Founder and Startup Support Programme (RFP)

Details

Tender Closed
RFx ID :	33830852
Tender Name :	Founder and Startup Support Programme (RFP)
Reference # :
Open Date :	Wednesday, 8 April 2026 5:00 PM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Close Date  :	Thursday, 7 May 2026 5:00 PM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Tender Type :	Request for Proposals (RFP)
Tender Coverage :	Sole Agency  [?]
Categories :	80100000 - Management advisory services 86000000 - Education and Training Services
Regions:	Auckland Bay of Plenty Canterbury Chatham Islands Gisborne Hawke's Bay Manawatu-Wanganui Marlborough Nelson Northland Otago Southland Taranaki Tasman Waikato Wellington West Coast
Exemption Reason :	None
Required Pre-qualifications :	None
Contact :	Karan Kumar MBIEtenders@mbie.govt.nz N/A
Alternate Physical Delivery Address  :
Alternate Physical Fax Number  :
Agency Address :	NEW ZEALAND

This is the Stage Two Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which involves a written proposal followed by a joint presentation and interview session. The process will be conducted as a closed, competitive tender and is open only to respondents shortlisted from the Registration of Interest (ROI) stage.

The tender will close on 7 May 2026, with presentations and interviews scheduled to take place between 13 May and 21 May 2026.

This tender has been awarded. Total spend value $ 10,868,000.

• Auckland Council - 135, Albert Street, Auckland, 1010, NEW ZEALAND
• COIN SOUTH INCORPORATED - 25, Don Street, Invercargill, 9810, NEW ZEALAND
• CREATIVE HQ LIMITED - Level 1, 7 Dixon Street, Te Aro, Wellington, 6011, NEW ZEALAND
• Fingo Ltd - 175, Rimu Rd, Paraparaumu, Paraparaumu, Kāpiti Coast, 5032, NEW ZEALAND
• MINISTRY OF AWESOME - Level 1 Kahukura Building, Ara Institute Of Canterbury, 130 Madras Street, Christchurch, 8011, NEW ZEALAND
• Northland Inc Ltd - 85, Cameron Street, Whangarei, 0110, NEW ZEALAND
• Ocean Impact Organisation - c/- Blue House, 125 Vickerman Street, Port Nelson, Nelson, 7010, NEW ZEALAND
• SODA INC. LIMITED - Level 2 Wintec House, Cnr Anglesea And Nisbet Streets, Hamilton, 3204, NEW ZEALAND
• Sprout Agritech Ltd - 21 Dairy Farm Road, Palmerston North, 4472, NEW ZEALAND
• Startup Queenstown Lakes Charitable Trust - 2/26, Hawthorne Drive, Frankton, Queenstown, Otago, 9370, NEW ZEALAND
• Tapuwae Roa - 7, Waterloo Quay, Wellington, 6011, NEW ZEALAND
• The FactoryNZ Ltd - 21, Dairy Farm Road, Palmerston North, Manawatu, 4410, NEW ZEALAND
• Venture Taranaki Trust - 50, Devon Street West, New Plymouth, New Plymouth, Taranaki, 4340, NEW ZEALAND

Further Award Information:
Following a multi-stage tender process of an ROI and RFP, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) of 15 Stout Street, Wellington, is pleased to confirm the following providers for the Founder and Startup Support Programme.

Part 1(a) Event and Resources:
1 Creative HQ Limited
2 Ministry of Awesome
3 Soda Inc Limited
4 Startup Dunedin
5 COIN South Incorporated
6 Startup Queenstown Lakes Charitable Trust
7 Auckland Council
8 Venture Taranaki Trust
9 Kāpiti Coast District Council
10 Northland Inc Ltd

Part 1(b) Startup Aotearoa:
1 Ministry of Awesome consortium with Creative HQ Limited

Part 2 Incubators and accelerators:
1 Creative HQ Limited
2 Sprout Agritech LP
3 Ministry of Awesome
4 Ocean Impact Organisation Aotearoa
5 Te Putea Whakatupu Trust (Tapuwae Roa)
6 Auckland Council
7 The Factory NZ Limited
Contract start date of 1 July 2026 for a term of two (2) years with two right of renewals of one (1) year each.

Award Date: Tuesday, 30 June 2026 (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)
Date RFx was completed/updated: Friday, 17 July 2026 3:08 PM (Pacific/Auckland UTC+12:00)