Tupu Accelerator

An eight-week accelerator for up to ten Māori-founded startups a year, building investment-readiness for high-growth pakihi.

Closes

Opens late February, closes 5pm late March each year. The 2026 round opened 24 February and closed 23 March

Who can apply

Read on Tupu's page, quoted verbatim: "Tupu is open to Māori-founded startups who are looking to scale globally or become investment-ready." Tupu says it may be a good fit if a pakihi "is developing a product, technology, or innovation-led solution," "has the potential to scale nationally or globally," "is building something that can grow beyond the founder's time and labour," or "has ambitions to raise investment or expand into new markets." It says it may not be a good fit for consultancy or freelance services, trades or contractor-based work, a localised retail or hospitality venture, or a pakihi that can only scale by adding more labour.

Amount

Free to take part. Travel and accommodation covered for up to two participants per team. Each pakihi is also eligible for up to $5,000 (excl GST) in professional services — legal, IP, financial, investment collateral, marketing, prototyping or strategy — contracted directly between Tapuwae Roa and an agreed third-party provider.

Funding route

Partnership or co-investment

Applicants

Businesses & land trusts, Individuals & whānau

Before you apply

Developed in partnership with Tapuwae Roa and Sprout Agritech, and co-funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Up to ten founder teams a year, over four in-person noho wānanga in Tāmaki Makaurau plus weekly online coaching, ending in a live pitch to investors at a final showcase. 2026 was the third consecutive cohort. Application process: an online form, then shortlisted teams present to a selection panel.

Tapuwae Roa was formerly Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust, established under the Māori Fisheries Act 2004. Companion funds from the same trust: the Tonganui Scholarship and the Pou Herenga Tangata Award, both listed separately.

Official source →

Checked 16 September 2026

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Details change without notice. Check the funder's own page before you apply. Tōku Waka does not administer, assess or award this funding.