FOUNDER CATALYST
Launch, scale, succeed.
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Founder Catalyst startups supported
Startups still operating
In private capital raised
Non-diluted funding unlocked
In annual revenue generated
New jobs generated
Founder Catalyst is a nationwide early-stage startup support programme focused on deep customer understanding, rapid market traction, and global scale.
● Who is Founder Catalyst for?
Founder Catalyst is for startup founders who possess deep customer and market insights, who are brave enough to change the world, who feel confident enough to believe they can, and who are humble enough to seek coaching along the way.
It’s for founders who raise capital from investors near and far, travel the world to meet customers, and relentlessly search for world-class employees, partners, and advisors to bring their vision to life.
For those who believe that building a global company is one of the hardest — and most rewarding — things they’ll ever do.
● Who is Founder Catalyst not for?
Founder Catalyst is not for businesses that aren’t startups — including corporate innovation teams, small to medium enterprises, consultancies, or service-based firms.
It’s not for entrepreneurs who see a startup as a side project, a nine-to-five job, or something that can be built at the same pace as everyone else.
And it’s not for people who think they already have all the answers, avoid feedback, or lack the self-motivation, resourcefulness, and creativity required to push through compounding challenges.
● How it works
Once per season (or four times per year), Founder Catalyst welcomes a new cohort of early-stage startups across the motu to work towards a bespoke growth outcome.
Format
Virtual meetings supported by in-person communities in major metros.
Structure.
Recurring sprints, accountability check-ins, 1:1 mentoring, group think tanks.
Duration.
Seven months of intensive skill, knowledge, and company building.
Time commitment.
On average two to four hours per week for meetings, workshops, and events.
Location.
No matter where you are, you'll receive the same high-quality guidance and support.
● What do you get?
Founder-First, Founder-Centric Ethos
First, foremost, and always, Ministry of Awesome operates on a founder-first, founder-centric model. We do this because we are founders ourselves; we understand the obstacles you face; and we aim to challenge and champion you—with aroha and radical candour.
Experienced Entrepreneurs
Each startup is paired with a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) and has access to the entire group of EIRs. Each paired EIR acts as an honorary co-founder (no equity stake), rolling up their sleeves to not only advise but work alongside the startup and its founders.
These are some activities you’ll accomplish with the EIRs:
- Define the company’s mission, vision, and values
- Set ambitious and measurable goals
- Execute short and long-term strategy
- Fill knowledge and skill gaps
- Build professional networks
- Refine sales, recruiting, and investment pitches
- Prepare to raise private capital
- Expand overseas
These are the skills each EIR possesses:
- Business modelling
- Cap table creation and modelling
- Customer discovery
- Fundraising strategy and execution
- GTM strategy and execution
- Leadership coaching
- Market research, analysis, selection, and validation
- Pitching and public speaking
- Product development
- Sales and sales operations
- Talent vetting and acquisition
● What do you get?
Resources
Supplementing the human support of Founder Catalyst, each startup will have access to a wealth of reference resources:
- Recorded workshops, fireside chats, and reverse pitches
- Searchable database of forums, conferences, and other events to achieve strategic objectives
- Examples and downloadable files for critical business functions such as contracting, taxes, financial management
- Guidance on capital raising, hiring, leadership, and other key functions or topics
- Templates for building and maintaining a due diligence data room
- List of vendors, suppliers, and agencies to improve efficiency and business operations
Networks
Human support in Founder Catalyst goes well beyond the EIR. Startup founders will have the opportunity to network with hundreds of people who can help them increase their knowledge, fund their company, improve their operations, and continue to grow rapidly:
- 200+ previous Founder Catalyst startups still in operation
- 150+ generalist and specialist mentors
- 200+ investors from around the globe
- Skill building workshops with international industry experts
- Fireside chats with successful startup entrepreneurs
- Reverse pitches from angel groups and venture capitalists
● What's required?
Aotearoa Connection
Every startup must have a strong tie to Aotearoa New Zealand to participate. This includes the business being registered here, the founders being located here, the company receiving investment from here, or operations being based here.
Collaboration Agreement
Ministry of Awesome programmes don’t require startups to pay a fee to participate, but that doesn’t mean they are free. Each company will execute an agreement outlining their commitment to Founder Catalyst and what they will receive in return.
Scale Ready Company
Unless the startup is deep tech, the product must be in the hands of users (i.e. in market), the company must have digital presence (web, social, email), and the team must be rigorously testing and refining a business model (i.e. Lean Canvas).
Global Founder Attributes
The founding team must possess and demonstrate the qualities and traits of the very best. We seek ambitious, gritty entrepreneurs with a bold vision to tackle a massive global problem, the drive to never give up, no matter the degree of hardship, and the curiosity and openness to learn on their own, from mentors, and with fellow founders.
● Each cohort is interviewed by industry experts, previously including:
Meet the founders thriving with Founder Catalyst:
Inviol tackles a deceptively simple problem: preventing accidents before they happen.
NOD is reshaping how parents navigate their lives by reimagining childcare as something dynamic and flexible.
Pinpoint Earth is aiming to contribute to sustainable seafood practices, ensuring the ocean is around for future generations.