Creative HQ
Creative HQ is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading innovation hub, operating accelerators, training courses, and public-sector innovation services from Wellington as a subsidiary of WellingtonNZ, serving startup founders, government agencies, corporates, and youth.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Creative HQ does
Creative HQ is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading innovation hub, founded in 2003 in Wellington as a wholly-owned subsidiary of WellingtonNZ (the city's economic development agency, formerly Positively Wellington Business). The organisation operates a three-pillar model: Adapt (innovation services, public sector innovation, training courses, and youth programmes), Build (a portfolio of startup accelerators spanning climate, fintech, creative tech, and government technology, plus early-stage programmes like Founder Launch and the Startup World Cup New Zealand competition), and Connect (community events, mentoring, and ecosystem engagement). Its underlying technology is not software but rather proprietary innovation methodologies, including the T7 Innovation Masterclass framework and human-centred design, Agile, Lean, and design thinking approaches applied through accelerators, sprints, and workshops.
The organisation serves four primary customer segments: startup founders and early-stage entrepreneurs (400+ supported since 2003), public sector and government agencies (240+ innovation projects across 60 New Zealand government agencies, plus international government work in the Philippines and Vietnam), corporate and enterprise organisations (Trade Me, Contact Energy, Transpower, Whānau Āwhina Plunket, Metro North Health), and youth (rangatahi) through dedicated programmes. A distinctive fifth segment, disabled people and accessibility innovators, is served through the Access Activator programme in partnership with Whaikaha - Ministry for Disabled People.
Creative HQ monetises through multiple professional-services and managed-services revenue streams: accelerator programme fees, training and course fees (Certificate in Facilitation, AI Sandbox, T7 Masterclass), corporate innovation services (workshops, sprints, multi-month capability-building engagements), and managed funding distribution via Access Activator (up to NZD 100,000 scale-stage, NZD 25,000 idea-stage). Strategic distribution combines direct delivery in Wellington, online/hybrid nationwide courses, government procurement, and an International Hub channel into Asia-Pacific markets. The organisation reports a 9.1/10 NPS across innovation programmes and 882+ people trained through the T7 framework, and maintains flagship partnerships with the World Bank and WellingtonNZ.
Creative HQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative HQ
- Legal name
- Creative HQ
- Website
- https://creativehq.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Creative HQ is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading innovation hub, operating accelerators, training courses, and public-sector innovation services from Wellington as a subsidiary of WellingtonNZ, serving startup founders, government agencies, corporates, and youth.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative HQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Innovation and Startup Acceleration Services
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where Creative HQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Creative HQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Accelerator Programme Fees: Creative HQ runs multiple accelerator programmes (Aurora Climate Lab, Fintech Lab, GovTech Accelerator, Scale Up Wellington) where startups and teams participate in intensive 3-month programmes. Revenue likely derives from programme fees, sponsorships, and government funding.
- Training and Courses: The School of Innovation offers courses including Certificate in Facilitation, Understanding Your Market, AI Sandbox, Online Facilitation Workshop, Applied Innovation course, and Train-the-Trainer Innovation Masterclass (T7) for individuals and corporate organisations.
- Corporate Innovation Services: Organisational change and innovation capability building services for enterprises and government agencies, including workshops, sprints, and multi-month project partnerships.
- Access Activator Funding: Partnership with Whaikaha to deliver the Access Activator, a funding and support programme for solutions improving access for disabled people, with idea-stage funding up to $25,000 and scale-stage funding up to $100,000.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Idea Stage Funding |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Scale Stage Funding |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Creative HQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative HQ runs structured startup accelerator programmes (Aurora Climate Lab, Fintech Lab, GovTech Accelerator, Creative Tech Activate, Scale Up Wellington) and startup support services (Founder Launch, Startup Aotearoa) for early-stage and growth-stage founders. It delivers corporate and public-sector innovation services (design sprints, workshops, multi-month capability-building projects) and a School of Innovation offering courses and the T7 Train-the-Trainer Innovation Masterclass. It also operates the Connect community platform linking founders with mentors, investors, corporates, and government partners across New Zealand and Asia-Pacific.
Product overview
Creative HQ is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading innovation hub, headquartered in Wellington, operating as a platform of interconnected programmes across three core pillars: Adapt (innovation services and training), Build (startup support and accelerators), and Connect (community and ecosystem engagement). The Adapt pillar encompasses Public Sector Innovation Services, the School of Innovation with courses like AI Sandbox and the T7 Innovation Masterclass, and Youth Programmes. The Build pillar includes a portfolio of accelerators spanning sectors (Aurora Climate Lab/Activate for climate tech, Fintech Lab/Activate for fintech, Creative Tech Activate for creative tech, GovTech Accelerator for government innovation, Scale Up Wellington for growth-stage) alongside early-stage programmes like Founder Launch and Startup Aotearoa, culminating in the Startup World Cup competition. The Connect pillar facilitates community through events, mentoring, and the International Hub for Asia-Pacific ecosystem partnerships. This tiered approach supports founders and organisations from initial idea validation through to scale, while building innovation capability across the public and private sectors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GovTech Accelerator: Accelerator programme for tackling complex public sector problems with cross-government teams
- Access Activator
- Aurora Climate Lab
- Aurora Climate Activate
- Fintech Lab
- Fintech Activate
- Creative Tech Activate
- School of Innovation
- Young Founders Incubator
- Youth Innovation Hack
Products and services
- Adapt (Innovation Services) Tailored innovation services for organisations and public-sector agencies, offering workshops, sprints, procurement challenges, and multi-month project partnerships to build internal innovation capability. For corporate and government innovation leaders.
- Build (Startup Support) Startup support programmes spanning from idea validation to accelerator participation, including Founder Launch, specialised Activate programmes, and major accelerator labs. For startup founders.
- Connect (Community) Community engagement platform connecting founders, funders, mentors, corporates, government, and universities through events, mentoring, and coaching. For the broader innovation ecosystem.
- Aurora Climate Lab Three-month accelerator for climate-focused startups, helping founders test assumptions, refine business models, and work at the intersection of climate action and commercial opportunity. For climate-tech startup founders.
- Aurora Climate Activate Early-stage activation programme for climate-tech ventures, providing testing and validation support for founders in the climate action space. For early-stage climate-tech founders.
- Fintech Lab Fintech-focused accelerator helping startups in financial services develop and scale their products through mentorship and ecosystem connections. For fintech startup founders.
- Fintech Activate Entry-level fintech accelerator programme supporting founders testing and validating financial technology solutions. For early-stage fintech founders.
- Creative Tech Activate Accelerator programme supporting founders building creative technology solutions, connecting Wellington's creatives with the tech sector. For creative-tech founders.
- Scale Up Wellington Accelerator programme for startups ready to scale, focusing on investment readiness and ecosystem connections. For growth-stage Wellington startups.
- Founder Launch Free early-stage programme helping founders validate ideas, build roadmaps, and take first steps toward launching their company. For pre-launch and very early-stage founders.
- Startup World Cup New Zealand Global startup competition series giving New Zealand founders the opportunity to pitch internationally and connect with global investors. For founders seeking global visibility.
- Startup Aotearoa National startup support platform providing coaching and resources for founders across New Zealand. For founders nationwide.
- GovTech Accelerator Accelerator bringing together startups, NGOs, and public-sector innovators in a focused programme to address social and environmental challenges through cross-sector collaboration. For government teams and startups tackling public-sector problems.
- Access Activator Funding and support programme in partnership with Whaikaha Ministry for Disabled People for solutions improving access and inclusion for Deaf and disabled people, Turi Māori and tāngata whaikaha Māori. For teams building accessibility solutions.
- Public Sector Innovation Services Rapid, low-risk experimentation and human-centred innovation services for government agencies, including workshops, sprints, procurement challenges, and multi-month project partnerships, with 240+ projects completed across NZ government. For central and local government agencies.
- School of Innovation Courses Practical training programmes including Certificate in Facilitation, Understanding Your Market, Applied Innovation, Online Facilitation, and AI Sandbox, designed to build facilitation and innovation capability. For individuals and corporate teams.
- AI Sandbox Hands-on course helping participants explore AI tools safely, learn how large language models work, and understand ethical use of AI in day-to-day tasks and decision-making. For individuals and teams seeking practical AI literacy.
- T7 Train-the-Trainer Innovation Masterclass Seven-tier organisational innovation framework building internal facilitators, innovation leaders, and sustainable innovation culture through experiential learning, applied tools, and leadership development. For organisations seeking internal innovation capability.
- Youth Innovation Programmes Programmes for rangatahi (young people) including Young Founders Incubator, Youth Innovation Hack, and Welly Hackathon Weekend, building entrepreneurial skills and innovation capabilities. For young people aged 16-25.
- International Hub Global innovation ecosystem connector working with partners across Asia-Pacific to build thriving innovation hubs, including partnerships with Innovate Moreton Bay and Fiji Innovation Hub. For international governments and partners seeking innovation-ecosystem development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 400+ startup founders supported since 2003
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Creative HQ
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Creative HQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Creative HQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- WellingtonNZcoreCreative HQ is WellingtonNZ's subsidiary and innovation hub. WellingtonNZ signed a multi-year partnership with Tech New Zealand to host three major technology conferences in Wellington through 2030 (Fintech Hui Taumata, Digital Trust Hui Taumata, Aotearoa AI Summit), with Creative HQ providing support as WellingtonNZ's innovation subsidiary.
- Whaikaha – Ministry for Disabled PeoplecorePartnership to deliver the Access Activator programme providing funding and support for solutions improving access and inclusion for disabled people, Turi Māori and tāngata whaikaha Māori. Idea-stage funding up to $25,000, scale-stage up to $100,000.
- World BankflagshipGovTech partnership with the World Bank demonstrating best-practice from international projects. This is a flagship partnership showcasing Creative HQ's public sector innovation methodology globally.
- FinTech NZcoreOfficial partner for Fintech Hui Taumata and related fintech innovation initiatives, bringing together leaders from government, financial services, technology and startups.
- XerominorPartner organisation supporting the startup ecosystem and innovation programmes.
- Ministry for the EnvironmentcoreGovernment partner supporting environmental and climate innovation initiatives and programmes.
- Wellington City CouncilcoreLocal government partner supporting Wellington's innovation ecosystem and technology sector growth.
- MBIEcoreMinistry of Business, Innovation and Employment partner supporting innovation and enterprise development programmes.
- SparkminorTechnology and telecommunications partner supporting startup ecosystem development.
- DeloitteminorProfessional services partner supporting innovation programmes and enterprise clients.
- PWCminorProfessional services partner supporting innovation programmes and enterprise clients.
- EYminorProfessional services partner supporting innovation programmes and enterprise clients.
- AccentureminorProfessional services and technology partner supporting innovation programmes.
- Trade MeminorPartner organisation supporting startup ecosystem through recruitment and classifieds services.
- Fiji Innovation HubflagshipInternational partnership with European Union, Australia and New Zealand support to launch the Fiji Innovation Hub, part of Creative HQ's International Hub programme for Asia-Pacific expansion.
- Metro North HealthcoreHealthcare innovation partner for the T7 Innovation Masterclass, transforming care from within through capability building.
- TranspowercoreCritical infrastructure partner for innovation projects finding better ways to manage long-term assets.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Creative HQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Techstars: One of the largest global accelerator networks running sector-specific programmes (fintech, GovTech, climate) with mentorship-driven cohorts; the closest direct competitor in structure and scale.
- Startupbootcamp: Global accelerator network running industry-focused programmes including GovTech, fintech, and sustainability tracks; comparable in sector-specialized cohort design and corporate sponsorship model.
- Station F: French government-backed mega-incubator in Paris, hosting hundreds of startups and partner programmes; comparable as a publicly-supported innovation campus driving domestic and international founder attraction.
- Founders Factory: Corporate-backed venture builder and accelerator partnering with global brands to launch and scale startups; comparable for cross-sector accelerator programmes built around corporate and government partners.
- Capital Factory: Texas-based innovation hub blending accelerator programming, corporate innovation services, and government partnerships; a strong analogue to Creative HQ's Adapt/Build/Connect model.
- MassChallenge: Nonprofit, government and corporate-backed global accelerator with free programmes for founders across multiple hubs; closely comparable as a public-purpose innovation platform with regional hubs.
- Antler: Global early-stage investor and accelerator operating across multiple geographies with a similar cohort-based, founder-support model; comparable for cross-border acceleration and localized innovation hubs.
Broad incumbents
- Wayra (Telefónica): Telefónica's global corporate innovation and startup accelerator network operating across multiple geographies; comparable as a corporate-backed hub programme with founder-investor connections.
Regional players
- Icehouse Ventures: New Zealand-based early-stage investor and partner in Creative HQ's ecosystem; comparable as a domestic founder-support organization operating within the same Wellington innovation network.
- NZ Growth Capital Partners: New Zealand growth-capital partner connected to Creative HQ's ecosystem; comparable as a domestic capital provider that amplifies hub-supported founder outcomes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Creative HQ social profiles
Digital presenceCreative HQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative HQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Creative HQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative HQ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative HQ
What does Creative HQ do?
Creative HQ runs structured startup accelerator programmes (Aurora Climate Lab, Fintech Lab, GovTech Accelerator, Creative Tech Activate, Scale Up Wellington) and startup support services (Founder Launch, Startup Aotearoa) for early-stage and growth-stage founders. It delivers corporate and public-sector innovation services (design sprints, workshops, multi-month capability-building projects) and a School of Innovation offering courses and the T7 Train-the-Trainer Innovation Masterclass. It also operates the Connect community platform linking founders with mentors, investors, corporates, and government partners across New Zealand and Asia-Pacific.
Is Creative HQ a public or private company?
Creative HQ is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Creative HQ founded?
Creative HQ was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Creative HQ based?
Creative HQ is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Creative HQ make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Accelerator Programme Fees are the primary driver. The others are training and Courses, corporate Innovation Services and access Activator Funding.
Who are Creative HQ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Techstars, Startupbootcamp, Station F, Founders Factory, Capital Factory, MassChallenge and Antler. Wayra (Telefónica) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Icehouse Ventures and NZ Growth Capital Partners.
Does Creative HQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative HQ.
What industry is Creative HQ in?
Creative HQ's product category is Innovation and Startup Acceleration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of EDAMAHAC, Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators. Its SIC code is 8742.