Hello Everyone:
Feels like we’re kicking back into gear now as schools return.
First-up, we’re trying to build a picture of CY2025 for Wellington. Our EcoSystem Map ended with 135 start-ups, 75 scale-ups, 46 service providers and 19 research places. This is our list of funding we reported on from June 2025, it shows a staggering $180m or so went into Wellington companies in the 7 months to 1st Jan 2026. Can you please email us if you know of any other funding that happened into Wellington regional companies during 2025? And watch out for the Catalist’s Angel Market review which is due out shortly.
Okay, let’s go, and yes, the next WellyForge theatre shows are getting planned…..
Rule #1 - Celebrate the Wins
OpenStar to receive $35m via Govt Regional Infrastructure Fund, late breaking news! Will cover in more detail next week!
Liquium raises $2m for ammonia decarbonisation tech, BusinessDesk reports Vic spin-out will be expanding operations and moving to larger space at Gracefield Innovation Quarter in Lower Hutt, the money coming from Climate Venture Capital Fund and AngelHQ.
Proacta the NZ GovHack 2025 International Awards winner, announced by CreativeHQ, Proacta appear to be mostly Wellington-based, built a working prototype over a weekend to connect up health data to detect regional illness spikes.
Listed companies post revenue jumps - under the radar in Wellington, we do have a number of NZX and ASX listed scale-up companies several of which posted results recently (we’ll cover these when we have time):
Blackpearl Group had Annual Recurring Revenue jump 114% to NZ$23.7m, based in the CBD, Blackpearl “builds software services for SME businesses in the US”, namely “how to acquire new customers and grow revenue efficiently”, with AI-driven sales & marketing.
ikeGPS saw subscription revenue jump 35%, based on Adelaide Rd, “the standard for collecting, analyzing and managing pole and overhead asset information for electrical utilities”.
And other recent media coverage of local interest:
BioOra have release a new series of blog posts explaining how their cancer curing CAR-T therapy works. BioOra work closely with the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research hosted on the Vic campus.
Linda Jenkinson “Let’s build a billion-dollar company” on LinkedIn, telling us the story of her company from Oriental Parade to NASDAQ, but also how thinking big changes your whole approach, more top-down than bottom-up.
“Dragon’s Den in the sky puts Kiwi startups on board with global investors”, in The Post, details a mostly US investor trip (“Far Out”) across NZ where local start-ups like Nicole Retter from PAM, get to mingle with those investors - “a lot of those conversations that would be hard to book in to have, I’m having them naturally with people sitting next to me in a four wheel drive”.
CreativeHQ’s Overview of ClimateTech, apparently banned from Facebook and Instagram for being “too political”, this is short overview of what it is, why it’s important and some of the NZ companies involved. See below for the details of the Aurora Climate Lab, apply by Feb 23rd.
Rule #2 - Understand Your Environment
WhatFoundersWant (WFW) February Edition is Live, this covers all aspects of start-up life across NZ, including everything from free templates, to raising capital programs, and events. Nice work, Lane Litz.
“How can the economically vital startup community be better served by politicians?”, Prof Rod McNaughton in The Post, making the point that start-ups are vital, but because of their nature (small teams, focused, long-term bets etc) tend not to wield coordinated political power and somehow NZ needs to get that voice heard so the ground can be set properly to power ever-more start-ups. “The question for this election is whether the economy we want to create can be heard alongside the one we already have.”
Research Funding NZ announces inaugural Board, this is the fund aiming to streamline research funding to Universities and provide independent strategic investment decisions to full growth. Sadly, I don’t see a Wellington voice….
NZ Institute for Advanced Technology (NZIAT) Board, this is new public research organization (PRO) announced last year to translate cutting-edge science into real-world impact. This is headed up by Steve O’Connor, former CEO of CHQ, and Flick Energy, along with Prof’s from Auckland, and a Vic alumini who is now an investor, entrepreneur in Ag & FoodTech.
Rule #3 - Nothing Falls Thru The Gaps
Aurora Climate Lab by CreativeHQ is looking for the next wave of CleanTechs, apply by Feb 23rd.
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.
Rule #4 - Get Inspired, Meet the Locals
Highlighted entries are new from last week.
NEXT 10 DAYS:
Wed Feb 4th, 5pm, Wahine Fuelled Tech - Deep Dive into Creative Tech
Wed Feb 4th, 7pm, Loopdeloop - monthly animation fest, at Newtown Community Centre, Koha entry, this months theme is “Hot”, advertized by the Visual Effects Society.
Mon-Thu, Feb 9-12th, Climate & Cryosphere Open Science Conference at Takina, see also the public talk on Thursday.
Tue Feb 10th, 10-4pm, Origins of Life Mini-Symposium. Run at Vic in AM103 with global experts, including recent Vic recruit Morgan Cable from NASA, contact her for more details.
Tue Feb 10th, 5pm, Open Backing | AI & the Future of Finance, Fintech Welly meet-up hosted by Octave in collaboration with CreativeHQ.
Tue Feb 10th, 5.30pm, Celebrate Taiawa Tech Hub, meet the founders, and listen to Sir Stephen Tindall (Warehouse founder) talking about tech start-ups, along with the Mayor, Andrew Little, and Nic Smith (Vice Chancellor of Vic).
Wed Feb 11th, 1.30-4pm, Infrastructure Resilience, a one-day workshop at Massey
Thu Feb 12th, 7.15am, Breakfast with the Mayor, being run by the Chamber of Commerce and held at BNZ Partners Centre.
Thu Feb 12th, 4.30-7.00pm, NZ Tech Rally at CreativeHQ with talks on engineering management and unlocking your brain’s edge with AI.
Thu Feb 12th, 7-8.30pm, Impending Crises in the Cryosphere, at Rutherford House by the train station - registration is required - this will have leading international climate scientists talking
Fri Feb 13th, 11.45am-1pm, Founder Series 1 - Kickstarting Success, run by BDO and Duncan Cotterill - legal basics, people, partners, protection, financial clarity.
Fri Feb 13th, 6-7pm, Astronomer v Billionaires Space Race, a talk by Dr Samantha Lawyer - “find out what happens when you find space debris on your farm, and silent SpaceX employees show up in rented truck to collect it”
KNOWN, MAJOR, FUTURE EVENTS
Wed Feb 18th, 12.30-2pm, Blackbird Foundry Roadshow - basically, how venture works.
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, this includes Prof Carl Bergstrom.
Thu Feb 26th, 5pm, Women of Poneke, at the National Library - “What could our Capital become if we dared to dream bigger - together?”
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
Wed Mar 18th, Digitising Government Conference 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), 12th Feb 8am, Kapiti Start-Up Network Meet-Ups
Fridays (every other), 13th Feb, 5-6pm, Founders Meet Up at Southern Cross hosted by Jack Shennan, Alistair St Pierre and Adiraj Gupta.