Hey everybody,

Anybody else have a social hangover 🫠 after TechWeek? I had so many good conversations with Wellington’s amazing people, really optimistic and inspiring. My own #biasedbutfair highlight was WellyForge #8, thank you for the boost Dascha, Jessica, and Mōkena 🙏 What theme would you like us to set for the next show? And yes, we have more stickers!

Welcome two creative tech startups to the Ecosystem map: Scan Space and Z3D 🗺

Brandon Hutcheson has published a magisterial account of 160 AI Initiatives that could change the entire public sector. I’ve not had a chance to read it and I suspect there’s little scope for any two people to agree on one hundred and sixty things. But I am so keen to dig in, it’s great to see so many people so invested in the future of our totes rad city.

There was a stack of recent tech-related articles published in the HiNZ network over the past few weeks: AI for radiology coding, AI for rural healthcare, AI regulation in the Medical Products Bill, AI initiatives by the HealthX. But the pièce de résistance has got to be BroPilot 👏

Science NZ has launched a few articles on its 100th anniversary, all about the new PROs, under the banner of Science working for New Zealand – 100 years and counting.

The Active Investor Plus visa (also known by a sparkly colour) will now allow 20% of the minimum NZ$5 million investment to be donated to charities or specified Department of Conservation initiatives. This is specific to the business branch of the AIP, as there is a whole philanthropy track ($15m over five years). Huge win for DOC 🌱

Highlighted entries are new from last week.

Wed May 27th, 4:30–7:30pm, Claude for Business will be Wellington's first Claude meetup.

Wed May 27th, 5:30–7pm, Career options workshop by Chiasma in Kelburn.

Thu May 28th, 5–6:30pm, Morgo Game - Wellington at Clyde Wharf.

Fri May 29th, 12–1pm, Induction of allergic responses by dendritic cells: what do T cells need? by legendary immunologist Franca Ronchese at the Malaghan Institute.

Fri, May 29th, 4–5.30pm, A snapshot of New Zealand news media reporting on AI examines how our media cover AI as part of the AI and Society series.

Sun, Jun 7th, 2–3pm, Regenerating Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington at City Gallery asks “what does Wellington become in 20 years?”

Thu, 11 Jun, 5–8pm, The Unseen Hand: A Cybersecurity Adventure for Founders at Creative HQ.

Thu, 11 Jun, 5.30pm, Welly Fintech: The Trade-offs at Hnry—office, not Stadium 😎

Wed, Jun 17th, 5.45–7pm, Café Scientifique: How nature inspires modern medicine at Southern Cross 🍻

Wed, Jun 17th, 12:30–1:30pm, Clinical change makers: disrupting in digital health is about nurses and midwives driving digital transformation in the health domain.

Thu, 18 Jun, 9am–2pm, Future Talent Summit at the National Library will be Connecting people to build Wellington's future.

Thu, 18 Jun, The Great NZ AI Roadshow at Tākina is a “masterclass for Kiwi leaders who want to use AI”. Be that leader 🦸

Thu, 18 Jun, 5pm–late, International SaaS Day party 2026, a “mid-winter celebration of the fastest-growing sector in the New Zealand economy” 🥳

Tue May 19th, 12–6pm, Hutt Valley Manufacturing & Innovation Expo.

Tue, May 19th, 4:30–6pm, TED Style Talks at Creative HQ focusses on “Practical, safe, and sustainable ways of using AI” with a series short-form talks.

Wed, May 20th, 11-11:45am, Coffee & Claude with Parisa Shademan ☕

Wed, May 20th, 5–7:30pm, Icehouse Ventures brings their FirstCut Roadshow to Welly’s Trade Me HQ to “Connect and inspire Aotearoa's young founders, operators, and aspiring entrepreneurs.”

Thu May 21st, 2–7pm, Movac Growth Jam Epic Fails Edition at Public Trust Hall.

Sun, May 24th, 4:30–6pm, PLAY FOR GOOD Tech Wins will showcase NZ’s newest gamified [insert any]Tech.

Wed, May 27th, 5:30–8pm, AI Security Considerations for Project Managers

Thu, May 28th, 2026, 5:30–8pm, Creative Tech Activate Celebration at Massey

Sat, Jun 4th, 12pm, Scaling Welly Tech at Hnry Stadium 🏟 with lots of illustrious Welly CEO/CTO types in attendance!

Jun 18–20, New Zealand Skin Cancer Summit.

Tue Jun 23rd, 5pm - 9pm, Teulo Talks Live: Wellington for architects who wanna build good and do other things good, too. WellyForge people get a 10% discount with code: TALKER.

Jun 29th to Jul 3rd, Research Bazaar Aotearoa, free and online.

The Atom at Victoria is open for any unfunded Founders (Students, Early Stage, Idea Stage) and is run by Entrepreneur in Residence, Parisa Shademan - Email [email protected], or join the Facebook community.