The Incubator

Your idea, supported by our expertise

Whether you are a serial founder or new to the startup world, the Incubator can help you.

Our programme sweet-spot is supporting you on your way to raising your first big round of investment. What are you waiting for? Get in touch today and let’s get started.

The Incubator is a 6-month hybrid programme open to startups based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington. Join in remotely or take advantage of our Creative HQ offices located in the heart of the capital.

Applications closed

We’ll announce new dates soon.

“Creative HQ has been amazing. When I first came to Creative HQ this was just an idea, when we left we had over 600,000k funding.”

Carl Meyer
Bio Gold

Incubator perks

When you join the Incubator, you get access to:

Funding

On entry to the programme, you will receive $5,000 of equity-free funding. At the end of month three, you’ll have an opportunity to pitch at our virtual Investor Showcase for bridge funding to support your growth through the next three months of the programme. Typical amounts for a bridge round run between $10k–$50k. Of course, you don’t have to pitch if you don’t need funding.

A collaborative workspace

As a founder in The Incubator, you’re always welcome to work at our Creative HQ office in Wellington. Get a desk space for the full six months, or pop in for a day here and there.

Who’s the Incubator for?

The Incubator is open to founders that are based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, that meet these criteria.

Idea stage to pre-seed

We’re looking for founders who are pre-seed or who might not even be looking for investment. Our programme sweet-spot is supporting you on those initial steps to growth, whether that’s raising your first capital round or expanding to another city. While we can’t guarantee success, we will push you to validate your idea so you know whether you should keep going or take a break before starting your next big thing.

From SaaS to biotech, and everything in between

Whatever industry you’re from, we can support you and your startup. Since 2003, we’ve had alumni from just about every industry imaginable – from gaming to fashion and robotics.

Committed to the cause

Our preference is for founders who are working full time on their startup. We offer a starter investment grant of $5,000 to help you make that leap. If you’re working a job on the side to support your startup that’s okay, but we do still expect you to turn up and be engaged, both with the community and the programming set out for you.

Based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington

While we know there are fantastic startup founders all around Aotearoa, our focus with The Incubator is on founders and teams based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington and the surrounding region.

Find out where you fit

If you are a NZ based startup, book a 30 min free call with our startup team.

Benji Pritchard

Innovation specialist

Book now

Teams

This Incubator round has now ended. We’re gearing up for the next intake, happening in September. Find out more about the teams that just graduated!

AoteaCamN

AoteaCamN is developing AI cameras that detect traffic accidents, near-misses and assess the density of road users to take appropriate action instantly.

Chillsy

Chillsy is a digital platform enabling students to connect with a community of peers who are seeking adventures and new friends to share them with.

Flatties

Flatties is an app that takes the stress out of flat hunting, helping users find the perfect flat or flatmate by matching users based on their social and lifestyle preferences.

Flow deck

Flow Deck uses software solutions to make computational fluid dynamics software for engineering more widely available, faster, and easier to use.

Insidery

Insidery is a two-sided career insights platform for both employers and young people looking to get the inside word on any job.

Speak

Speak is a technology-enabled beauty company that matches customers to the right scents for them.

Trimester Tracker

A digital platform designed to significantly reduce the administrational workload of midwives.

UpdateCove

UpdateCove is a community engagement and AI sentiment analysis platform that provides users with multi-channel tools to share updates on projects with the public, track community sentiment and make data-driven decisions to improve engagement.

Wonky Box

Wonky Box is an online food rescue business that sources odd-looking or surplus fresh produce from local suppliers and distributes them to subscribers.

The latest from our alumni

Shoutouts to our alumni, out there changing the world one day at a time.