Ochre Business Solutions

What Ochre Business Solutions does

Ochre Business Solutions Ltd is a privately held education and mentoring provider founded in April 2004 and headquartered in Te Atatu South, Auckland, New Zealand. The company delivers a portfolio of NZQA-approved programmes (Certificate in Small Business & Project Management at Level 4, Certificate in Money Management and Smart Steps to Business at Level 3) on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, alongside the Te Puni Kōkiri-funded Wāhine Toa Pakihi Programme for wāhine Māori business owners, the Sorted Kāinga Ora Home Ownership Programme (with Te Ara Ahunga Ora and Kāinga Ora), Sorted Seminars as a Commission for Financial Capability preferred facilitator, a 9-module Governance Training programme for trustees, and the Whanau Pakihi Ora personal financial capability programme. Programmes are delivered through a mix of Zoom-based online workshops and in-person sessions at community venues including marae, with target audiences being Māori and Pacific small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, prospective home buyers, and trustees in the Auckland region.

The business operates on a hybrid revenue model: the majority of programmes are government-funded and free to eligible participants, with Ochre Business receiving contract funding from Te Wananga o Aotearoa, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ara Ahunga Ora, and Kāinga Ora. The Profit Series Business Mentoring programme is the primary user-pays offering, providing quote-based 1-on-1 mentoring across digital marketing, finance, HR, sales, operations, life coaching, and business systems, initiated with a free 1-hour consultation. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on marae-based outreach, online information sessions, and referrals through established community networks rather than paid digital acquisition. The company has no proprietary technology platform — delivery runs on Zoom and standard workshop formats — and operates with approximately 7 employees.

Name

Ochre Business Solutions

Legal name

Ochre Business Solutions Ltd

Website

https://ochrebusiness.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ochre Business Solutions is an Auckland-based education and mentoring provider, founded in 2004, that delivers NZQA-approved business, financial literacy, home ownership, and governance programmes — primarily government-funded — to Māori and Pacific small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and trustees in the Auckland region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Education and Training Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Business education services
• Financial literacy training
• Small business mentoring
• Home ownership education
• Governance training programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Te Atatu South, Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded education programmes: Ochre Business delivers several NZQA-approved programmes (Certificate in Small Business & Project Management, Certificate in Money Management, Smart Steps to Business) on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa and in partnership with government agencies (Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ara Ahunga Ora, Kāinga Ora). These programmes are free to eligible participants, with funding provided by government bodies.
2. User-pays mentoring (Profit Series Business Mentoring): The Profit Series Business Mentoring programme is a paid 1-on-1 mentoring service. Ochre Business offers a free 1-hour initial consultation, followed by paid mentoring engagements. Specialists are available in digital marketing, finance, HR, sales, operations, life coaching, and business systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ochre Business Solutions is an Auckland-based education and mentoring provider delivering NZQA-approved programmes in business entrepreneurship, financial literacy, home ownership education, and governance training. Most programmes are delivered on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa and funded by government agencies (Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Ara Ahunga Ora, Kāinga Ora), making them free to eligible Māori, Pacific, and small business owner participants. The company also offers a paid one-on-one Profit Series Business Mentoring service for individual business owners.

Product overview

Ochre Business Solutions is an education provider offering a portfolio of government-funded and user-pays programmes focused on business entrepreneurship, financial literacy, home ownership education, and governance training. The core offerings include the Certificate in Small Business & Project Management (Level 4 NZQA) and Smart Steps to Business (Level 3 NZQA), both delivered on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa; the Wāhine Toa Pakihi Programme (Te Puni Kōkiri funded) for wāhine Māori entrepreneurs; the Certificate in Money Management (Level 3 NZQA) and Sorted Seminars for financial literacy; the Sorted Kāinga Ora Home Ownership Programme for first-home buyers; a 9-module Governance Training Programme for trustees; and the paid Profit Series Business Mentoring programme providing one-on-one specialist mentoring. The programmes are delivered through a mix of in-person workshops, online sessions via Zoom, and ongoing mentoring support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certificate in Small Business & Project Management (CSBM) A practical Level 4 NZQA-approved business programme delivered on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, designed to develop business owners' ability to apply project management skills to the successful operation and growth of their own businesses. Consists of seven core modules covering business planning, market analysis, operations, HR, marketing, accounting, and project review.
• Smart Steps to Business A practical Level 3 NZQA-approved programme delivered on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, designed to help participants prepare for small business with the overall goal of developing a business establishment plan. Consists of four core modules (Getting Started, Getting Feasible, Getting to the Market, Getting Ready to Launch) delivered over 20 weeks with evening classes and occasional Saturday workshops.
• Wāhine Toa Pakihi Programme A fully government-funded programme (funded by Te Puni Kōkiri) designed to equip wāhine Māori business owners with leadership and business management skills. Delivered online via Zoom over 10 weeks with 10 two-hour workshops and one-on-one mentoring support. Limited to 12 participants in the start-up stage of their business journey, based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.
• Certificate in Money Management (CMM) A practical Level 3 NZQA-approved money management programme delivered on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa, designed to give participants the tools to reach their financial potential. Consists of five core modules covering money mindset, financial planning, home ownership and debt management, savings and investments, and wealth protection. Delivered over 20 weeks with no tuition fees for eligible participants.
• Sorted Seminars A series of one-hour focused workshops created by the Commission for Financial Capability, covering topics including goal setting, budgeting, managing debt, saving, investing, insurance, retirement planning, KiwiSaver, and money in retirement. Ochre Business is a preferred facilitator of these seminars.
• Sorted Kāinga Ora Home Ownership Programme A free comprehensive home ownership education course developed by Te Ara Ahunga Ora – Retirement Commission and Te Puni Kōkiri, designed to build financial capability to help participants own their first home. Consists of 8 modules delivered over 8 weeks with 2-hour weekly workshops, facilitation support, guest speakers, and mentoring.
• Whanau Pakihi Ora – Personal Financial Capability Programme A programme designed to support Māori business owners, their kaimahi, and whānau in developing capabilities to improve financial, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Includes personal financial capability workshops and one-on-one mentoring support delivered online over 4 weeks, focused on getting financially sorted, developing a personal whānau financial plan, and managing money strategies.
• Governance Training Programme A strategic planning and governance training programme consisting of 9 customisable modules covering strategic planning, compliance and understanding, independence, prudence, risk management, financial management, meeting management, communications, and committees. Designed to help Trustees develop a strategic plan and a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
• Profit Series Business Mentoring A one-on-one user-pays mentoring programme that allows Ochre Business to address specific business needs and requirements for growth. Includes access to specialists in digital marketing, finance and accounting, human resources, sales and marketing, operations management, life coaching, and business systems. Offers a free one-hour initial consultation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 individuals educated since 2004
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Te Ara Ahunga Ora – Retirement CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Te Ara Ahunga Ora (Retirement Commission) partnered with Te Puni Kokiri and Ochre Business to deliver the Sorted Kāinga Ora Home Ownership Programme. The programme teaches the ins and outs of first home ownership in accessible language and provides participants with resources for their home ownership journey.
• Te Puni KōkiricoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Te Puni Kōkiri is a key funding and strategic partner, providing funding for the Sorted Kāinga Ora Home Ownership Programme and the Wāhine Toa Pakihi Programme. The organisation also provides input and resources to programme participants. Ochre Business was an accredited mentor organisation for Te Puni Kōkiri.
• Te Wananga o AotearoacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Ochre Business delivers three NZQA-approved programmes (Certificate in Small Business & Project Management – Level 4, Certificate in Money Management – Level 3, Smart Steps to Business – Level 3) on behalf of Te Wananga o Aotearoa. These programmes are government-funded and free to eligible participants.
• Kāinga OracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKāinga Ora (New Zealand's urban development authority) is a partner in the Sorted Kāinga Ora Home Ownership Programme, contributing to the housing continuum education component including shared ownership, rent-to-buy options, and community housing provider information.
• Commission for Financial Capability (Sorted)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOchre Business is a preferred facilitator of Sorted Seminars, a series of 1-hour focused workshops created by the Commission for Financial Capability covering topics including budgeting, debt management, savings, investing, insurance, and retirement planning. The programme uses the Sorted branding and tools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Te Puni Kōkiri: NZ government ministry focused on Māori economic development and capability. Functions as both a key funder of Ochre's Wāhine Toa Pakihi and Sorted Kāinga Ora programmes and as the broader policy ecosystem — an upstream enabler rather than a direct competitor, but materially shaping demand for Ochre's services.
• Te Ara Ahunga Ora – Retirement Commission (Sorted): NZ government agency behind the Sorted financial literacy brand, whose seminars Ochre is a 'preferred facilitator' for. Comparable as an ecosystem participant rather than a competitor — Sorted sets the curriculum and brand that Ochre delivers — making it an essential partnership counterpart in the financial literacy vertical.

Direct peers

• Pacific Business Trust: NZ organisation supporting Pacific business owners through capability building, mentoring, and targeted programmes. Directly comparable to Ochre's Pacific community segment focus and Māori/Pacific business owner customer profile.
• Te Wananga o Aotearoa: Aotearoa's largest Māori tertiary education provider and Ochre's primary programme delivery partner. Te Wananga o Aotearoa delivers NZQA-approved qualifications across NZ and structurally overlaps with Ochre's CSBM, CMM, and Smart Steps to Business offerings — both serve the same Māori adult learner base with credentialed education.
• Women's Enterprise: NZ initiative supporting women business owners through training, mentoring, and networking. Closely aligned with Ochre's Wāhine Toa Pakihi programme, serving a similarly structured niche (women-led business) within the broader SME support ecosystem.
• Business Mentors New Zealand: A non-profit business mentoring organisation providing one-on-one mentoring to NZ small business owners. Closely comparable to Ochre's Profit Series Business Mentoring arm, with similar target customers (SMB owners) and a comparable volunteer/specialist mentor model.

Broad incumbents

• Auckland Business Chamber: Established Auckland-based business support network offering events, advocacy, training, and connections to SMBs. Operates in the same geographic and customer segment as Ochre but as a broad incumbent with a wider portfolio rather than a Māori/Pacific-specialised niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ochre-business-solutions

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ochre Business Solutions