Tapuwae Roa has announced today the return of its flagship Tupu Accelerator, an eight-week programme designed to propel Māori businesses from startups to investment-ready global ventures.
Developed by Tapuwae Roa in partnership with Sprout Agritech, and co-funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the programme will onboard ten aspiring Māori-founded startups, equipping them with the tools, mentorship and resources to scale quickly and sustainably on the world stage.
“We created Tupu for Māori entrepreneurs striving to make their big business dreams go global, scaling their innovations to reach international markets,” says Te Pūoho Kātene, Chief Executive of Tapuwae Roa.
“We know Māori have the talent to compete globally; Tupu provides the mentorship, expertise and networks to help make that global vision a reality.”
Now entering its third year, Tupu continues to demonstrate measurable impact, with 87 percent of participating founders considering Tupu as a game-changer for their business.
“It [Tupu] has had a massive impact and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to participate in this kaupapa. It instilled in us belief and gave us the tools to take our business from a part-time mahi to a full-time business with export aspirations,” says Keela Atkinson, co-founder of Mauriora Kombucha.
Facilitated by experienced business coaches Saara Tawha and Brittany Teei (founder, KidsCoin), the accelerator focuses on key development areas for startup success, including customer validation, market analysis, intellectual property protection, and navigating the process of raising capital.
Featuring a hybrid blend of in-person wānanga, guest speakers, online sessions, and personalised coaching, Tupu equips founders with the skills to elevate their businesses from local operations to internationally competitive markets.
“We want to see our driven, innovative Māori founders shining on the world stage, and Tupu is here to help them to accomplish that global aspiration, says Kātene.
Applications are now open and close on 23 March 2026. For more information or to apply, visit http://www.tupu.org.nz.
