Punakaiki Fund
Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year

Eligibility For This Category
Your company is registered in NZ and meets at least two of the following criteria:
- Founded in NZ
- Global headquarters are in NZ
- At least 20% of your employees reside in NZ You cannot enter this category if you have previously won it.
In Entering This Category
You have developed a Hi-Tech company that has moved into an early revenue growth phase and had revenue of less than NZ$2 million for the calendar year ending 31 December 2025.
- You can provide evidence of at least one commercial sale (this excludes grants and investment) during the same period.
- You may be a very young company, or one that has taken several years to get out of the pre-commercialisation starting blocks.
- You will be able to tell an exciting story of innovation, market opportunity, competitive advantage and how you plan to achieve the goals you’ve set.
- Upon request, you can supply the judges with evidence to support any claims made in this entry.
Entries for the 2026 Awards will open in December 2025
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If you're unsure whether your company qualifies or have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@hitech.org.nz or call us at +64 21 223 8506 for clarification.
Thanks for your interest in the NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
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Good luck!