How Founder Support Is Evolving
Over the past decade, New Zealand’s startup ecosystem has grown faster than most people realise. Through various government sponsored programs, university accelerators and regional hubs, an entire generation of founders has benefited from programs that didn’t exist 15 years ago. Those efforts built the foundation for today’s startup ecosystem, one that’s more confident and ambitious than ever before.
Now, as the next wave of potential founders emerges, the question isn’t whether accelerators work. It’s how startup support needs to evolve to match the world we’re building in.
The environment has changed
When the first accelerators appeared, the landscape looked very different. Capital was scarce, startup knowledge was rare and founders needed structured programs just to get in the game.
Today, knowledge is everywhere (thanks ChatGPT). Founders can access playbooks, tools and global communities instantly. Knowing how to apply that knowledge is harder. What founders often need most is some structure and then support to take entrepreneurial insights, know what’s relevant and actually apply it.
Mentors become increasingly relevant, because only people who have been there and done that can give you insights - tailored to you and your local context - into what might happen next, and after that. And there’s a new definition of proximity.
The fundamentals of entrepreneurship haven’t changed, but how founders learn them, how mentors engage and how ecosystems can help are now very different.
Where Wonderfull fits
Wonderfull is a new kind of venture studio, one that builds capability, not just companies.
We’re creating an end-to-end pathway that helps people move from curiosity to commitment, and from early exploration to scalable startups.
It starts with Startup Foundations, a short course for people who want to understand what it really takes to be a founder. From there, founders can progress into our Pre-Accelerator, where they test their ideas with customers and sharpen their value proposition and MVP. Those who are ready go on to our Accelerator, where we work hands-on with them to build traction, investment readiness and a sustainable growth plan.
For the highest-potential teams, Wonderfull also operates a venture-studio pathway, where we will go deeper, co-building and investing alongside founders to take their ideas further.
Each stage builds on the last. That means keeping our programs practical and focused on what truly drives progress. Our approach is simple: build capability first, then momentum. Because the best ecosystems aren’t competitive, they’re connected. And as in any endeavour, together we can achieve more.
Looking Ahead
We’re also curious about how digital and AI tools can support founders and mentors; not to replace human judgment, but to help people learn faster and use their time better. That’s a direction we’ll explore over time, guided by the same principles: keep it practical, transparent and human. We’ll also provide a bridge into the Australian ecosystem and beyond when it's relevant.
Building on what’s working
The success of any founder depends on the strength of the ecosystem around them. New Zealand already has an incredible base: creative, resourceful, globally connected people who want to see others succeed.
Our role at Wonderfull is to add to that strength: give emerging founders a place to start, learn and grow before they take their next step into the broader ecosystem.
If we can do that well, we’ll help more ambitious people move from potential to progress, and contribute to a startup community that’s giving back energy, jobs and GDP growth.
If you’re curious about our approach or want to be part of the conversation, contact us and/or follow Wonderfull as we share what we learn along the way.
