A FORCE FOR FOUNDERS, INNOVATORS AND HIGH-GROWTH STARTUPS IN NEW ZEALAND
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.
Ministry of Awesome is currently accepting applications for full-time leadership roles to lead partnerships, marketing, and community. Interested in being part of the force for NZ high-growth startups? We'd like to hear from you!
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."
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.
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.