New Zealand's startup ecosystem has seen a steady growth in recent years, with the total investment in startups reaching NZD 1 billion in 2020.
Venture capital investments have been a significant contributor to the growth of startups, with a total of NZD 830 million invested in 2019.
Thriving Industries:
The technology and software industries have been the most active in terms of startup fundraising, followed by agri-tech, tourism startups, health tech, and fintech.
Active Investors:
Some of the most active investors in New Zealand's startup ecosystem include:
Kiwi Wealth
Ice Angels
Manaaki
Venture Capital Funds of Funds
Mercury
Popular Startups:
Some of the most popular startups in New Zealand include:
Xero: a cloud-based accounting software provider
Paddle: a software-as-a-service platform that provides businesses with a simplified payment system
Wisetech Global: a provider of software solutions for the global logistics industry
Soul Machines: a company that develops AI-powered avatars for customer service and support
Vend: a cloud-based point of sale system for retailers
Government Initiatives:
The government of New Zealand has been actively supporting the growth of startups through various initiatives, including:
Establishing the Callaghan Innovation, a government-owned organization that provides research and development funding for startups
Providing tax incentives for venture capital investments in startups
Supporting the growth of the angel investment community through the Angel Association of New Zealand
Comparison to the Rest of the World:
New Zealand's startup ecosystem is relatively small compared to other established startup hubs such as the United States or Europe, but it has been growing steadily and has a strong focus on technology and innovation.