The startup scene in New Zealand

Creative HQ’s Wellington technology-sector page identifies SaaS, CleanTech, Fintech, CreativeTech, and GovTech as represented sectors, and names Hnry, Sharesies, Xero, Wētā FX, and PikPok in the local technology landscape. The page’s geographic boundary is unspecified. [Claim 50250]

In a September 29, 2026 report summary, Creative HQ said it mapped 204 emerging technology companies across the Wellington region, with direct input from 71 companies and five collaborators: WellyForge, Angel HQ, WellingtonNZ, NZGCP, and KiwiSaaS. The summary reported approximately NZ$300 million raised to date across the regional sector, with Fintech and Deep Tech leading, and said 73% of survey respondents identified access to customers and markets as a constraint ahead of capital access. [Claims 50253, 50254, 50255, 50256]

The Spinoff reported on December 11, 2023, that Xero began in a Willis Street apartment in Wellington in 2006 and described it as New Zealand’s first unicorn. The article also reported that Xero was headquartered in Wellington with roughly 600 staff at that time, and named Sharesies, Hnry, PaySauce, CoGo, and Sharesight as part of Wellington’s finance-startup cohort. [Claims 50257, 50258, 50259]

Creative HQ describes Founder Launch as free, self-paced online learning for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders. Its founder page invites expressions of interest at any time for its 2026 programs; this is a general expression-of-interest route, not confirmation that a particular program is currently open. [Claims 50260, 50261]