Startup Dunedin

01/03/2026

🔧 Calling all tradies - this one's built for you!

Running a trade business in Dunedin? This Wednesday, Sidekick is bringing together industry experts who work with trade businesses every day to share what actually moves the needle.

No fluff. Just practical tools you can use to build real momentum heading into the new financial year.

📅 Wednesday 4 March
🕕 6–8 pm
📍 Sidekick Dunedin, Petridish
💰 Completely FREE

RSVP here: https://events.humanitix.com/host/sidekick-dunedin

26/02/2026

Calling all entrepreneurially minded or entrepreneurially curious students!!!

Startup Dunedin is creating a new newsletter just for you! With opportunities relevant for students! Compete the form here to sign up!

https://forms.gle/HXVBuDpNp326BHF18

26/01/2026

Still thinking about applying for a Startup Microgrant? You should! 💰

Whether you want to run a small trial, build your first (or second) prototype, or test with real customers, this is for you. Microgrants are open to startups across all industries and areas of work and life, from tech to hospitality, creative projects to not for profits.

If it helps you learn whether your idea, project, or startup works, we want to hear about it. Please reach out if you have questions. 🌟

Our microgrants are currently open and close on February 9th at 10:00am. ⌛

New year, new opportunities! If you've been tinkering with an idea or need that extra push to take your project to the next level, now's the time.

20/01/2026

🌟 Startup Dunedin Microgrants ($500–$2,000) are now open for Dunedin founders ready to test their startup ideas, whether that's building a prototype, testing with real customers, buying critical equipment, or validating your idea in the market.

Elli Cares used their grant to bring in expert advice on gamification and develop a basic gamified experience for their app, a new direction that needed specialist input.

The investment revealed a crucial insight: effective gamification requires far more research, thought, and attention than initially expected to genuinely shift user behaviour. This expert guidance prevented costly missteps and shaped their product roadmap.

The microgrant allowed them to access expertise, de-risking their gamification strategy before committing significant development resources.

Ka pai!! ✨

New year, new opportunities! If you've been tinkering with an idea or need that extra push to take your project to the next level, now's the time.

20/01/2026

Startup Dunedin Microgrants ($500–$2,000) are now open for Dunedin founders ready to test their startup ideas, whether that's building a prototype, testing with real customers, buying critical equipment, or validating your idea in the market.

CourseSpy used their grant to launch Mastery Modules, an adaptive online learning platform, a completely new product direction that was high-risk without dedicated funding.The investment paid off. They built a 3,000+ question bank, ran trials with HUBS191 and CELS191 students, and validated that students would pay for adaptive learning that genuinely improved their grades."The success of this trial has given us the confidence and evidence base to expand Mastery Modules to additional courses. We're on track to have 8 courses launched by the start of 2026, funded by the income generated by those initial two courses."The expansion creates a sustainable revenue stream while keeping CourseSpy's core features free for students across the motu.

Ka pai, team!

New year, new opportunities! If you've been tinkering with an idea or need that extra push to take your project to the next level, now's the time.

14/01/2026

🌟Startup Dunedin Microgrants ($500–$2,000) are now open for Dunedin founders ready to test their startup ideas, whether that's building a prototype, testing with real customers, buying critical equipment, or validating your idea in the market.

Here's what last years recipient Little Fale Eats achieved with their microgrants!

With their microgrant, Little Fale Eats upgraded existing equipment, purchased essential tools, and launched a first pop-up event.The results? They've successfully operated for five weekends, opening every other Saturday to serve their community. The strong demand they've experienced has confirmed their potential to grow into a sustainable family business. ✨

New year, new opportunities! If you've been tinkering with an idea or need that extra push to take your project to the next level, now's the time.

14/01/2026

‼️🎉 Startup Dunedin Microgrants ($500–$2,000) are now open for Dunedin founders ready to test their startup ideas, whether that's building a prototype, testing with real customers, buying critical equipment, or validating your idea in the market.

Here's what last years recipient Aftergame achieved with their microgrants!

Aftergame used their grant to attend GAMA Expo, North America's largest tabletop games industry event, with one clear mission, to understand the US market and build meaningful industry connections.
The investment paid off. The team returned with dozens of qualified leads and crucial market insights, including the discovery that their US market positioning differs significantly from Australia and New Zealand, knowledge that's already shaping their expansion strategy (oh, and they signed a $20k new customer!)

Applications close February 9! ✨

New year, new opportunities! If you've been tinkering with an idea or need that extra push to take your project to the next level, now's the time.

07/01/2026

Our team is thrilled to see Rachel honoured as the 2025 Business Leader of the Year! ✨

Thank you to the Otago Daily Times for highlighting Rachel's leadership and the impact she's making in Ōtepoti Dunedin's entrepreneurial ecosystem. It's a privilege to serve our ecosystem, and this recognition reflects the amazing work being done by our startups, stakeholders, and partners who drive this impact.

Ka pai, Rachel! 👏 🙌

University of Otago Business School University of Otago Otago Polytechnic Dunedin City Council

Startup Dunedin general manager Rachel Butler is the Otago Daily Times 2025 Business Leader of the Year. She talks to business editor Sally Rae...

06/01/2026

🎉 Startup Dunedin Microgrants are open for 2026!

$500–$2,000 grants for early-stage founders in Dunedin to test business ideas through experiments.

✅ You can apply if:
✓ You're based in Dunedin
✓ You know what you want to test
✓ You can explain what you'd learn

📅 Timeline:
Open: Now!
Close: February 9, 2026 at 10:00am

Last year, $10,000 was granted to founders. Who do we need to get this in front of over the next two months?

💬 Questions? People to shamelessly tag? Drop them below 👇

🔗 Link to apply:

New year, new opportunities! If you've been tinkering with an idea or need that extra push to take your project to the next level, now's the time.

04/12/2025

Join us for Startup Dunedin's Christmas office party, an evening for founders, small teams, and ecosystem supporters who deserve a celebration! 🎊

We know startup budgets are tight, so we're throwing the party for you. Celebrate the year over brews and board games, thank you Aftergame !

📍 Startup Dunedin, 20 Leithbank
📅 Thursday 11th December, 4-7pm

RSVP here: https://events.humanitix.com/startup-dunedin-s-christmas-party-d75qa246

See you there! 🎄

Calling all solo founders, small teams, and Ōtepoti startup folks: let's celebrate the end of another year together.

17/11/2025

Congrats to Intermentis for landing a spot in the latest Ministry of Awesome Spring Founder Catalyst cohort. Their interactive AI door guardian is all about making home life safer. Awesome to see them representing Ōtepoti and building bold tech from here.

🚀 Meet the innovators in our Spring Founder Catalyst Cohort!

These startups — and the bold founders behind them — are solving real-world problems with fresh thinking, smart tech, and global ambition. Over the next nine-months, they'll validate, grow, and prepare their ventures for long-term success.

AUTOHAND → Self-writing software - AI agents that modernise legacy systems, fix bugs, and autonomously evolve applications.

CAPFLUX → Revolutionising point-of-care diagnostics with accessible, lab-grade rapid testing.

ENDO45 → The app that helps you build and master and better life with endometriosis.

GROUPSY → A safe, simple way for friends, family or teams to contribute toward a shared goal.

INTERMENTIS → An interactive AI door guardian that makes home life safer.

KAMAL → The AI Business Management Partner for Recruitment Agencies.

MAIDENFLEET → Revolutionising sustainable fishing with AI-powered unmanned fleets.

MARINERS LOG → Optimising maritime sustainability, reducing downtime, and predicting breakdowns.

NIMBAL → An AI-powered testing platform for websites, apps, APIs, and mobile.

QUESTIORY → Transforms one-sided presentations into collaborative, interactive experiences.

ROAM WITH KIDS → The ultimate app for exploring New Zealand with kids.

SHUFFLEX → Automated peer-to-peer business broking application and social marketplace for SME’s.

THEMELIA → The next infrastructure layer of crypto with custom indexing technology.

VELARA → Automating surgical scheduling to optimise hospital resource utilisation.

WAFFILO → Turn ideas into ready-to-post social content.

💡 Follow along as these founders build the next wave of global ventures.

Learn more about Founder Catalyst >> https://hubs.la/Q03SkVY40

Thank you to our partners for championing the growth of startups in New Zealand!
Ōtautahi Christchurch
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Ara Institute of Canterbury
Kiwibank