Supporting Kiwi startups

Meeting startups where they're at

We partnered with Ministry of Awesome to connect with and support Aotearoa’s most ambitious founders. Together, we developed solutions to the common challenges early‑stage businesses face, from not meeting traditional borrowing criteria to being seen as too high‑risk for finance.

As part of this partnership, we began by running a pilot to test a new approach to early‑stage banking. The pilot proved highly successful, confirming that founders needed more flexible, progress‑based support. Off the back of that success, we’ve now embedded this approach into our core offering.

One of the key outcomes is StartUp+, a programme designed specifically for Kiwi startups in the early stages of business development. StartUp+ aims to remove barriers to bank lending and unlock practical ways to meet founders’ needs through progress‑based borrowing and tailored business banking support.

Making Kiwi better off

Startups aren’t just businesses; they're the driving force behind New Zealand’s future economy, playing a pivotal role in job creation and long-term economic growth.

By supporting early-stage businesses, we’ll continue to foster innovation, productivity, and growth within New Zealand. This is good for business, our communities and Aotearoa.