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.
High Growth Startups
If you're a founder who has bold ambition, capability, and a drive for global success, we're here to serve you.
Innovation programmes
If you're trying to kickstart innovation and entrepreneurship in your region, your sector, or your organisation - our innovation programmes may be just what you are looking for.
Founder Education
We help develop entrepreneurs by teaching startup methodologies, tools, and foster global ambition alongside educational institutions and other startup ecosystem orgs around the country.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"Everything we are aspiring towards and what we have achieved is in no small part down to the amazing Ministry of Awesome team. “
Chris Bacon, Founder, Komodo Wellbeing
"Being a high growth startup in the Ministry of Awesome startup incubation programme at Te Ōhaka has been extremely useful, particularly because of the network and the community here. As a startup, being able to surround yourself with people who think in a similar way, who have been through similar experiences and being able to call on a network of experts are the most valuable advantages of being part of Te Ōhaka and been a key part of our journey."
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.
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.
Women Founders Conference, Electrify Aotearoa is live! Find out more