Source: Tapuwae Roa
Tapuwae Roa has welcomed ten Māori-founded startups into the 2025 Tupu Accelerator cohort, continuing its mission to grow the Māori startup ecosystem in Aotearoa.
Delivered in partnership with Sprout Agritech and co-funded by Callaghan Innovation, the eight-week programme now enters its second year and continues its mission to provide intensive support to early-stage Māori founders.
Participants will work with experienced coaches to refine their business models, strengthen operational capability, and prepare for investment, and present at a capstone showcase in June.
Recent research commissioned by Tapuwae Roa found that just 5% of Aotearoa’s 2400 startups have Māori founders. The findings also highlighted key challenges for Māori founders, including limited access to investment, capability-building opportunities, and a lack of cohesive support networks.
Tupu aims to address these gaps by providing a kaupapa-Māori approach to business support, with structured guidance, grounded mentorship, and a platform to scale.
For BEINGS founder Léon Bristow (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Manu), joining the cohort is an opportunity to grow alongside others who share a values-based approach to business.
“I’m genuinely moved to have been selected for this year’s Tupu Accelerator programme. Coming from an industry with only 4% Māori, I look forward to being supported by others who see pakihi through a similar lens. This experience will not only benefit my own professional and personal growth, but hopefully other Māori that I hope to influence and inspire,” says Bristow.
Lui Hellesoe (Tūhoe), founder of KiwiData, says Tupu provides the structure and support to grow a business grounded in kaupapa Māori.
“Getting into the Tupu Accelerator is a big step for me and for KiwiData. I built this company to solve real problems that Māori and Pacific businesses face when it comes to AI. This opportunity gives me the support and backing to grow something that reflects who we are and how we work. It means I can build with purpose, stay grounded in our values, and scale a business that creates space for our people in the future of tech.”
The 2025 Tupu Accelerator Showcase will be held on 26 June 2025 at the Auckland Art Gallery. Earlybird tickets are on sale now for $110 +GST: https://tupu2025.lilregie.com
TUPU ACCELERATOR 2025 COHORT:
- Green Waste Products NZ: Koro Carman (Ngāpuhi) & Simon Tanner
- Girl Native: Rawinia Rimene (Whakatōhea)
- BEINGS: Léon Bristow (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Manu)
- Performnz IQ: Pele Aumua (Ngāi Tahu/Kāi Tahu) & Maraki Aumua (Ngāi Tahu/Kāi Tahu)
- Makachilli: Hira Nathan (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
- KiwiData: Lui Hellesoe (Tūhoe)
- Aro: Tina Wickliffe (Ngāti Porou)
- Mauriora Kombucha: Tamara Kirwan (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Julian Kirwan (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) & Keela Atkinson (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
- Plunge Lab: Oliver George (Tūhourangi) & Teancum Kahaki (Ngāti Porou)
- Takesfour: Jenny Steward (Ngāti Maniapoto) & Renee McCallum (Ngāti Pikiao/Te Arawa)
TE ARA TAKATŪ: PATHWAYS FOR MĀORI ENTREPRENUERSHIP RESEARCH REPORT Te Ara Takatū explores Aotearoa New Zealand’s venture capital ecosystem and provides supportive advice and insights to Rakahinonga Māori (Māori entrepreneurs) to become ‘investment ready’, navigate their pathways, and become more successful in the early stages of startup growth. As a joint research endeavour by Tapuwae Roa and PWC New Zealand, with support from New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, this report seeks to provide the playbook for Māori startups on the path to gaining investment. Read the full report here: https://www.tapuwaeroa.org/te-ara-takatu/
