The Icehouse

What The Icehouse does

The Icehouse is a New Zealand non-profit business education and advisory organisation headquartered in Parnell, Auckland. Founded in 2001 by David Irving and owned by the ICE Foundation (International Centre for Entrepreneurship), it designs and delivers programmes, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and AI implementation services for Kiwi small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner-managers and senior leaders. Its product portfolio spans residential flagship programmes — the Owner Manager Programme (16 days over 5 months), Business Owner Programme, Smart Governance, Leadership Development, Emerging Leaders, and AI Foundations for Business Leaders — supplemented by shorter workshops (Financial Skills, Sales Skills), customised corporate training, the exclusive Owner Manager Exchange for alumni, and AI Implementation engagements co-funded by MBIE. A proprietary diagnostic approach called the 'Four Circles' methodology, plus the Centigrade online assessment tool, underpin curriculum design.

The Icehouse operates a sales-led and community-led go-to-market. Programmes are priced between approximately NZD $2,295 (workshops) and NZD $7,850 (Smart Governance) plus GST, with the flagship OMP priced at roughly NZD $6,000-$7,000 plus GST; customised training is project-based for organisations with 30+ FTEs, and business coaching carries a minimum three-month engagement. Revenue is generated from professional services fees across training, coaching, customised corporate work, AI implementation, and coworking (the Parnell space is now managed by Icehouse Ventures). Delivery is in-person across a nationwide footprint (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Hawke's Bay, Tauranga, Nelson, Blenheim, Whangarei, Cromwell, Napier, Ashburton) through Regional Leads and channel partnerships with Waikato Chamber of Commerce and Business South. The organisation reports over 4,000 alumni across its lifetime and 1,400+ OMP graduates, with a 51-100 employee headcount led by CEO Olivia Blaylock and Chair Duncan McFarlane (appointed June 2026).

Name

The Icehouse

Legal name

The Icehouse

Website

https://theicehouse.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Icehouse is a New Zealand non-profit that designs business education programmes, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and AI implementation services for SME owner-managers and senior leaders across the country, founded in 2001 and owned by the ICE Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Services / Training Programs: Icehouse generates revenue through fees charged for its various training programs and workshops. Programs range from short 2-day workshops to intensive multi-month residential programmes. Pricing varies by program complexity and duration, with investments ranging from $2,295 + GST for workshops to approximately $6,000-$7,000 + GST for comprehensive programmes.
2. Business Coaching & Advisory Services: One-on-one business coaching engagements with a minimum 3-month initial contract. Coaches are matched to clients based on location and topic expertise. Revenue generated through coaching retainer/engagement fees.
3. Customised Corporate Training: Tailored learning experiences designed and delivered for specific organizational teams. Typically targets organizations with 30+ FTEs. Pricing is project-based (Price on Application).
4. AI Implementation Services: End-to-end AI implementation services including strategy, design, build, and deployment of AI workflows. Project-based engagements with co-funded support available through MBIE (up to $15,000).
5. Coworking Space (Managed by Icehouse Ventures): Former coworking operations in Parnell, Auckland, now managed by Icehouse Ventures. Revenue from desk memberships, hot desks, fixed desks, and room rentals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Icehouse is a New Zealand-owned business education and capability-building organisation that designs and delivers training programmes, workshops, one-to-one business coaching, governance courses and AI advisory services to small and medium-sized enterprise owners and leaders. It operates a not-for-profit structure through the ICE Foundation, channelling surpluses back into Kiwi business capability, and runs both open-enrolment and tailored in-house programmes across the country.

Product overview

The Icehouse is a business training and development organization offering a portfolio of programmes, workshops, coaching services, and AI solutions for Kiwi SMEs. The core offering consists of owner-focused programmes (Owner Manager Programme, Business Owner Programme, Smart Governance) and leadership programmes (Leadership Development Programme, Emerging Leaders Programme) supplemented by short-form workshops (Financial Skills, Sales Skills), the AI Foundations programme, and customised training/AI services. The portfolio also includes one-on-one business coaching, customised corporate training, AI training and implementation services, and coworking facilities. The programmes range from multi-day residential intensives to short workshops and are designed for businesses at different stages from emerging leaders to mature enterprises with $5M+ revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Owner Manager Programme A flagship multi-month capability programme for owners and senior leaders of established New Zealand SMEs, combining residential workshops, online learning, applied projects, peer learning and one-to-one coaching to develop strategic leadership and business management capability.
• Value Creation Programme A programme for SME owners focused on creating and unlocking business value, including preparing for growth, exit, or succession. Designed for owners who want to professionalise and scale their businesses.
• Foundations of Governance A foundational governance course providing directors, trustees and aspiring board members with the essential knowledge and skills to perform effectively on a board, including legal duties and core governance practices.
• Governance Development Programme An advanced governance development programme for experienced directors and chairs seeking to deepen their board effectiveness, leadership and contribution.
• Impact Programme A governance-oriented programme targeted at trustees and board members of not-for-profit and charitable organisations to enhance board impact and governance practice in the social sector.
• One-to-One Business Coaching Individual coaching engagements for SME owners and leaders, delivered by The Icehouse's network of experienced coaches to support personal leadership development and business performance.
• Tailored In-House Programmes Customised business education and capability programmes designed and delivered in-house for corporates, government-adjacent partners and larger organisations seeking to upskill teams at scale.
• Four-Step AI Agent A four-step AI advisory and implementation service for SME owners, designed to help businesses identify high-impact AI opportunities, prioritise use cases and embed automation into their operations.
• Full-Day AI Workshop A one-day intensive workshop introducing SME owners and their teams to AI fundamentals, practical use cases, and an action plan for adopting AI tools within their business.
• Events and Workshops Calendar of short-format business events, networking sessions and topical workshops delivered in-person across New Zealand, providing SME owners with ongoing learning and peer connection.
• Implementation Services Targeted implementation support that helps SME owners apply learnings from programmes and coaching into their businesses, turning strategic intent into operational execution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.3/10 programme rating for AI Foundations; 9.7/10 would recommend rating
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Spark NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIcehouse and Spark NZ have joined forces to help Kiwi SMEs work smarter. Spark brings telecommunications and technology infrastructure expertise to complement Icehouse's business education capabilities, particularly in AI adoption and digital transformation initiatives.
• University of AucklandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICE Foundation supports the University of Auckland's innovation and entrepreneurship resource hub. Two ICE Foundation PhD scholarships support students studying business impacts and influences shaping the NZ SME market.
• Business SouthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness South is a regional delivery partner for the Business Owner Programme, hosting workshops in Dunedin. They also co-host the Sales Skills Workshop in Cromwell. Partnership enables Icehouse to reach South Island business owners.
• Waikato Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaikato Chamber partners with Icehouse to deliver the Business Owner Programme in the Waikato region. This partnership enables local business owners to access Icehouse programmes through a trusted regional organization.
• Air New Zealand (Airpoints)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIcehouse partners with Air New Zealand's Airpoints programme, allowing participants to earn Airpoints Dollars on eligible programmes. This provides an added incentive for programme participants and strengthens Icehouse's value proposition.
• Growth FacultyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowth Faculty is listed as a partner, suggesting collaboration on thought leadership or programme content related to business growth methodologies.
• American Marketing Association (AMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMA is listed as a partner, indicating potential collaboration on marketing-related programmes or professional development content.
• ICE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Icehouse is owned by the International Centre for Entrepreneurship (ICE) Foundation, established in 2001 for advancing education to benefit the NZ economy. The Foundation supports scholarships, research, and community programmes.
• Regional Business PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManagement Capability Development funding may be available through Regional Business Partners for eligible SMEs. These partners help connect businesses with Icehouse's training programmes and can provide co-funding support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Global peer network for founders and owners of businesses with $1M+ revenue, with an active New Zealand chapter. Highly comparable membership-based model offering peer learning, events, and executive education for SME owner-managers.
• ActionCOACH: Global business coaching franchise focused on SMEs, with NZ franchisees. Comparable business model delivering 1:1 coaching, group workshops, and structured growth programmes for SME owners.
• Growth Faculty: Australia/NZ-based business education and speaker-led programme provider targeting SME owners and senior leaders. Listed as a partner of The Icehouse and operates in the same buyer segment with overlapping content themes (growth, leadership, strategy).
• The Executive Connection (TEC): International peer advisory group for SME CEOs, with strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. Closely comparable model of facilitated peer groups combined with 1:1 executive coaching for owner-managers.
• Vistage: Global peer advisory and executive coaching organisation for SME CEOs and business leaders, operating in New Zealand. Closely comparable business model combining group coaching, 1:1 advisory, and speaker events for SME owner-managers.
• Gazelles (Verne Harnish): Global coaching and methodology provider (Scaling Up / Rockefeller Habits) for mid-market companies. Comparable as a methodology-driven business education and coaching franchise serving SME and mid-market owner-managers.

Broad incumbents

• Regional Business Partners (NZ Government): Government-funded network of regional business advisors delivering capability development funding and advisory to NZ SMEs. Comparable as a publicly funded provider of business training, coaching, and capability vouchers that Icehouse's clients also access.
• Stanford Executive Education: Premier global executive education provider. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the business education and leadership development space, representing the upper-tier competitive alternative for senior SME leaders considering premium executive education.

Regional players

• BizDojo: NZ-based coworking and innovation space operator. Comparable as a NZ-focused coworking and community provider for SME founders, sharing target customer with The Icehouse's coworking offering.

Others

• Icehouse Ventures: NZ early-stage investment and accelerator arm that now manages Icehouse's coworking operations. Sister entity within the broader Icehouse ecosystem that supports NZ founders with capital and incubation, complementing Icehouse's education mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheIcehouseNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-icehouse
• Instagraminstagram.com/theicehousenz
• Xx.com/the_icehouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Icehouse