Startup Queenstown Lakes

What Startup Queenstown Lakes does

Startup Queenstown Lakes is a charitable trust established in 2018 that operates as the unified startup support organization for the Queenstown Lakes district in New Zealand's South Island. It serves early-stage and growth-stage founders through a tiered program structure: Kick Start (ideation-stage entry), Spark Up (a $59 NZD idea-validation program), Startup Booster (a 10-week, $375 NZD early-stage program), and Scale Up (a program for later-stage ventures). The trust also administers non-repayable microgrants ranging from $500 to $3,000 NZD per startup and runs 1:1 coaching via Growth Coaches, angel-investor drop-in sessions, and a calendar of events and workshops, including multicultural outreach such as a Spanish-language session.

Name

Startup Queenstown Lakes

Legal name

Startup Queenstown Lakes

Website

https://startupqueenstownlakes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Startup Queenstown Lakes is a 2018 New Zealand charitable trust delivering tiered startup programs, $500-$3,000 NZD microgrants, coaching, and angel-investor connections for early-stage and growth-stage founders across the Queenstown Lakes district.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Support and Entrepreneurship Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAMAHAA

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Entrepreneurship & Business Enrichment

SECONDARYFSANAAAH

Venture Studios / Company Builders

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

Keywords

• Startup support programs
• Entrepreneur coaching services
• Founder microgrants
• Angel investor matching
• Startup ecosystem development

Headquarters

HQ city

Queenstown

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue generated from paid programs including Startup Booster ($375 per participant) and Spark Up workshops ($49-$59 per person). These fees provide access to entrepreneurial training, coaching, and community resources.
2. Sponsorship and Grants: Primary funding from Queenstown Lakes District Council as main sponsor, supplemented by local business supporters and sponsors. This supports operational costs and microgrant funding.
3. Microgrant Disbursements: Non-repayable microgrants of $500-$3,000 NZD awarded to qualifying startups in the Queenstown Lakes district, funded by QLDC and local business supporters. These are charitable disbursements, not revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Startup Queenstown Lakes is a charitable trust that runs a tiered portfolio of founder-support programs (Kick Start for beginners, Spark Up 5-hour action workshops, Startup Booster 10-week program, Scale Up), non-repayable microgrants of NZD $500–$3,000, Angelic Drop-In Sessions connecting founders to angel investors, and Techstars Startup Weekend events. It also provides 1:1 business coaching, online learning via a Thinkific portal, networking events, and serves as the singular accountable partner to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for startup ecosystem development in the region.

Product overview

Startup Queenstown Lakes is a charitable trust providing a portfolio of startup support programs across different founder stages. The core offerings include Kick Start (beginner business planning), Spark Up (5-hour action workshops), Startup Booster (10-week comprehensive program), Scale Up (growth and expansion), and SQL Microgrants (seed funding). Additional services include a Learning Portal on Thinkific, Angelic Drop-In Sessions with investors, and Techstars Startup Weekend events. The organization also facilitates networking events, webinars, and community building for the Queenstown Lakes startup ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kick Start: Program for beginners who have a business idea but need guidance to develop it into a fully fledged business plan.
• Spark Up
• Startup Booster
• Scale Up
• Microgrants
• Angelic Drop In Sessions

Products and services

• Kick Start A beginner-level program for founders who have a business idea but need guidance on developing it into a fully fledged business plan.
• Spark Up A focused 5-hour workshop designed to help entrepreneurs move from idea to action, with support from experienced startup coaches and a community of like-minded thinkers. Priced at $59 per person.
• Startup Booster A 10-week program that equips founders with entrepreneurial skills to transform their vision into a thriving startup, covering business strategy, branding, sales, pitching, legal aspects, and funding options. Pricing starts at $375 NZD (valued at over $2,499).
• Scale Up A program for founders ready to build beyond themselves, providing expert guidance to grow teams, raise capital, and expand into new markets.
• SQL Microgrants Non-repayable small-scale grant funding (NZD $500–$3,000) designed to support startup progress for Queenstown Lakes-based founders — covering product development, market research, tools and subscriptions, ecosystem visibility, and business model validation. No equity taken. In 2025, 15 startups received microgrants across the district.
• Learning Portal An online learning platform providing educational resources and courses for startup founders, hosted on Thinkific.
• Angelic Drop-In Sessions Regular sessions connecting startups with angel investors offering free advice, connections, and potential funding opportunities, held via venues like LOGIC1 Wanaka and through Zoom.
• Techstars Startup Weekend A 54-hour intensive weekend event where aspiring entrepreneurs learn to pitch, test, and launch their business ideas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 startups received microgrants in 2025 across Queenstown Lakes district

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mainland Angel InvestorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Regional angel investment network co-founded by Startup Queenstown Lakes in collaboration with Startup Dunedin and Coin South. Encourages more investment in the Queenstown Lakes and South Island startup community.
• BDOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm partner providing accounting and business advisory expertise to support startup founders in the ecosystem.
• Criterion LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal services partner providing expertise on legal aspects of startups to support founders in the ecosystem.
• WhipitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business supporter participating in the startup ecosystem, with founder Wayne Hudson involved in Angelic Drop-In Sessions.
• Startup DunedinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for the Mainland Angel Investors network and joint events like the Angel Investing for Startups webinar series.
• COIN SouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional startup support organization collaborating on Mainland Angel Investors and connecting founders across the South Island.
• Wanaka Women in TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for joint events including the SQL Startup Social, celebrating and connecting women in tech and founders in the Wanaka region.
• LOGIC1minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWanaka-based innovation hub serving as venue partner for Angelic Drop-In Sessions, workshops, and community events at 80 Ardmore Street, Wanaka.
• The Mountain ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueenstown venue partner for Entrepreneurs Coffee Jam events, providing space for networking and quickfire founder talks.
• NZ Trade and EnterpriseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment trade agency providing resources to assist startups in developing and securing funding.
• Lakes Weekly BulletinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media partner providing promotional support to raise awareness and reach a wider audience throughout the Queenstown Lakes region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SODA Inc: Canterbury-based startup incubator and innovation hub. Comparable as a regional ecosystem operator with programs, events, and founder coaching for an outward-distinct New Zealand region, offering a like-for-like analog at slightly larger scale.
• Icehouse: Long-established New Zealand startup and SME growth organisation providing coaching, programs (including Startup Stage), and advisory services. Comparable in coaching-led founder development and tiered program offerings, though operating nationally and at greater scale.
• Creative HQ: Wellington-based startup incubator and ecosystem builder delivering accelerators, programs, and founder services at national scale. Comparable in offering structure (tiered programs, founder support) but operates at much larger scope and headcount than SQL's regional model.

Emerging players

• Techstars (Startup Weekend): Global accelerator network; SQL delivers Techstars Startup Weekend events in Queenstown. Comparable 54-hour intensive founder-format experiences, though Techstars operates as a formal accelerator with capital, whereas SQL licenses the brand at the event layer.

Direct peers

• Startup Dunedin: Direct peer operating the same community-led startup support model in Dunedin, New Zealand. Co-founded Mainland Angel Investors alongside SQL and COIN South, so the comparison is exact along program structure, target founders, and funding model.
• Lightning Lab: Christchurch-based accelerator delivering intensive cohort programs for early-stage founders, comparable to SQL's Startup Booster and Scale Up tiers. Both operate capital-light, cohort-driven founder development models in regional New Zealand.
• COIN South: South Island–focused startup support organisation collaborating with SQL on Mainland Angel Investors. Comparably small, non-profit, regional ecosystem-builder serving founders outside the main centres with programs, events, and investor connections.

Others

• Callaghan Innovation: Government innovation agency providing funding, capability, and program support to NZ startups (including SQL's Techstars Startup Weekend). Enables and partially funds SQL programming rather than competing directly.
• NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE): National government trade and economic development agency that funds and refers founders into regional support organisations like SQL. While not a direct competitor, NZTE is an enabling partner whose national programs overlap with SQL's offerings.
• Mainland Angel Investors: Regional angel investor network co-founded by SQL, Startup Dunedin, and COIN South. Functions as the capital-and-mentorship extension of SQL's programming pipeline, providing deal flow, advice, and funding at Angelic Drop-In Sessions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startupqueenstownlakes
• Facebookfacebook.com/startupqueenstownlakes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Startup Queenstown Lakes