Leading from the edge of the world


Auckland Startup Week
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
20–24 October 2025

Here on the edge of the Pacific, the world’s next revolutionary idea is being born. Come together with founders, innovators, investors and corporate partners for a week-long festival of events designed to inspire, challenge and connect.

Connect, learn, recharge

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With new events, speakers and connections being added each week, join us for five dynamic days of keynotes, workshops, pitch competitions and networking events.

Who is Auckland Startup Week for?

Whether you're a founder, investor, enabler or corporate innovator, you'll find events that motivate, enlighten and inspire.

Starting out

Starting out

Ready to turn your high-growth idea into reality? Join sessions designed to guide you through the crucial early stages of building a startup, from validating your concept to launching into market.

Scaling up

Scaling up

Take your startup from Auckland to the world. Navigate the key challenges of scaling, master export fundamentals, and unlock the success factors for entering new markets with confidence.

Adopt

Adopt

Discover how corporates can harness startup methodologies to drive innovation. Learn how Auckland's enterprises and startups can collaborate to accelerate growth and create mutual value.

Ignite

Ignite

Be inspired by Auckland and New Zealand's most pioneering innovations. Connect with high-growth companies making global impact and explore scalable investment opportunities in our thriving ecosystem.

Featured events

Impactful Innovation '25


  • 20 October 2025 - 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • Pipiri Lane

Join Bridgewest Ventures at Impactful Innovation ’25 as we bring together global leaders in AI, life sciences and cleantech. Gain insights and practical lessons from speakers and firesides, and watch visionary founders pitch in the spotlight.

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Startup Demo Day


  • 20 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght

A high-energy showcase spotlighting Auckland’s most promising startups and visionary innovators. Demo Day brings together bold ideas and emerging technologies, and future-focused founders that are shaping tomorrow.

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Selling It: Three Roads to Startup Success


  • 21 October 2025 - 7:30 am to 9:30 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Speaker Panel

Revenue is the lifeblood of every startup, but sales strategies are as diverse as founders themselves. This session dives into three distinct sales approaches, traditional, referral-based, and marketing-led, offering tactical insights and lived experience from startup leaders.

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Newmarket Innovation Precinct Tour


  • 21 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am
  • Newmarket Innovation Precinct

Explore research and innovation at the University of Auckland’s Newmarket Precinct. Tour world-class facilities, meet trailblazing innovators, and see where startups, research and industry collide. Get a rare peek behind the scenes of Auckland’s top innovation hub.

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NZVC Portfolio Day


  • 21 October 2025 - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Pipiri Lane
  • Speaker Panel

NZVC Portfolio Day brings together the brightest early-stage startups, visionary founders, top investors and industry leaders. Experience the next wave of breakout companies, gain insights into the future of the ANZ venture ecosystem, and forge global connections.

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Scaling Startups: People Before Product


  • 22 October 2025 - 7:30 am to 9:30 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Jack Coleman, Keren Phillips

Talent is a startup’s greatest asset, but also its biggest challenge. This session explores the art and process of recruiting, onboarding, and rewarding team members, especially as startups scale into international markets.

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Movac Leadership Jam


  • 22 October 2025 - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  • Pipiri Lane
  • Speaker Panel

Six tech leaders share insights on scaling Kiwi tech companies globally. A rapid-fire event with networking opportunities, exclusively for leaders and founders of New Zealand-headquartered tech companies. Hosted by Serge van Dam, Movac Operating Partner.

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KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards


  • 22 October 2025 - 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
  • Shed 10

The KiwiNet Awards is New Zealand's premier celebration of the research, science and innovation sector, honouring those turning science into impact. Join the 13th annual awards evening and be inspired by the world-changing innovations that are shaping our future.

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Holding It Together: The Human Side of Startups


  • 23 October 2025 - 7:30 am to 9:30 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Speaker Panel

Being a founder is tough; relentless pressure, blurred boundaries, and the constant push to deliver. In this session, we’ll get real about the challenges and share practical ways to stay well while building big.

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Auckland Runway


  • 23 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • Pipiri Lane
  • Speaker Panel

Runway 2025 is a must-attend event for startups and investors. Dive into expert-led sessions held by experienced founders and early-stage investors. One- on-one investor speed dating. Wrap up with networking drinks and forge game-changing connections.

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Innovation Showcase


  • 23 October 2025 - 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
  • University of Auckland

UniServices brings investors face-to-face with New Zealand's top deep tech startups. These 50+ ventures turn world-class science into global impact. Hear founders pitch disruptive ideas and connect with innovators shaping the future. Join this showcase of groundbreaking tech. 

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Auckland Startup Week Disruptors' Dinner


  • 20 October 2025 - 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
  • Auckland Town Hall

The official launch of Auckland Startup Week featuring premier networking for global investors, founders and corporates. Celebrating innovation from the edge of the world on Monday, 20 October 2025.

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The Founders' Clinic


  • 21 October 2025 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght

Raising $20M: A Real Founder’s Playbook for Capital in New Zealand


  • 21 October 2025 - 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Jovan Pavlicevic

Learn about the behind the scenes playbook from raising $20M+ across angels, private investors, and institutions

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The Fallacy of the Great Idea (And what to focus on instead)


  • 21 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 10:30 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Richard Liew

Keen to start a business? Do you have an idea already or are you still searching? Not sure what to do next? In this fun and interactive workshop, entrepreneur and startup mentor Richard Liew shares key lessons to help new entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses or social enterprises.

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How to Partner with NZTE


  • 21 October 2025 - 10:30 am to 11:30 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Emma Lewis

How to Build a Unicorn


  • 22 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 11:00 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Mahesh Muralidhar

What does it really take to build a high-growth, globally competitive startup? In this candid, high-impact talk, Mahesh Muralidhar — one of the first 25 team members at Canva and now CEO of Phase One Ventures — breaks down the core ingredients behind world-class startups.

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Nexus Summit


  • 22 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
  • Pipiri Lane

Whether you are new to commercialisation, a seasoned veteran, or somewhere in-between, join us for a day of speakers, panel discussions, and workshops focused on growing commercialisation amidst a changing ecosystem.

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Bold Moves. Bolder (Women) Founders


  • 23 October 2025 - 9:00 am to 10:30 am
  • GridAKL / John Lysaght
  • Pam Ford

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make that bold move? Hear from three founders who have made bold moves in traditional industries and created impressive start ups.

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Join us for the Auckland Startup Week Disruptors' Dinner

The official launch of Auckland Startup Week featuring a night of identity, connection, disruption, and celebration that you won’t want to miss. Celebrating innovation from the edge of the world on Monday, 20 October 2025.

Hear from startup leaders

Our speaker lineup brings real-world insights from those building, breaking and reinventing what’s next.
Amy Stevens
Founder of Slice
Anand Reddy
Partner at PwC
Dr Angela Lim
Doctor, CEO & Co-founder at Clearhead
Bob Drummond
Co-founder & Chair at Kami
Bridget Unsworth
Chief Executive Officer at Angel Association New Zealand
Chun Chung
Account Manager at Emerge

Leading from the edge of the world

Auckland Startup Week brings together visionary founders, international investors and industry leaders for five days of inspiration, connection and opportunity.

New events, speakers and connections are being added to the programme each week.

Questions?

Events run from Monday, 20 October to Friday, 24 October 2025. If you're coming from out of town, we recommend staying the weekend to experience the magic of Auckland. Dive into our curated articles for inspiration on activities to enjoy in the city and around the Auckland region, as well as restaurant options, accommodation ideas and ways to explore our culture and heritage. 

New Auckland Startup Week events are being added or updated as soon as they're confirmed. Keep an eye on the programme to keep up to date, or follow us on LinkedIn. 

Auckland Startup Week events are held across a few different venues, mostly within the Wynyard Quarter precinct. 'Homebase' for the week can be found in the new Pipiri Lane space. You'll find the official concierge desk there, as well as space to relax and grab a coffee between events. To learn more about the venues, click here.

Yes. You'll find a registration link on each event's listing page. Just click through from the schedule calendar and follow the instructions.

Auckland Startup Week 2025

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Register for events now

Auckland Startup Week is five days of workshops, panels, networking events and pitch sessions. Browse our full programme and register for events across the city.