Woman Founders
As a nation, we continue to make progress in terms of resources, a diverse choice of funding options, programmes, and networks designed to encourage and boost female entrepreneurship. Here are a few women-focused resources on our radar.
Connect with us to add more Women Founders support options to this list.
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
Designed for women with an entrepreneurial spirit to provide them with the skills, resources, and networks needed to start and scale successful businesses using the "DreamBuilder" programme. A partnership between The Pacific Business Hub + US Embassy (NZ)
Arc Angels
ArcAngels is a member-based angel investment organisation focused on building investor knowledge and dedicated to investing in early-stage businesses that are led or managed by women across New Zealand
Artesian
Asia Pacific Alternative Investment Management firm, Artesian, established an Auckland office with the launch of their $100 million Female Leaders VC Fund that exclusively targets Series A and B rounds of high-growth female-led ventures
Association for Women in the Sciences (AWIS)
AWIS is a global network that inspires bold leadership, research, and solutions that advance women in STEM, spark innovation, promote organisational success and drive systemic change
AUT: Women in Tech
Encourages and supports women studying in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics) through courses that help develop networking skills and succeed in their field of study
AWS Hāpori Wāhine CloudUp Program
A free 4-week, flexible virtual boot-camp style training programme for Kiwi women who have considered the tech industry as a career but are unsure what type of jobs exist or are keen to learn new skills to start, progress or pivot your career
Business and Professional Women
BPW connects and empowers women who aspire to do more. Their membership includes women in a variety of organisations – from small and medium sized businesses through to large corporations, and from the public and non-profit sectors
Co.OfWomen
A membership based success support organisation developed and led by experienced, successful leaders to champion success. They focus on advancing the goals and aspirations of female entrepreneurs through one on one, peer or group formats
E&Y She Starts Out
A business mentoring programme aimed exclusively at social impact entrepreneurs who identify as LGBTQ women or non-binary people. She Starts Out creates a space for these diverse entrepreneurs to flourish and grow
Entrepreneurial Women with Purpose
Entrepreneurial Women with Purpose is focused on empowering, educating and inspiring women through a lens of purpose beyond profit and using the vehicle of business for the greater good of the world
Even Capital
The brain-child of successful New Zealand entrepreneur and investor duo Anna Stuck and Sarah Park. Even Capital is a female-founded, female-funded and female-focused capital fund investment for Asia Pacific businesses
EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ Asia-Pacific
An evergreen executive leadership programme designed for women with established businesses who are ready to scale operations and grow to become global market leaders
GirlBoss New Zealand
Founded with a single mission: To close the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, and Leadership. GirlBoss programmes have been implemented in over 100 schools nationwide
Girls in Business
Girls in business is an organisation for business and career minded women to connect, up-skill, share experiences, get inspired and seek help growing their business empires and careers
Global Women
Global Women’s mission is to catalyse New Zealand’s social and economic success by championing diversity in leadership. Over 350 Global Women members, recognised for their ability to influence and impact, advocate for diversity, equality and leadership
Hire Her
A digital talent and jobs platform for women in New Zealand and Australia. Launched in 2021, Hire Her has nearly 1,000 female freelancers and contractors registered and it contributes $1 from every collaboration to non-profits supporting women
Manzana
Manzana is a space for creative and tech women entrepreneurs and founders who are systemically underrepresented / underserved
Ministry of Awesome: Electrify Accelerator
New Zealand’s only all-ecosystem-backed, start-up accelerator for women founders
MYOB: women in tech
MYOB helps to grow the number of female entrepreneurs by sharing authentic and actionable advice from other successful women in business and sport. They produce useful content, a range of resources which make a difference to women’s businesses
New Zealand Business Women’s Network
The New Zealand Business Women's Network is a group of over 1,300 Kiwi women that meet regularly, concentrating on inspiration, real relationship/network building and hosting awesome guest speakers
NZTE: InvestHer
NZTE organises an annual InvestHer showcase with the goal of creating connections, raising the profile of some of NZ's women founders, whilst taking them through a rigorous process that builds their confidence and prepares them for raising capital
She Owns It
She Owns It is a directory and coaching community for New Zealand women in business
She Sharp
She# influences the next generation of leaders, doers and thinkers in STEM by showcasing strong female role models in the industry. They encourage young girls and women by showing them the importance and relevance of STEM career paths
SheDares
The Dream Collective and Amazon Web Service (AWS) launched “SheDares” in New Zealand to help address IT skills shortage and encourage women to consider a career in tech. SheDares is a free, online, interactive learning programme
SheEO
This visionary model is emerging as a leading global innovation. The New Zealand branch of SheEO.World was launched by Kiwi businesswoman Theresa Gattung and to date has raised over $1 million, through the radical generosity of women Activators
Soda: Rise Up
Seed grant and accelerator programme for ambitious female founders
Startmate: The Women Fellowship
A two-month programme helping ambitious women find their dream job in a start-up. Includes weekly events, coaching and networking to build your confidence, translate your skills and find your best fit in a start-up
TechWomen
TechWomen is a group of passionate New Zealand tech, digital and ICT focused individuals from leading organisations that work together, with the support of NZTech, to help address the shortage of women in tech roles
The Women’s Mentoring Programme AUT
The Business School matches women students with women working in business. Mentoring programmes can facilitate women’s career development, as well as provide them with insights and information into organisational cultures at senior management levels
The Young Women
A podcast for ambitious young women to be inspired, empowered and equipped with the personal development tools and game changing career advice needed to unlock their inner confidence and achieve, those big dreams
UoA: Women in Entrepreneurship
University of Auckland Business School -based centre to foster women in entrepreneurship. The centre teaches women how to launch a business, read a balance sheet, know what venture capital is and how to access it.
Women Entrepreneur Network
The NZ Women Entrepreneur Network (WE Network) is a New Zealand women in business support network. Their mission is to inspire and empower Kiwi women to upscale their businesses
Women Entrepreneurship Centre
A not-for-profit organisation based in Auckland. WEC provides awareness programmes, training, skills development, mentoring, business incubation, information sharing, networking and marketing assistance
Women in HealthTech
WHT is a collaborative group representing the health-tech sector in New Zealand, providing a foundation of networks and leadership. Digital Health Association, Consortium for Medical Device Technologies, and Medical Technology Association of NZ
Women in Leadership
Women in Leadership Summit presents a unique approach to invest in your leadership journey, unlock your true potential, and rediscover your resilience through multiple interactive sessions
Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Programme
WILD is a 6 month programme that tackles common barriers to career progression and sector retention faced by women employed in the STEM sector. Brought to you by KiwiNet and Brandon Capital Partners
Women in STEM
Women In Stem connects a range of women in STEM fields across New Zealand, all from different universities, background and upbringings
Women in Tech (NZ)
This Facebook group is for women or those that identify as women to share resources, ideas, conversation, and education around all that is tech. They exist to support one another. Membership is only open to those who are living or working in NZ
Women Leaders Institute
The Women Leaders Institute has developed a safe and supportive space for emerging and established women leaders to be inspired, grow and connect across Australia, New Zealand and Asia
Women of Influence
This programme shares the remarkable stories of women who are making a difference to the lives of New Zealanders. Powered by Stuff and Westpac NZ
Women On Boards
Women on Boards New Zealand represents women who want to continuously advance their governance careers. They support female directors through personal connections and sharing knowledge
Women Tech Founders Aotearoa
An inclusive Facebook group community of women founders / entrepreneurs in tech in New Zealand
Women4Climate
C40 in partnership with the city of Auckland will contribute to the emergence of the next generation of climate leaders by sharing knowledge and experience through an ambitious mentorship programme dedicated to women in C40 cities
Women’s Fund Grant
A unique model of giving through Auckland Foundation. Seeking to create positive change in the lives of Tāmaki Makaurau women by providing financial support to charitable organisations and programmes