Start-ups

Affordable and easy for start-ups, Marlborough is also centrally located with great connections to all major centres. It only takes seven minutes to get to the main airport, 15 minutes to the beach, the rivers, or the bush. Wilderness is only a stone’s throw away from the centre of town.

What’s happening for start-ups?

Start-ups are well supported by Angel Investors Marlborough and other stakeholders in the ecosystem such as mentors, trainers, programmes, and inspiring speakers. 

It’s exciting times in the region with the recent announcement of central government support for the new Marlborough Tech & Innovation Hub. This is a good time to be a start-up in Marlborough! 

Marlborough Tech & Innovation Hub 

Marlborough’s new Tech & Innovation Hub is designed to support Marlborough’s start-up and innovation ecosystem for technology and science-based start-ups working on solutions for the regional agri sectors as well as sustainability and the planet.

Find out more about the hub. 

Techstars Startup Weekends

The Techstars Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive foray into the world of start-ups. Over an action-packed three days, participants meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to show them how to get more done, faster - and, maybe even start that business!
 
The Startup Weekend is perfect for:

• people who have a great idea
• those who wonder what it would take to be an entrepreneur
• people who want to learn more about start-ups
• expanding networks and learning new skills.

Marlborough District Council’s Economic Development Team is instrumental in supporting Start-up Weekends as well as Innovation Days and TechWeek events. These are strong business-community connections for learning and collaborating. 

Learn what it takes to create a start-up and experience entrepreneurship first-hand by reading more on the Startup Marlborough website.  

Angel Investors Marlborough 

Angel Investors Marlborough is a membership-based investment network of investors and allied business professionals who invest in early-stage start-up entrepreneurs and innovators. 

Angel Investors Marlborough is a member of the Angel Association of New Zealand (AANZ), a network of more than 20 angel groups and funds throughout the country. Angel Investors Marlborough collectively promote and facilitate investor education by providing education events, active learning opportunities on actual deals, and best practice procedures. 

Find out more about Angel Investors Marlborough. 

Inspiring Speaker Series 

There is an active programme in the Marlborough region with inspiring speakers on various topics from within Marlborough as well as from other parts of the country on topics such as innovation, technology, wellbeing, mental health, people, and planet. 

Keep an eye on our upcoming business events or sign up for our Innovation Newsletter. 

Business mentoring 

Business Trust Marlborough supports local businesses, including start-ups, with mentoring and networking.  

Learn more about Business Trust Marlborough. 

Research organisations

Start-ups have access to Marlborough’s research institutes and innovation centres including the New Zealand Wine Centre at Bragato Research Institute, Sanford Bioactives, Cawthron Institute, Sawmill Studios and the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.