We’re growing the next generation of innovators

Help us create opportunities for rangitahi across Aotearoa

Young people have the ideas, energy, and ambition to shape the future – but often lack the tools, support and platforms to bring those ideas to life. Creative HQ works with corporate partners to run youth innovation programmes and hackathons that build practical skills, spark new solutions and strengthen the future workforce.

Talk to us about our youth programmes

Our previous youth innovation programmes

Young Founders Incubator

A 12-week programme supporting founders aged 17–25 to build, test and progress real startup ideas. Participants learn entrepreneurial skills, validation techniques and work directly with Creative HQ coaches and industry partners.

FINE — sustainable chemicals and materials made from NZ natural fibres.
Beyond Education — a platform helping students access personalised extra-curricular opportunities.

Youth Innovation Hack

A 15-week, hybrid programme where young innovators tackle real organisational challenges using Agile, Lean and design thinking tools. Corporate partners submit challenges; youth teams generate insights, design concepts and test ideas with users.
This programme supports both:

capability building for youth.
meaningful problem-solving for partner organisations.

Welly Hackathon Weekend – High School Edition

A co-designed weekend event empowering high school students to solve real Wellington challenges using innovation tools and rapid prototyping.

38 participants
8 teams
80% left more interested in tech careers (remaining 20% “maybe”)

Supported by TechStep and volunteer mentors from across the ecosystem.

Help us design what’s next

Partner with us to help young Kiwi’s build a brighter future. Our youth programmes create value for both young people and the organisations that back them.

Future workforce development.
Equip young people with real, job-ready innovation skills that employers need.
Fresh insight into emerging markets.
Understand what the next generation expects from products, services and workplaces.
Solutions to real organisational challenges
Young innovators bring new thinking to problems your organisation wants explored.
Brand alignment with youth, innovation and impact.
Show leadership in building Aotearoa’s future economy.

Get in touch

I have never done a programme quite like this before around design thinking and innovation techniques. My biggest learning on the programme was really around those core innovation techniques and how to think differently, we found when we thought we were stuck these helped so much!

Innovation Hack participant

1,500+

youth supported across all programmes and events

80%

of participants increase interest in tech, innovation or entrepreneurship

Partner with us

If your organisation wants to support young innovators, run a hackathon or explore a youth challenge aligned with your work, we’d love to collaborate.

Talk to us about partnering