Hello Everyone:
There’s been a fair bit of recent news, so this is a quick update to round off 2025.
The acquisition of PartsTrader on Willeston Street is major news, strangely not picked up by the local media. Hey, Post, how about a new year resolution to cover good news?. The acquisition is pending, but usually when announced they are basically done deals. That deal will obviously see money flow into the wider-economy for the next wave of start-ups but the new owners also appear intent on growing the team in Wellington. That is very positive news and great for the founders of PartsTrader who have been on a long journey. We’ll get them on-stage next year to share some of that story with us.
Okay, next newsletter end Jan, unless something major comes up.
Rule #1 - Celebrate the Wins
PartsTrader Acquisition by Enlyte to Accelerate Innovation, you can read about how PartsTrader started here, no numbers in here but it’s going to be a significant sum.
PaySauce expanding to Australia [Bus Desk], Petone based company targeting microbusinesses. They are raising $4m via the NZX (where they are listed) for the expansion, and have annualized recurring revenue of $9.2m.
HTS-110 selected by Europeans to build 14 tesla high-field magnet for neutron spectroscopy. How awesome that that tech is being developed off the back of world-class research over decades in the Wellington region?!
Avatar Effect - Cash, People & Creativity to Wellington [The Post], a big chunk of $125m has gone into Wellington over the last year, and $1Bn+ into NZ over 8 years from the franchise. The article also points to the cross-over of film & games, with companies like Floating Rock Studio working on Avatar and now gaming stories.
And other recent media coverage of local interest:
The story of Montoux, an Insure Tech here in Wellington and its ongoing legal issues with FIS, on the latest Startup Theatre Podcast with Serge van Dam.
Remember the KiwiSaaS advent calendar and all the Wellington stories: Projectworks (1), Storypark (6), Xero (10), Matomo (15), Volpara (18), Runn (22), Totara (27), FNZ (28), Arlo Training (30).
Royal Society article on Dr Nathaniel Davis research at Vic on solar energy - apparently, perovskites offer improved efficiency.
Rule #2 - Understand Your Environment
AI Research Platform 5 Proposals Shortlisted - Weta and Earth Sciences NZ (with Vic) are both shortlisted, which means the Govt will give them $250k to work up their plans before competing for $70m over a 5 year period. Still not clear to me if just one project will ultimately be selected. We’ll celebrate the win when one of our groups gets that award.
NZTech supports MBIE/MFAT Long Term Insights Briefing, “how can we accelerate the growth of high productivity activities?” → technology. Full report is on the MBIE web-site.
Kiwibank argues for more start-up capital [The Post] “NZ has potential to double start-up count… the system [needs to]…embrace the ambition, share in the risk, and moves at their pace”.
Nature editorial arguing the UK must not lose its focus on science and innovation - messages in here for NZ too, says Louise Parr-Brownlie, including the need to think and plan for 10 years ahead.
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 by Jan 23rd, can you inspire local tech?
Rule #4 - Get Inspired, Meet the Locals
Highlighted entries are new from last week.
NEXT 10 DAYS:
Nothing!
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), TBC, Founders Meet Up at Southern Cross hosted by Jack Shennan, Alistair St Pierre and Adiraj.