Cleantech startups working for a better future

In 2020, Creative HQ trialed the Climate Response Accelerator programme. Their aim was to ‘enable New Zealand’s early stage Cleantech startups to access the support, funding and tools needed to create a more sustainable future’. We got behind this innovation in 2022, helping to fund the delivery of the Programme. For the 2024 Programme, we switched tack and partnered with Motion Capital (a venture capital fund manager) to establish a very early stage venture pre-seed fund to invest in all participants in the programme.

Alongside a small initial equity investment in each venture, the Programme sees teams competing for an investment prize to take their ideas to the next level. All are focussed on profitable businesses with clear, sustainable and positive climate outcomes. This resonated strongly with our focus as a catalytic funder.

“We believe the market is critical in helping us achieve a low-carbon, sustainable and prosperous future. To make this a reality, we need an environment that supports entrepreneurs and innovators, providing them with the capital and opportunities to turn their ideas into impactful solutions.” Our CEO, Carl Vink, was interviewed by Creative HQ on our reasons for getting behind the competition.

On 20 June, three winners were announced out of the 9 teams at the Showcase event in Wellington during TechWeek. Mara Bio, Aotea Energy and GOOD GRUB AGRITECH shared the $150,000 investment deal. It was our contention that the biggest winner was Aotearoa through all the proposed innovation and opportunity. The investment and exposure from the programme and pitch event has significantly helped a number of ventures continue on to access larger investment deals to accelerate their progress.  Everyone had their profiles raised and they were well supported by the Creative HQ coaches and tools during the journey. We’re looking forward to seeing how they track.

Image: Creative HQ Climate Response Accelerator participants 2024