Startups since 2019
97
Capital raised since 2019
$39M
New jobs since 2019
193
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 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.
Our purpose is to positively impact the future of New Zealand through the transformation of its economy into one that is innovation led, high value, and sustainable for people and planet.
From our headquarters in Ōtautahi Christchurch, we power a national early stage startup incubator and up to 4 national accelerator programmes every year. If this sounds like your jam, join us!
Take your startup to the next level
Founder Catalyst is a 9 month incubation programme that helps you master the capabilities startups need to compete and win. We are founder focused and have crafted an incubator that is designed to help you build the critical leadership skills, perfect your product, win customers and attract investors. Click to learn moreOrion Energy Accelerator is open now!
Orion Energy Accelerator was designed to identify and support startups in the energy sector that will generate effective solutions to real problems in the industry. The accelerator, powered together by Orion Group, Ministry of Awesome and Ara Ake aimed to foster startups’ ground-breaking innovations that can shape the future of New Zealand’s energy sector and power a cleaner and brighter future.Electrify Accelerator will be back soon!
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.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
We are delighted to enjoy a strategic alliance with Ara Institute of Canterbury and ChristchurchNZ - our regional economic development agency. This partnership has allowed us to tap into a 7000 strong ambitious learning community and talent pipeline; establish Te Ōhaka - our city centre startup hub; and kick off what is has swiftly become Aotearoa's most prolific startup incubator, Founder Catalyst.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.