Creative Tech Activate

Accelerating the technology that powers creative industries

For founders building the future

Wellington is globally renowned for creative tech leaders and companies in visual effects, animation, game development, digital entertainment and software engineering. Creative Tech Activate is here to create the next wave of creative tech startups.

If you’re building tools, platforms and infrastructure that power creative industries, this programme is for you.

Designed for teams at the idea stage, this 8-week pre-accelerator programme supports founders to validate their concept, build an early prototype and/or actionable technology roadmap, connect with first customers and partners, and learn how to build a scalable business using proven startup tools.

You’ll be supported by Creative HQ’s ecosystem of mentors, operators and alumni – learning by doing, alongside industry leaders building at the edge of creativity and technology.

Running from 13 April – 29 May, Creative Tech Activate is your place to test, play and level up your idea.

Key Dates

13 April – 29 May – Programme dates

28 May – Creative Tech Activate Celebration 2026 – Register here.

What is Creative Tech?

Technology that enables creativity at scale. It involves applying software, hardware and digital tools to solve scalable, commercial problems across creative industries. Creative Tech founders build the tools, platforms and infrastructure that enable creative work.

Examples include:

Tools for game and media production: Tech that improves workflows for studios (e.g. Pipeline tools, AI asset creation or dev-ops for gaming).
Tech used by companies in digital entertainment and creative sectors.
Immersive and visual tech: Software/hardware that powers VFX, AR/VR or post-production (e.g. New rendering engines, motion capture tech or editing platforms).
Tech applications that create, distribute and monetise creative and digital content.
Enhancing interactive visitor, audience and learner experiences.
Using digital tech to capture and enhance physical products and worlds.

Check out eligibility criteria below in our FAQ’s section.

Leaders in Creative Tech

Follow in their footsteps

Here’s what to expect

1. Build your creative tech with free support: Participate for free, backed by WellingtonNZ and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

2. Learn foundations of entrepreneurship: Learn how to translate your idea into real-world impact.

3. Fast-track your idea: Develop a clear, actionable technology roadmap designed to move you through the early stages and accelerate feedback loops.

4. Validate your market before you build: Complete hands-on customer discovery and market mapping so you know your solution meets real demand.

5. Innovation for impact: Weekly workshops with Creative HQ’s innovation specialists and expert guests, applying frameworks and tools designed for impactful Creative Tech innovation.

6. Cohort connection: Make connections with a peer cohort of creative tech founders to share knowledge, challenges and wins long after the 8 weeks end.

7. Flexible, founder-friendly format: Benefit from hybrid delivery with an in-person kick-off, weekly online sessions and ongoing support.

Connect with our advisors

Mario Wynands

CEO
PikPok

Jessica Manins

Co-founder, Co-CEO
Beyond

Anton Mitchell

Co-founder, Co-CEO Beyond

Dave Gougé

Principal
Squirrelball

Nicci Lock

Managing Director
Goldilocks Productions

FAQ’s

What is Creative Tech Activate?

An 8-week programme for idea-stage creative tech founders (arts, design, storytelling, music, digital and tech, software tools) to validate their concept, build a technology roadmap that matches a real-world market opportunity and plug into New Zealand’s Creative Tech ecosystem. You’ll leave ready to develop your technology to the next stage and enter larger accelerators.

What qualifies as Creative Tech?

Applying creative (arts, design, storytelling, music), digital and tech (software) tools and approaches to solving commercialisable and scalable problems, across multiple sectors; examples, but not limited to:

Tools for game and media production: Tech that improves workflows for studios (e.g. Pipeline tools, analytics for entertainment or dev-ops for gaming).
Tech used by companies in digital entertainment and creative sectors (e.g. Floating Rock, Unity, Greenbutton.
Immersive and visual tech: Software/hardware that powers VFX, AR/VR, or post-production (e.g. New rendering engines, motion capture tech, or editing platforms like Wipster)
Tech applications that create, distribute, and monetise creative and digital content (e.g. Massive, Carnival Labs, Shuttlerock, Fox & Co).
Enhancing interactive visitor, audience and learner experiences (e.g. Sky Motion, Dexibit, Serato, Melodics, STQRY, PickPath).
Using digital tech to capture and enhance physical products and worlds (e.g. The Village Goldsmith Floeating Diamond, Sensori)

Who is eligible to apply?

For founders and teams at an idea stage (early stage, prototype, first customers), to accelerate readiness in future programmes (scalable, investable, product roadmap, channel and go-to-market plans).

Creative tech intersects with many creative and digital/software areas. However, programme applications from following categories will be ineligible:

Teams making indie games: can be helped instead by CODE NZ, NZGDA and GDSR.
Film, screen, animation and music productions: Support and funding of films, TV productions and media – instead covered by NZ Film Commission and NZ on Air.
Music: We don’t fund new bands or albums. We fund the next Serato or Melodics, tech that helps musicians create.
Film/TV: We don’t fund scripts or productions. We fund the next Wipster or Greenbutton, tech that helps producers manage their content.
However, applications will be considered from game developers, screen, entertainment and creative professionals, with ideas that can be enabled by software and/or hardware with users in any Creative Tech sectors.

How much does it cost?

Participation is completely free (valued at $5,000 per participant) thanks to support from WellingtonNZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

What is the time commitment?

With a hybrid format and flexible online sessions, you can join anywhere in Aotearoa. Expect to commit 10 hours per week, including live workshops, peer group sessions, interviews and independent work – including structured sessions (~3 hrs), independent work (7 hours).

What support will I get?

Structured curriculum spanning startup principles:
- Entrepreneurial mindset.
- Pitching fundamentals.
- Problem definition & customer discovery.
- Market mapping.
- Creative Tech and technology roadmapping.
Toolkits, templates and AI tools.
Guest speakers and expert advisors.
Peer squads for accountability.
Optional co-working space in Wellington.