The Validation Lab: Monday office hours
20 October 2025
- Starting Out
Help an early-stage startup validate their company. Four emerging founders from the 2025 Startup Aotearoa cohort have been selected to spend this Auckland Startup Week validating their venture live on campus.
These selected founders are in the midst of validating their startups, and they need your help. Come to the Validation Lab on one of (or all of!) the days to help them achieve their goals. Share your insights, offer your perspectives, facilitate a connection...there are dozens of ways you can help. The goal is to end up with a robustly validated problem.
Busy during the official lab times? No stress - they will be working on-site all week. Just drop-in and grab five minutes with them between other sessions.
What is Startup Aotearoa?
Startup Aotearoa is the front door for startups in Aotearoa New Zealand. Spearheaded by Ministry of Awesome in partnership with Callaghan Innovation and CreativeHQ, Startup Aotearoa a nationally-coordinated programme across all regions for the earliest stage of startups - the IDEA stage! Through one-on-one coaching from qualified startup advisors across the motu, anyone anywhere at anytime can walk through the front door and begin to validate (or invalidate) their idea. GridAKL is the delivery partner for the Auckland region and has selected this year's Validation Lab participants.
Walk-in
Venue
Pipiri Lane
124 Halsey St, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland 1010
Pipiri Lane isn’t just a place to work or host — it’s a statement. Located in Wynyard Quarter, Auckland’s buzzing innovation hub, it’s New Zealand's first cross-laminated timber work and event space. With a 6 Star Green Star rating, Pipiri Lane is one of Auckland’s most sustainable buildings, representing a rare opportunity to align businesses with innovation, environmental responsibility and forward-thinking design.