Bootstrapped NZ Edition #17

⭐️ Celebrating 1 year of ecosystem stories

May 15, 2023

Kia Ora NZ startup ecosystem enthusiasts!

Today’s edition is a bit special, because it marks the one year anniversary of the launch of Bootstrapped NZ 🚀

So thank you to:

⭐️ The 17 founders who shared their stories

⭐️ >1,000 of you who read about the NZ startup ecosystem every fortnight (well, every month)

⭐️ Everyone who is a part of the NZ startup ecosystem - whether that be as a founder, operator, community builder, supporter or enthusiast. Even though it can seem like we’re building in siloes, we’re actually all growing an ecosystem together, which I think is pretty awesome.

Anyway, if you want to keep up with the latest ecosystem news for the next year, feel free to join us:

📸 Ecosystem Highlights

🔥 Cotiss launched their easy to use, end-to-end procurement software into the world AND announced their $2.2M pre-seed raise

💜 FIBRE FALE have been busy - launching Tautai Tech Skills Series, sharing community stories and running VakaCon 2023 (you can check out the BTS here!)

🏠 Fletcher Buildings opened New Zealand’s first Concrete Innovation lab in Christchurch with a particular focus on solutions to de-carbonise concrete

🏡 Property data startup Relab is now used by 25% of real estate agents in NZ

🦴 Formus Labs received FDA 501(k) clearance for their “automated radiological image processing software” for hip replacement pre-op planning.

🏥 Medicly partnered with MedTech to enhance the security of primary healthcare records and information by providing an audit of all data access.

💰 VC Movac raised $202 growth fund for their latest growth fund

📣 OnBoard announced their 2023 cohort of board observers

🤝 The Digital Council for Aotearoa released their research on digital inclusion

🤖 Bespoke kiwi AI consultancy Contented AI launched their own newsletter - a weekly roundup of AI news, to keep you across all updates in the AI space!

🐝 Government Things

💧NZTE and Hatch Innovation Services announced the companies participating in the Aquaculture launchpad

🔬 The Government shared that R&D spending of over $5 billion was at a record high last year

🧬 He tipa ka hua, one of two new MBIE-administered funds designed to invest in Maori science and research, opened for applications

💼 South Taranaki District Council, alongside a number of partners, are bringing Rebel Business School Aotearoa back to Taranaki

📚 Ecosystem Stories

🎶 Flip Grater from Grater goods shares how she went from singer-songwriter to food entrepreneur

🚀 Kale Panoho shared how he helped break TikTok into the US

🩺 Komodo shared their work bringing wellbeing into schools on One News

🌿 KiwiFibre share how they’re developing harakeke fibre for hi-tech industrial uses

🧸 Read about how an artist and a product design engineer joined forces to produce children’s toys from a Māori perspective

🙋🏼‍♀️ Cool people doing cool things: Meet Amy from Slice

Slice helps couples, friends and family co-own real estate; getting you on the property ladder sooner, safer and smarter.

Hi Amy, what's your story?

I love problem solving and housing is one of the biggest problems I could choose to tackle. From a young age I decided I wanted to own a home because it represents financial independence and emotional security to me. I decided to earn my stripes so studied law and economics and worked in law and in finance for ten years. Eventually I tired of the status quo and moved into tech. With techs ability to enable change at scale I haven’t looked back.

How was Slice born?

My parents separated when I was younger and we had to move out of our family home. I decided I wanted to secure my financial future by buying young. I’ve since bought two properties with slice and am now I’m helping others do the same.

How's it going?

So far so good. It’s been incredibly validating to help people in to home ownership who truly thought it was beyond reach. We have 200 users on the platform (since February) making their way through the buying journey. We are now raising capital with half of our ask already pledged to further education and scale.

What's your vision for the future?

Fully fractionalised ownership. Not ownership shares in property but proportional ownership of an actual property. Such a structure enables our customers to leverage and borrow from the bank, increasing there investment power so that they can grow their wealth faster and find financial security.

Do you have any asks for the community?

Spread the word! Subscribe and listen to our podcast and sign up to our free dashboard to begin or continue on your property journey

💰 Who’s raising?

There are some awesome kiwi startups raising at the moment like JUNOFEM, who are on a mission to free women from the stigma of urinary incontinence and alcohol and FTN Motion, who are building the future classics of the electric motorbike world.

🚨 Are you a kiwi startup raising capital? Let us know here and we’ll share the word with the community! Territory 3 and the Angel Association also put together a list of startups raising in their monthly newsletter.

🚀 Cool opportunities

🏆 If there is an exporter in your life who deserves from recognition, nominate them for an NZ International Business award

🌅 Have your say in the programming for Blackbird’s Sunrise festival this September

🚀 Startmate is on the hunt for he most ambitious founders in New Zealand for their Winter’23 Accelerator cohort. You can be pre-product, pre-customers, pre-revenue - they’re here for it. 👉 Apply here by May 21.

💼 Cool Jobs

🍒 Tracksuit are hiring a WHOLE bunch of roles including - Partner Manager, Auckland Office Manager and Senior Product Designer

📕 Hnry are hiring a Tech Risk Analyst

🤝 AskNicely are looking for a Head of Product Marketing

📆 Upcoming Events

It’s TechWeek, which means there are a HUGE number of events happening across the country! Here are a couple to keep you busy:

📍 Auckland

🔨 WNT are running a Hardware Series with the next two events on Wednesday 17th May and Friday 19th May

💜 GD1 have you covered for all things ESG on Thursday 18th May AND competing in the US on Wednesday 17th May

🪖 The South Island’s premier tech and manufacturing trade show SouthMACH will take place on 24-25 May in Christchurch

🎮 Play some games and meet some developers on Saturday 20th May!

📍 Wellington

💼 Hear about careers of the future from founders who are hiring at this event run by the Icehouse!

💻 Learn how to up-skill your marketing strategy with Tim Doyle on Wednesday 17th May!

✍🏼 Learn how human-centred design can unlock the potential for technology to transform people’s lives on Thursday 17th May!

📍 Christchurch

🏥 Come learn about the future of health at EPIC centre on Tuesday 16th May and the future of Climate and Food on Wednesday 17th May!

🎤 Hear from the next generation of tech leaders at Lumin HQ on Thursday 18th May

Thanks for reading! Hit subscribe for more free fortnightly kiwi startup goodness (make sure to check your promotions tab, Substack tends to send them there)

Ngā mihi nui,

Izzy 👩🏽‍💻

Bootstrapped NZ