What we do
— What we do
We help Ōtepoti's ideas
become real-world startups.
Startup Dunedin is the front door to the city’s startup community. Whatever stage you’re at, we’ll help you work out the next step and connect you to the people who can help you take it to the next stage.
START
Have a kōrero
A free, no-pressure chat. We listen to where you’re at, idea, side-project, or growing team, and help you name the very next step.
BUILD
Get practical help
Workshops, mentors, and answers to the stuff founders get stuck on, validating an idea, first customers, money.
CONNECT
Get connected
Warm introductions to investors, partners, and the wider Ōtepoti startup community, so you’re never alone.
Our Programmes
Programmes to help you launch and scale – right here in Ōtepoti.
Startup Check Ins
Got questions or not sure where to start? Let’s have a kōrero. We’ll hear what you’re working on, where you’re at, and point you in the right direction, whether that’s a programme, a person, or just your next small step.
Audacious
Ōtago’s student startup programme. Over a summer you turn a rough idea into a real venture — with funding, mentoring, and a cohort of other student founders building alongside you.
- Learn practical tools you can use right away.
- Get feedback and support from founders and mentors.
- Dedicated workshops.
- Open to all Ōtago tertiary students.
The Distiller Incubator
Our incubator for founders ready to go all in. Structured support to sharpen your model, find your first customers, and get genuinely investment-ready.
- One-to-one mentoring from our pool of mentors.
- Spend time with other ambitious founders.
- Receive 1-on-1 weekly support from the Startup Dunedin team.
- Work from Startup Dunedin.
Startup Microgrants
Are you a student working on a startup? Share your idea through Startup Dunedin’s student microgrants, get feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and investors, and access support and funding to help bring your mahi to life.
- Startups
- Side hustles
- Not-for-profits
- Social enterprise
- Commercialising research
— Our Impact
Backing local founders from day one
20+
years backing Ōtepoti ideas
200+
check ins per year
120+
community events per year
90+
student startups per year
— FAQ's
Questions, answered
Who can work with Startup Dunedin?
Anyone in Ōtepoti with the itch to build something — students, first-time founders, and growing teams. You don’t need a registered company, a co-founder, or even a fully-formed idea to get started.
How much does it cost?
Getting started is free.
Do I need a finished idea first?
No. Plenty of founders come to us with an idea or a problem they want to solve. We’ll guide you to the next steps.
I'm a student — where do I begin?
Start with Audacious, our student startup programme, or just book a kōrero and we’ll point you in the right direction based on where you’re at.