the Fork & Brewer
Wed Mar 4th, 5-7pm, Hutt Tech & Innovation Forum, features COUNT, The Better SMB and “I’m In and Your Sales Engine”, at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Wed Mar 4th, 6-7.30pm, The 1855 Wairarapa Earthquake, what have we learnt? Public talk from experts from Massey & Vic, at The Pit at Massey.
Wed Mar 4th, 7.30pm, Exploring ocean worlds: the search for life and interesting chemistry in our cosmic backyard - Morgan Cable.
Thu Mar 5th, 5.30pm, “Thinking with your head and your heart: emotions as core functions of mind”, inaugural lecture by Prof Gina Grimshaw, who is using lots of virtual reality to study emotions.
Fri Mar 6th, 4-5.30pm, Can NZ Develop a “Sovereign Large Language Model"?, Vic AI Society Seminar Series, run by Ali Knott.
KNOWN EVENTS NEXT 4 WEEKS
Mon-Wed, Mar 9-11th, Life Sciences NZ at Takina
Tue Mar 10th, 5pm, “Vibe Coding - Introducing vulnerabilities at pace”, Simon Howard from Bastion talking at “Sec for Devs” at InternetNZ, 18 Willis St.
Wed-Thu, Mar 11-12th, FinTechNZ Hui Tamata at Takina
Tue-Wed, Mar 17-18th, National Cyber Security Summit at Takina
Tue Mar 17th, 5-7pm, The Waiting Room - Cyber Risk in Healthcare, hosted at Talent Army with the digital health community.
Wed Mar 18th, Digitising Government Conference at Takina
Wed Mar 18th, 7pm, WellyForge7 at Undercurrent, full details
Thu Mar 19th, 5-8pm, Tech for Good with the French Embassy - Liquium, Kelvius, Farm Medix and along with Pierre Malou, CEO of Vic Univentures.
Fri Mar 20th, 3pm, Rare Beer Challenge at The Malthouse, this is a fun event, and about raising awareness and funds for people living with rare disorders.
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), 26th Feb 8am, Kapiti Start-Up Network Meet-Ups
Fridays (every other), TBC (see AI event at Atom above), Founders Meet Up at Southern Cross hosted by Jack Shennan, Alistair St Pierre and Adiraj Gupta.