12 govtech investors back Wellington startups in 2026. Creative HQ runs the GovTech Accelerator. NZ government ICT spend nears NZ$1B a year.
Wellington is where New Zealand govtech gets built. Agencies here buy a lot of new software each year.
Creative HQ runs the Wellington GovTech Accelerator. Movac and NZGCP back many of the bigger rounds.
These backers want agency demand and tight security. Ellty tracks every open when you share your deck.
This guide lists 12 active Wellington govtech investors.
| Type | Cheque size | Sector focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative HQ | Accelerator / innovation hub | Programme-based | Govtech, public-sector innovation | creativehq.co.nz |
| Callaghan Innovation | Government program | R&D grants | Deep tech, R&D, govtech-adjacent | callaghaninnovation.govt.nz |
| Movac | VC fund | NZ$1M-$10M+ | SaaS, deep tech, growth | movac.co.nz |
| NZGCP | Government fund-of-funds | NZ$250K-$2M | Early tech, SaaS | nzgcp.co.nz |
| AngelHQ | Angel network | NZ$100K-$1M | SaaS, tech, early-stage | angelhq.co.nz |
| Punakaiki Fund | Evergreen VC fund | NZ$250K-$2M | SaaS, tech, growth | punakaikifund.co.nz |
| Icehouse Ventures | VC fund | NZ$100K-$5M+ | SaaS, deep tech, early-stage | icehouseventures.co.nz |
| GD1 | VC fund | NZ$500K-$10M+ | SaaS, deep tech | gd1.vc |
| Hillfarrance | VC fund | NZ$250K-$2M | SaaS, deep tech, climate | hillfarrance.com |
| K1W1 | Investment fund | Varies | Tech, cleantech, deep tech | k1w1.co.nz |
| Pacific Channel | VC fund | NZ$500K-$3M | Deep tech, science, health | pacificchannel.com |
| WNT Ventures | VC fund / incubator | NZ$100K-$1M | Deep tech, engineering, IP | wntventures.com |
Run your Wellington govtech raise tight
Govtech backers check your security and pipeline fast. Ellty logs every view in your data room.
Start free 14-day trialWhat a govtech investor backs
A govtech investor backs tech sold to public agencies. In NZ that means security and a real sales pipeline.
Most back early SaaS that solves an agency problem. You can compare them to Wellington AI investors too.
They study your contracts, security, and renewals. A clean fundraising process speeds up the whole round.
Ellty gives each backer one trackable link to your data room. You see who read your deck before the first call.
GovTech encourages cross-agency collaboration, innovation, and creativity. It's the recognition that if we're going to tackle these challenges, we need to think differently.
12 Wellington govtech investors
1. Creative HQ
Creative HQ is Wellington's main innovation hub.
Recent Activity: Ran its sixth GovTech Accelerator and a Govt Fintech Lab in 2025
LinkedIn: Creative HQ LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Govtech, public-sector innovation
Investor Type: Accelerator / innovation agency
Support: Programme-based, mostly equity-free
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Website: creativehq.co.nz
2. Callaghan Innovation
Callaghan is NZ's government innovation agency.
Recent Activity: Being disestablished in 2025, with programmes moving to MBIE
LinkedIn: Callaghan Innovation LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Deep tech, R&D, govtech-adjacent
Investor Type: Government program
Support: R&D grants, historically to several NZ$M
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Website: callaghaninnovation.govt.nz
3. Movac
Movac is one of NZ's largest VCs, founded in Wellington.
Recent Activity: Runs Fund 5 at about NZ$200M and an Emerge early-stage fund
LinkedIn: Movac LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, deep tech, growth
Investor Type: VC fund
Check Size: NZ$1M-$10M+
Location: Wellington / Auckland
Website: movac.co.nz
4. NZGCP
NZGCP is the government-owned NZ tech investor.
Recent Activity: Got an extra NZ$100M for its Elevate venture fund in Budget 2025
LinkedIn: NZGCP LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Early tech, fund-of-funds, SaaS
Investor Type: Government program
Check Size: NZ$250K-$2M direct
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Website: nzgcp.co.nz
5. AngelHQ
AngelHQ is Wellington's main angel investor network.
Recent Activity: Has backed more than 180 early-stage NZ companies
LinkedIn: AngelHQ LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, tech, early-stage
Investor Type: Angel network
Check Size: NZ$100K-$1M syndicated
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Website: angelhq.co.nz
Share your deck and track every govtech backer
Ellty shows when Creative HQ or Movac opens your deck. Follow up with each govtech backer at the right time.
Start free 14-day trial6. Punakaiki Fund
Punakaiki Fund is an evergreen NZ venture fund.
Recent Activity: Co-invested in Formus Labs' NZ$5M round in 2025
LinkedIn: Not listed
Sector Focus: SaaS, tech, growth
Investor Type: VC fund
Check Size: NZ$250K-$2M
Location: Wellington / Auckland
Website: punakaikifund.co.nz
7. Icehouse Ventures
Icehouse Ventures is NZ's most active early-stage VC.
Recent Activity: Closed a record NZ$70M seed fund in late 2025
LinkedIn: Icehouse Ventures LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, deep tech, early-stage
Investor Type: VC fund
Check Size: NZ$100K-$5M+
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Website: icehouseventures.co.nz
8. GD1
GD1 is an institutional NZ VC, seed to scale.
Recent Activity: An active NZ SaaS and deep-tech investor
LinkedIn: GD1 LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, deep tech
Investor Type: VC fund
Check Size: NZ$500K-$10M+
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Website: gd1.vc
9. Hillfarrance
Hillfarrance is an NZ early-stage VC for Kiwi founders.
Recent Activity: An active NZ early-stage SaaS and deep-tech backer
LinkedIn: Hillfarrance LinkedIn
Sector Focus: SaaS, deep tech, climate
Investor Type: VC fund
Check Size: NZ$250K-$2M
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Website: hillfarrance.com
10. K1W1
K1W1 is Sir Stephen Tindall's NZ investment fund.
Recent Activity: A long-running NZ early-stage innovation backer
LinkedIn: Not listed
Sector Focus: Tech, cleantech, deep tech
Investor Type: Investment fund
Check Size: Varies, early to growth
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Website: k1w1.co.nz
11. Pacific Channel
Pacific Channel is an NZ deep-tech and science VC.
Recent Activity: Co-invested in Formus Labs' NZ$5M round in 2025
LinkedIn: Pacific Channel LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Deep tech, science, health
Investor Type: VC fund
Check Size: NZ$500K-$3M
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Website: pacificchannel.com
12. WNT Ventures
WNT Ventures is an NZ deep-tech incubator and fund.
Recent Activity: An active NZ deep-tech incubation and early-stage investor
LinkedIn: WNT Ventures LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Deep tech, engineering, IP
Investor Type: VC fund / incubator
Check Size: Grants plus NZ$100K-$1M
Location: Tauranga, New Zealand
Website: wntventures.com
Selling to government
Govtech lives or dies on real agency contracts here. A single agency win can anchor your whole pitch.
Backers want a clear path through public procurement. Long sales cycles scare some of these funds off.
Show your pipeline and your agency references. Prove your security holds up under an agency audit.
Read up on data room compliance rules early on first. Ellty logs exactly who opened each file and when.
Compliance and security
Public agencies hold very sensitive citizen data. Govtech vendors have to clear a very high security bar.
Backers check your certifications before they wire. Weak security will quickly kill a govtech deal here.
Lock down who can copy or screenshot your docs. Use screenshot protection on your sensitive files.
Loose document control loses agency trust fast. Ellty shows who read your files and exactly when.
From pilot to national rollout
Most govtech starts with one small agency pilot. The real goal is a full national rollout later on.
Backers want clear proof a pilot can scale wide. A stuck single-agency pilot will not raise more.
Share your rollout plan and all your agency wins. Send sensitive files safely with secure file sharing.
Build out a clean fundraising data room early on. Ellty tracks who reads each file you send.
How to pitch a govtech investor
Lead with agency demand, security, and scale.
- 1.Show real agency demand and a pipeline.Backers fund traction, not just ideas.
- 2.Prove your security and compliance hold.Weak security kills govtech deals.
- 3.Share one Ellty link to your data room.Track who opens it and which files.
- 4.Follow up the moment a backer digs in.Ellty tells you exactly when they do.
How Ellty helps you land a govtech investor in Wellington
You've shortlisted your Wellington govtech investors already. Set up a data room before the first call.
- 1.Upload your contracts, metrics, and deck.Set access per backer or per partner.
- 2.Share one trackable link with each backer.Each backer gets their own tracked link.
- 3.Watch opens and follow up at the right time.Use Ellty analytics to time each nudge.
Wellington govtech investor questions
- Creative HQ runs the GovTech Accelerator. Movac and NZGCP back bigger rounds.
- Cheques run NZ$100K to NZ$10M in 2026. Accelerators give mostly non-cash support.
- Real agency demand and tight security. A clear path to scale also helps.
- It is NZ's seat of government. Agencies here buy a lot of software.
- Government ICT spend nears NZ$1B a year. Cloud spend runs into the billions.
- Before your first govtech investor call. Track who opens your deck and contracts.
