On 21 July 2026 MBIE announced a refreshed Founder & Startup Support Programme, appointing 14 providers under new contracts that began 1 July 2026 with an initial two-year term. It delivers free support to more than 1,000 startups a year via Startup Aotearoa (up to 10 hours of free coaching annually), plus intensive accelerator/incubator programmes for around 150 high-growth startups.
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MBIE refreshes Founder & Startup Support Programme with 14 providers from 1 July 2026
Why this matters for founders
NZ founders can tap up to 10 hours of free annual coaching through Startup Aotearoa or apply to a sector-specific accelerator, with targeted streams for Māori, women, and underrepresented founders—check business.govt.nz to find a delivery provider in your region.
Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)
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