From a notebook idea to <em>investor-ready</em> in 14 weeks.
TechDojo is the cohort-based accelerator for ambitious New Zealand founders. Two intakes a year, twenty to fifty founders each, mentored by operators who've done it before — backed by MBIE.
"TechDojo compressed two years of fumbling into a fortnight. By week four I had a roadmap, a customer pipeline, and three investors taking my calls."Hera Tipene · Co-founder · Tāmaki Health AI · Cohort 03/2025
Founders trained. Capital raised. Jobs created in Aotearoa.
Founders trained. Capital raised. Jobs created in Aotearoa.
Every metric we track is a public outcome. We publish FY26 results to MBIE and to the founders themselves, so you can see exactly what the programme has delivered.
412
$48M
186
42%
MBIE supported
Callaghan Innovation
NZTE partner
Icehouse Ventures
Blackbird
NZ Growth Capital
Two free bootcamps to get you to the start line.
Two free bootcamps to get you to the start line.
Whether you're still circling an idea or already shipping prototypes, our pre-programme bootcamps make sure you arrive on day one of the accelerator with momentum. Free, online, and run six times a year.
Startup Ideation
A two-week sprint for pre-idea aspirants. Validate problems worth solving, find a co-founder, and build a one-pager that'd make a sceptical investor pause.
- Length
- 2 wks
- Format
- Online evenings
- Cost
- Free
Vibe Coding
Ship your first working prototype in ten days, even if you've never written code. AI-assisted build sprints with a coaching mentor.
- Length
- 10 days
- Format
- Online + IRL
- Cost
- Free
The accelerator, week by week.
The accelerator, week by week.
Every week is one live masterclass, one operating-cadence working session, and one mentor 1:1. You leave each week with something built, not just learned. Demo Day caps the cohort — a curated room of 80+ NZ and APAC investors.
Week 01
Week 02
Week 03
Week 04
Week 05
Week 06
Week 07
Week 08
Week 09
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
The library — templates, AI tools, funding benchmarks.
Events & bootcamps — across the motu.
Operators, not theorists.
Operators, not theorists.
Each founder is paired with three mentors — a sector specialist, a fundraising lead, and a founder-coach. The wall below is a sample of the network you'll join.
Hera Tipene
Marcus Chen
Aroha Williams
Tane Walker
Sarah O'Brien
Kai Tamati
Priya Iyer
Dr Eleanor Read
Manaia Te Rangi
From your first idea, to a Series A in five steps.
From your first idea, to a Series A in five steps.
TechDojo is built around a deliberate capital pathway. We don't just teach you how to raise — we walk you to the rooms where it happens.
Pre-idea
Idea
Build
Raise
Scale
An accelerator for all of Aotearoa — not just the cities.
TechDojo's model is hybrid by design. Most weeks are remote, with monthly in-person residentials rotating between Auckland, Wellington, Ōtautahi and Tauranga. Travel grants for regional and underrepresented founders.
- Wāhine-led companies
- Māori & Pasifika lead founders
- Founders outside Auckland / Wellington
- Founders from corporate switch
- University-affiliated founders
- First-time founders
Common questions, answered.
Common questions, answered.
Who is TechDojo for?
Anyone in Aotearoa NZ — pre-idea, idea-stage, or shipping a product — who wants the structure, mentors, and capital path of a top accelerator without leaving the country, paying a fee, or giving up equity. We particularly welcome wāhine, Māori, Pasifika, and regional founders.
Does TechDojo take equity or charge a fee?
No. The 14-week accelerator is delivered free of charge and equity-free, with support from MBIE. Travel grants are available for regional and underrepresented founders.
How are founders selected?
Cohorts are 20–50 founders. We weight problem clarity, founder–market fit, and traction signals over polish. Two interview rounds with a panel of operators & alumni.
Do I need a co-founder to apply?
No, but we strongly recommend it. Our Ideation Bootcamp includes a co-founder match week if you're looking — we've helped form 60+ teams since 2023.
What's the time commitment?
Two live sessions per week (90 min each), one mentor 1:1 (60 min), plus 8–12 hours of independent build/sell time. You should treat the cohort as the primary use of your discretionary time.
What happens after the cohort?
Lifetime alumni access — quarterly investor showcases, mentor reconnects, follow-on capital intros, and an active founder Slack with 400+ alumni.
Cohort 02 of 2026 opens 04 October. Applications close 18 September. The Ideation Bootcamp on 24 May is a great way in.