Impact Accelerator
Founders that are driving social and environmental change
WELLINGTON AND ONLINE
Introducing our biggest programme yet, the Impact Accelerator.
A three-month hybrid business acceleration programme that will fast-track the growth of sustainable, high-impact companies in Aotearoa.
15 early-stage ventures and project teams have been selected, from several sectors and will aim to solve challenges across different areas of impact. Founders will work directly with industry partners and Creative HQ coaches to practice the learning and validation methods that have helped hundreds of startup companies in previous Creative HQ programmes.
Key dates
03 Apr Programme begins
10 May Midway event
29 Jun Showcase
The 2023 Impact Accelerator is supported by
“There is no recipe, no rules to creating a successful startup, but the accelerator presents a bunch of the ingredients you need to get there. It creates a great environment to start a business – you’ve just got to make the most of it because you’re there for a very finite period.”
Leighton Roberts
Sharesies
2023 Impact Accelerator teams
Meet the teams innovating for social, technological, and environmental change.
Belu Club (Previously known as Barrel Club)
An intergenerational home-support platform that empowers our older community members to thrive at home – delivered by local mums (or dads) with bubs in tow.
Daisy
Drink Daisy supports those suffering from Morning Sickness, Hyperemesis Gravidarum and the management of hydration during pregnancy.
Every Gender
Combining 20+ years’ storytelling experience, founders of Every Gender are addressing inequity for the trans community by offering their lived experience to workplace inclusion conversations.
Fuel My Potential
Fuel My Potential has leading experts delivering on-demand nutrition insights relevant to all of us, straight from the trenches of high performance sport to your fingertips, to help you live your best life too.
GEOBIND
GEOBIND Limited is developing a range of environmentally friendly building materials including bricks, blocks and panels using the geopolymer binder they have developed ‘GEOBIND’.
Fit Rewards (Previously known as Gym Token)
Fit Rewards aims to create a more healthier and inclusive society by rewarding fitness enthusiasts and empowering them to donate their benefits to those less fortunate.
Loffty
Saving and uplifting lives through better mental health insights
myED
myED empowers patients with targeted information and tools, in order to make complex healthcare journeys simpler, improving health outcomes, waiting times, and integrating emergency and non-urgent care.
The Hyphen Project (previously known as The NZ Institute of Twice Exceptional Talent)
An institute that runs a specialised post-secondary programme to help launch the careers of exceptional neurodivergent teens.
Pickpath
Pickpath was made by artists in response to huge digital agency costs. Now we want to democratise app experiences for all creative people.
The Green Marketplace (Previously known as Raizor)
One of their products, The Green Marketplace is a B2B platform focused on making meaningful and measurable reductions in a business’s carbon footprint through procurement.
Ryd.
Ryd’s unified mobility platform improves travel in New Zealand by optimizing fleet usage, automating management, and making vehicles accessible to a wider user base through the app.
Teespa
Teespa makes masks for teeth and gums to help improve oral health and prevent hefty dental bills.
Volition
We’re a social enterprise helping disabled people to direct their own lives through accessible software
Wellstream
Founded by two mates from Waiheke who believe in keeping it simple, WellStream is a Māori owned social enterprise designed to create happiness at scale.
TNFD Pilot (Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures).
A pilot TNFD project working with three world leading startups and two leading New Zealand food producers, to help build TNFD knowledge and capability. The pilot will help these organisations assess their specific risks and opportunities that result from their dependance on nature or their impacts on nature.
About the programme
Since 2013, Creative HQ has run 17 successful accelerator programmes across New Zealand, helping over 150 companies, and bringing in over $100 million in financing through seed and Series A rounds. In 2023, we will offer our first accelerator programme exclusively focused on impact companies.
The Impact Accelerator is a hybrid programme that will support ventures to develop and test their products in New Zealand, before competing on a global scale. Founders will get access to sprint coaching and mentoring, and connections to government and corporate partners who are actively looking to open markets and resources for the teams.
At the end of the programme, each venture will have the opportunity to pitch at a final showcase, and we will support to get those who are investment ready into investment showcases around New Zealand and Australia
Applications are now closed.
We are no longer accepting applications for the Impact Accelerator.
If you’re based in New Zealand and interested to see how we can help, contact our Innovation Specialist, Benji Pritchard.
The perks
To help you start on the right foot, you can expect:
- Mentorship from a board of startup experts to provide strategic, high-level advice
- Advisor Expertise from our supporting partners and other topic experts
- Tools and resources to help you advance at each stage of your growth
- Coaches who help guide you through the process of learning and validation
- Access to our network of alumni founders, investors and ecosystem supporters
- A space to work from to use full time in the programme or to pop in as needed
- Hybrid option available for those outside of the Wellington region
The process
Over a three-month span, we’ll guide you through these steps:
- Validation – problem discovery, direction and focus, workshops and mentors
- Execution – building and testing, nailing the solution, go-to-market strategy
- Preparation – fundraising prep, pitch practice, showcase
- Community – fundraising support, intro to our alumni network
