Startups since 2019
86
Capital raised since 2019
$17.4M
New jobs since 2019
165
MINISTRY OF AWESOME IS A FORCE FOR HIGH GROWTH FOUNDERS, STARTUPS, AND INNOVATORS IN NEW ZEALAND.
Haere mai and welcome to the Ministry of Awesome startup and innovation community.
Ministry of Awesome, in partnership with HTK Group, is a force for high-growth startups in Aotearoa. Underpinned by the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and partnership, we deliver effective and scalable services that build capability for early-stage NZ founders and startups with global ambitions. Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, we assist founders and startup teams throughout New Zealand who have a bold ambition to innovate and lead NZ's future.
We provide startups with incubation, mentorship, and access to the investor networks, commercial partners, and professional services they need to succeed. We operate 4 national accelerators and are active advocates for founders who want to build capability and impact the world.
Looking for your startup tribe?
Te Ōhaka is our Centre for Growth and Innovation and has become the most prolific, year-round early-stage startup hub in New Zealand. Our Founder Catalyst programme nurtures founders through a structured pathway, personalised for their stage of progress that provides a safe environment to fail fast, pivot, and advance with confidence.Electrify Accelerator is live!
This is NZ's first ever whole ecosystem backed startup accelerator made for woman founders and backed by Aotearoa's leading investors, government, and startup enablers. Everyone taking part in this programme is focused on one success metric - your venture’s growth and opportunity for success. Our goal is to identify high calibre woman-led startup ventures. If you are a woman founder of a startup with huge ambition, then you are EXACTLY who we are looking for and we can’t wait to meet you! Head to www.electrifyaccelerator.co.nz to learn more.HealthTech Supernode Challenge
The HealthTech Supernode Challenge is your chance to work alongside some of the brightest minds in Aotearoa’s healthcare sector and get the support you need to make your dream a reality. If you are a Canterbury based startup and are at the post-idea through to MVP stage, we want to hear from you! Head to www.healthtechchallenge.co.nz to learn more.Are you a student at Ara?
Here's your chance to explore entrepreneurship, learn life-changing innovation skills, and work alongside some of the most exciting startup founders and entrepreneurs in New Zealand. Te Ōhaka - Centre for Growth & Innovation is right here on the central city campus and - regardless of your field of study - the skills you will learn from this experience will help you reach your career and life goals.Upcoming events and training
Our national partners
In late 2018, we formed a strategic alliance with Ara Institute of Canterbury which allowed the Ministry of Awesome team to tap into a 1400 strong ambitious learning community - a talent pipeline critical to the growth of our startup and innovation ecosystem. At the same time, we established Te Ōhaka - a city centre startup and innovation hub which has rapidly become one of the key drivers of the NZ early stage and high growth startup and innovation ecosystem.Our Partners
Join the community
Subscribe to our event invites and monthly newsletters and be part of our 6,000+ strong community of high growth startup founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers.