Tips

We are looking for up to ten teams for our first class in Feb-May 2013. Brilliant teams, with great ideas in interesting markets.

Selection Criteria

Team – composition, attitude, motivation, experience, cohesiveness
Idea – market size and opportunity, disruptiveness of product
Investment potential – investability and clear pathway for follow on rounds
Programme fit – cultural fit for programme

Mandatory Criteria

No lone wolves; must be two or more (but no more than 5 either – the sweet spot is 3 to 4)
Must be willing and able to be based on site for the duration of the programme (must relocate to Wellington if out of region/country)
Must be willing and able to work full time on the opportunity (no bootstrapping – that’s what the seed funding is for)

Ideal Team Characteristics

A natural CEO, at least one technical member and a marketing person
At a life stage where acceleration is appropriate and can have an impact
The opportunity has prospects in larger markets
First external funding (Angel/Seed Plus) is foreseeable
Open and receptive to advice/feedback, Good to work with
You excite us and we want to work with you

Pointers

New Zealanders are notoriously late at responding to party invites or getting applications in. International experience has been that the best teams apply early, even though there is large rush in the final days applications are open. Our application process enables you to send us progress updates. Don’t wait to have the perfect application, get your application in as soon as practical and then send us regular progress updates.

In particular we are keen to know how you are going with:

Building your team (getting the business, technical, marketing and other talent you need to be successful)
Your prototype or product
Achieving key milestones (sign-ups, page views, sales, TechNZ grants and so on)