Haere mai and welcome to Ministry of Awesome's founder and startup community.

Ministry of Awesome is a force for high-growth startups in Aotearoa. We drive startup ambition, build capability, and support success for early-stage NZ founders and startups with global ambitions.

From our headquarters in Ōtautahi Christchurch, we power New Zealand's year-round continuously operating early-stage startup incubator, Founder Catalyst, and four national accelerator programmes every year.

What’s happening right now

Founder Catalyst

Our 6-month incubation programme helps founders master the capabilities startups need to compete and win. Build critical leadership skills, perfect your product, win customers, and attract investors.

Electrify Accelerator

NZ's only whole ecosystem-backed startup accelerator made for woman founders, addressing their unique needs and viewpoints, to build a strong wahine in the startup ecosystem. Applications are now being accepted!

Orion Energy Accelerator

A clean energy-focused 12-week accelerator fosters ground-breaking innovations that will shape the future of NZs energy sector and power a cleaner future. See who won the pitch competition during Demo Night.

Electrify Aotearoa is back!

Electrify Aotearoa 2023, New Zealand's must-attend conference for aspiring women entrepreneurs, founders, and the many people helping build a strong wahine startup community.

Get Tickets

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.

Go to Ara Student Programmes

Upcoming events and training

Oct 18

Te Ōhaka Showcase

When: 18 Oct 2023 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm Where: Te Ōhaka - Centre for Growth & Innovation, K Block, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Corner of Moorhouse Ave and Barbadoes St, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011 Duration: 2 hours

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Our national partners

We enjoy strong alliances, both locally in Ōtautahi with ChristchurchNZ and the Ara Institute of Canterbury (now part of Te Pūkenga) as well as nationally with Callaghan Innovation. These partnerships have allowed us to maintain physical and virtual hubs for our founders, to develop programmes that drive real economic benefit, and create a strong innovation community across Aotearoa.

Find out more