KiwiFibre

Scales says early-investment has grown significantly in the last few years, with more and more VCs joining the Kiwi ecosystem. 

“There is a great calibre of VCs with their eyes on Kiwi innovation now and a lot more have come from Australia. When that happens, it puts pressure on local angel investors to be more active and it puts more pressure on grants – and that accelerates the whole ecosystem,” says Scales. 

Events like the recent Far Out convoy that came through Christchurch are also helping attract international eyes. The convoy brought together leading founders and international investors for a road trip from Auckland to Queenstown, with half of the attendees coming from Silicon Valley in the US. ChristchurchNZ hosted a meet and greet event where local startsups and scale ups met with investors — an opportunity Scales and Murrell were part of and a fantastic example of the city’s supportive ecosystem.  

Scales says there is a real strength of collaboration in Christchurch. Sharing their information led to strategic partnerships and brought in talented people and local companies willing to help with services and support. This has been major contributor to the startup's success. 

Support from startup programmes such as those offered by the Ministry of Awesome, Food, Fibre and Agritech at Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury’s Summer Start Up Programme, have all been crucial for KiwiFibre’s growth. 

“The startup programmes were the perfect test bed for us. We learned how to speak to investors and customers and were exposed to other founders. It opened doors we didn’t know about and really helped elevate things. Christchurch is small, so it's really collaborative. And I think because it started that way, as the ecosystem and the city grows, the values stick around too,” says Scales. 

KiwiFibre are going places, yet they are keeping home base firmly on Christchurch soil. 

The food, fibre and agritech industry is one of Christchurch’s growth sectors, one of several key sectors that have huge global growth potential. Canterbury makes up almost 20% of New Zealand’s GDP, and with every type of farming operation close by and an ideal climate, it’s a region that makes a lot of sense.  

The talent pool from the university, particularly in engineering, is also a major factor and there’s the city's affordable cost of living and Christchurch lifestyle that is really appealing to potential talent. Plus, with an international airport, the supply chain is strengthened and partnerships that are popping up across the world are easy to access.