Startup Support Programmes - Reverse Pitch & Speed Networking
14 October 2026
- Scale up
- Investors and enablers
- Innovators
- Early/growth stage
Looking for startup support but not sure where to start? Hear directly from the providers delivering the Founder & Startup Support Programme.
In this reverse-pitch session, providers will explain who they help, what they offer, and how founders can engage.
You'll then have the chance to meet providers one-on-one through a series of speed-networking conversations and find the support that's right for your startup.
This session is in three parts:
- Provider reverse pitches
- Speed networking rounds
- Refreshments
The providers featuring in this session are from:
- Ministry of Awesome
- Soda
- Sprout Agritech
- The Factory
- Auckland Council
- Creative HQ
Jenny Douché
Founder and Startup Manager at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Jenny Douché is the Founder & Startup Manager at MBIE, leading the Founder & Startup Support Programme. Her career spans startup founding, research, teaching, programme design, and ecosystem development. Jenny was part of Wellington's first business incubator as the founder of an internationally successful startup and later completed a PhD exploring how incubators influence startup growth and strategy. She also created and led the Master of Innovation and Commercialisation programme at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Jenny is passionate about creating the conditions that help startups thrive and scale.
Venue
GridAKL / John Lysaght
101 Pakenham Street West
Wynyard Quarter
Auckland 1010
GridAKL / John Lysaght is more than just a workspace — it's a thriving community of visionaries, innovators and change-makers. GridAKL is home to a diverse mix of startups and small businesses working together to create solutions that make a difference.