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Getting that ground-breaking idea out of the lab or workshop and successfully into the hands of customers is hard work. We know even the brightest innovators struggle with this challenging step.
The Ārohia Trailblazer Grant was created to support the very best innovative businesses at the “getting ready to go to market” stage of their innovation’s journey. They’ve done most of the tricky research and development for their game-changing creation, but they need that critical funding to finally bring their new product or service to market.
The grant actively seeks projects that are the best of the best of those at this stage and is specifically looking to support those businesses with four clear attributes (below), and the ability to demonstrate them. Unlike other grants, you’re competing against other businesses and innovators, with only the very best receiving funding.
Most important of the four attributes is how these game-changers approach creating opportunities for the other innovators around them, as well as the wider innovation ecosystem in Aotearoa. We know one ingenious creation today can spillover to create many, many more for the future.
So, if you’re doing something ground-breaking, need a helping hand to get to market, and your work is a positive force for other innovators, get in touch.
If you’re the best of the best, you could become an Ārohia Trailblazer.
By the numbers
We are very appreciative of Callaghan Innovation’s support through the Ārohia Trailblazer Grant to help us commercialise our technology, moving from pilot plant technical data to an engineering package that our customer can use to build a large industrial chemical manufacturing plant, using waste as a feedstock.
"We are thrilled to be recognised as an Ārohia Innovation Trailblazer. We believe the next era of human prosperity will be driven by the space economy and the many things we can do from space to improve life on Earth. This support from Callaghan will go a long way in helping us bring our space transportation network to market, and we’re excited to see what the industry will do with it.
"Being recognised as an Innovation Trailblazer is far bigger than just an accolade for Kitea Health. This grant is another key stepping stone in furthering Kitea's goal of transforming healthcare for people living with a chronic health condition. This is about improving the lives of people around the world and sharing our expertise and knowledge with local deep tech companies on a similar journey.
"We are thrilled and honoured to be recipients of the Ārohia grant, which has come at a perfect time for us, supporting our go-to-market activities as we prepare to launch our Leaf protein products. This is a big milestone for us in our journey to create a new value chain delivering low impact and high value protein products into global markets from New Zealand.
"We founded Neocrete in New Zealand because we want to build this ecosystem here – working together with the other amazing innovators in Aotearoa. This grant is a huge milestone to helping us achieve this vision and we’re proud to call ourselves Innovation Trailblazers.
"Benefits to your business
Co-funding to gear up and get your innovation out to market, ready for customers.
Clarify your business vision and purpose, and set your sights on long-term success.
Sharpen your pitch and proposal, helping to secure further investment in future.
Receive the acclaim from your fellow innovators and proudly call yourself an Ārohia Trailblazer.
Who is the Ārohia Trailblazer grant for?
The Ārohia Trailblazer Grant supports the very best innovative businesses at the “getting ready to go to market” stage of their innovation journey. Those businesses have done most of the tricky research and development for their game-changing creation (Ārohia Trailblazer does not fund R&D costs) but they need that critical funding to finally bring their new product or service to market.
Ārohia Trailblazer funding can be invested into a broad range of things, from setting up new infrastructure and production capabilities, and building teams with the right skills, through to building demonstration models and marketing. (Read the Eligible activities to find out more.)
The Ārohia Trailblazer Grant certainly isn’t for everyone. The application process is rigorous, but it’s designed to provide this group a substantial helping hand. Most excitingly, it celebrates the Trailblazers that are creating new opportunities for their communities, their industries and their fellow innovators.
Trailblazer attributes
These four attributes help us to identify the businesses having the biggest positive impact on the innovation ecosystem, which in turn plays a vital role in driving economic growth and future prosperity in Aotearoa.
To apply for the Ārohia Trailblazer Grant, you’ll need to show evidence of all four attributes.
Let’s see if the Ārohia Trailblazer Grant is right for you.
There’s seven questions in our quiz. If you can confidently answer “Yes” to all of the questions, you’re likely to be eligible to apply for the Ārohia Trailblazer Grant.
This is a contestable grant, which means that only the best will be awarded the grant. To confidently answer “Yes” you will need external, documented evidence to back up your claims. If you’re not confident, then we have the Ārohia Evidence Grant, that might help you gain the evidence to apply for Ārohia Trailblazer Grant.
Take our 60 second self-assessment
Ārohia Evidence Grant
If your business intends to apply for the Trailblazer grant, but doesn’t quite yet have the evidence to demonstrate the key attributes, the Ārohia Evidence Grant can provide funding so that a business can prepare an application for the full Ārohia Trailblazer Grant in the future.
The funding can be used for a range of activities, including customer research, professional advice, purchasing reports, pitch preparation and demonstration models.
Applicants can apply for up to $25,000. For every $1 granted by Callaghan Innovation, the business will need to match $1 from their own funds, or via private investment.
find out moreFunding available
Like many other government grants, applicants will need to secure co-funding.
For every dollar spent by a recipient, 30 cents come from Callaghan Innovation, and the other 70 cents come from your own funds, or via private investment.
The project in your application must have at least a minimum value of ~$333,000 ($100,000 grant) and maximum value of ~ $13.3m ($4m grant).
Read the Eligible Activities for the Ārohia Trailblazer Grant guidance, to understand which areas and activities funding can be applied for.
Recipients will have a maximum of six months following grant award to secure their co-funding.
Don't forget - R&D activities are not eligible
If you're looking for funding for R&D, we'd advise you explore the New to R&D Grant and the Research & Development Tax Incentive.
Business eligibility
You can apply for an Ārohia Innovation Trailblazer Grant if you are:
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- a Company registered (and incorporated) in New Zealand under the Companies Act 1993 that is not controlled* by the government or one or more government agencies
- a Limited Partnership registered in New Zealand under the Limited Partnerships Act 2008 that is not controlled* by the government or one or more government agencies
- a Māori Trust or incorporation under the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, or a similar organisation managing Māori assets under multiple ownership
- a Company incorporated in another country but registered to do business in New Zealand (registered under the Companies Act 1993 on the Overseas Register - ASIC or NON-ASIC)**.
*Control means 50% or more of shares or voting interests in another entity, or control of appointments to an entity’s controlling board.
**This definition of “Company” reflects what is referred to as a “Foreign Entity” in the Ārohia Innovation Trailblazer Grant Ministerial Direction.
Entities not eligible for the Ārohia Innovation Trailblazer Grant include:
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- Local authorities, government departments or agencies
- State Owned Enterprises and Public Finance Act 1989 Schedule 4A companies
- Local, national and regional promotional bodies
- Crown entities
- Crown Research Institutes (CRIs)
- Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) including foreign-owned TEOs
- Entities controlled by any of the above
- Callaghan Innovation
- Sole traders
- Charitable trusts
- Partnerships
- Unincorporated Joint Ventures
- Unincorporated charities
- Incorporated societies
- Trusts (other than a Māori Trust as expressly stated under eligible business criteria).
First, take our self-selection quiz (available 6th March) to find out if you have the attributes we’re seeking from applicants, as well as checking a couple of other eligibility criteria.
If the grant is the right fit for you, you’ll spend some time with one of our customer Navigators or Funding Engagement Specialists. Together you’ll delve in a little deeper to the attributes and criteria, as well as discussing some of the other grant requirements.
If our team finds you eligible for the grant, and you’re willing to commit the time and effort to an application, you’ll be invited to our online portal to complete your application. Don’t forget that the grant is contestable, so you won’t be able to receive support from our team to complete the application.
Your application is read by our screening committee and assessed against our scoring framework, with the top ten highest ranking being shortlisted and invited to present to our Grant Evaluation Panel.
Those not shortlisted will receive feedback on their application from our team.
Shortlisted applicants will present to our expert panel. They’ll be armed with lots of questions - so be prepared.
If chosen for this prestigious accolade, you’ll sign the contract, confirm your co-funding and get to work bringing your product to market.
Deadlines and application assessment
Key dates and deadlines
Current round of applications (round 2)
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- Wednesday March 6th - Applications open for Ārohia Trailblazer Grant.
- Thursday April 4th (midday) - applicants must have spoken to our team by this date, so that they can be registered on systems. No new registrations will be received after this time.
- Friday April 5th (midday) - applicants must have started their application within the online portal (IMS) by this date.
- Monday April 29th (midday) - deadline for submission of Ārohia Trailblazer Grant applications within the online portal (IMS). No applications will be processed after this time.
- Mid July - Shortlisted organisations are notified. We then undertake our due diligence process. Applicants that pass due diligence will then be invited to present to the Grant Evaluation Panel.
- Early August: Shortlisted organisations present to the Grant Evaluation Panel.
- September 20th: chosen recipients notified and named as a Trailblazer.
Next round of applications (round 3)
The next round of applications is expected to open early 2025.
Applying for both grants
Due to the timings of applications for both Trailblazer and Evidence grants, simultaneous applications are strongly discouraged.
Assessing your application
All eligible applications are reviewed initially by our internal Screening Committee. This committee scores applications against a scoring framework, to create a shortlist of of the highest-ranked applicants
This shortlist of the highest-ranked applicants will then be invited to present to our Grant Evaluation Panel. Comprising external innovation leaders, the panel will help us decide who are the most compelling applicants, worthy of the title Ārohia Trailblazer. The panel judges the application, pitch presentation and answers to their questions against the scoring framework.
What is a contestable grant?
Unlike lots of other grants, this grant is contestable. This means applicants are competing against other applicants, with those providing the most compelling evidence of the four attributes being selected for the shortlist
To ensure fairness in the contestable setting, Callaghan Innovation employees and representatives, i.e. our partners in the Regional Business Partner network, will not be able to give you 1:1 assistance to help you complete your Ārohia Trailblazer Grant application.
This is because it could unfairly advantage one applicant over another, and we need to ensure there’s a level playing field for all applicants.
Key dates and deadlines
Current round of applications (round 2)
-
- Wednesday March 6th - Applications open for Ārohia Trailblazer Grant.
- Thursday April 4th (midday) - applicants must have spoken to our team by this date, so that they can be registered on systems. No new registrations will be received after this time.
- Friday April 5th (midday) - applicants must have started their application within the online portal (IMS) by this date.
- Monday April 29th (midday) - deadline for submission of Ārohia Trailblazer Grant applications within the online portal (IMS). No applications will be processed after this time.
- Mid July - Shortlisted organisations are notified. We then undertake our due diligence process. Applicants that pass due diligence will then be invited to present to the Grant Evaluation Panel.
- Early August: Shortlisted organisations present to the Grant Evaluation Panel.
- September 20th: chosen recipients notified and named as a Trailblazer.
Next round of applications (round 3)
The next round of applications is expected to open early 2025.
Applying for both grants
Due to the timings of applications for both Trailblazer and Evidence grants, simultaneous applications are strongly discouraged.
Assessing your application
All eligible applications are reviewed initially by our internal Screening Committee. This committee scores applications against a scoring framework, to create a shortlist of of the highest-ranked applicants
This shortlist of the highest-ranked applicants will then be invited to present to our Grant Evaluation Panel. Comprising external innovation leaders, the panel will help us decide who are the most compelling applicants, worthy of the title Ārohia Trailblazer. The panel judges the application, pitch presentation and answers to their questions against the scoring framework.
What is a contestable grant?
Unlike lots of other grants, this grant is contestable. This means applicants are competing against other applicants, with those providing the most compelling evidence of the four attributes being selected for the shortlist
To ensure fairness in the contestable setting, Callaghan Innovation employees and representatives, i.e. our partners in the Regional Business Partner network, will not be able to give you 1:1 assistance to help you complete your Ārohia Trailblazer Grant application.
This is because it could unfairly advantage one applicant over another, and we need to ensure there’s a level playing field for all applicants.
Spencer Willis is the Group Lead, Funding Engagement at Callaghan Innovation.
He's worked at Callaghan for over five years, initially leading the Customer Experience team and now focussed on leading a Funding team that strives to deliver best practice funding processes and experiences.
Spencer has been deeply involved in the innovation ecosystem at Callaghan Innovation, in the private sector and as a founder.
Stephanie has a depth of experience in venture capital with a focus on companies founded by under 30s. Prior to her time in the VC space, Stephanie spent a number of years supporting young founders and entrepreneurs and was recently named in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2023; Finance and Venture Capital List.
Te Pūoho (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Whātua) specialises in Māori investment, entrepreneurship and social impact innovation. He leads Tapuwae Roa, a charitable trust pursuing targeted social impact for Māori. He also has extensive governance experience in Māori, impact-focused and financial entities, and is a founding member of Future Food Aotearoa.
Julia is co-founder of an organisation that builds pathways and platforms to see more Pacific people in the digital and technology sectors. She has worked in Australia, the UK and the USA, including holding the role of Global Social Strategy lead at HP Inc in San Diego in her 20’s.
Her areas of focus include digital equity, social entrepreneurship and innovation, emerging and disruptive intersection of humanity and technology, and democratisation of technology.
Andrew is a scientist and senior public servant turned entrepreneur, who has co-founded a number of high-tech companies, and helps lead more.
He has a keen understanding of the primary industries and of food & environmental value chains. He also is involved in manufacturing.
He has extensive experience in commercialising technologies through bringing them to market. Andrew works extensively with Māori and has experience in that commercial ecosystem.
Andrew has had a long career focused on innovation, including science, development and finance.
Founder of BioPacific Partners, which has close working contact with approximately 60 multinational corporations in the USA, Europe and Japan. He has extensive experience in deal-making between global corporates and local innovators from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
Erin Wansbrough is a tech and entrepreneurial business leader and governance professional with extensive experience in the biotech, healthcare, and med-tech industries. With a robust background in strategy development and technical-commercial expertise, Erin specialises in product-market fit, go-to-market strategies, and capital raising, including securing non-dilutive funding. Her career includes senior roles at GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Life Technologies, Callaghan Innovation, MBIE, and Adherium NZ Ltd. She has chaired Hospice West Auckland, NZ HiTech Trust, and the Cultivate Trust. As CEO of SODA, Erin advocated for New Zealand's entrepreneurial community, supporting global-scale tech businesses.
Currently, Erin chairs Cetogenix, a New Zealand-based climate tech firm dedicated to converting organic waste into renewable resources such as renewable natural gas, chemicals, and biomaterials, aiming to replace fossil resources. As Managing Director of Telum, she advises high-tech New Zealand firms on global growth, specialising in early-stage value creation. Telum is currently working in partnership with Biometry Health to scale its product suite which focuses on measuring brain function with an emphasis on mild traumatic brain injury in professional sports and defence markets worldwide. Erin's leadership underscores her commitment to advancing sustainable technologies and fostering innovation in global markets.
Duncan Catanach is customer manager with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) based in Tauranga where he has had the privilege of spending the last nine years working directly with ambitious New Zealand companies accelerating their international growth. His customer portfolio comprises mostly B2B SaaS companies, many of these early-stage and primarily in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke’s Bay regions. Duncan has a particular interest in horticultural technology and deep tech and expertise in innovation and strategy.
Prior to taking on the customer manager role, Duncan worked in and managed NZTE teams in strategy, sector initiatives and offshore. During his time as Trade Commissioner for the West Coast US from 2010 - 2014, he established NZTE’s San Francisco presence and hired some of NZTE’s first dedicated tech and advanced manufacturing business development managers.
Duncan came to NZTE after five years working as a strategy consultant with Deloitte and others in Melbourne. He is married to a serial tech entrepreneur (software and cleantech) and so understands first-hand what it takes to go from idea to commercialisation to internationalisation to exit. Duncan holds a first-class honours degree in Economics from the University of Melbourne.
Start your application
Connect with our team, who can support you with your Ārohia Trailblazer application.
