Find A Founder 2026

Ideas need people. People need ideas.

Have you got an idea you can’t build alone?

Perhaps you have useful skills and would love to apply them to something new—but haven’t found the right idea or the right people.

Or maybe you’re simply curious about what Taranaki’s inventive, enterprising people are thinking about.

Find A Founder brings all three groups together for a relaxed evening of short pitches, useful introductions, pizza and possibility.

How it works

People with an idea have a few minutes to tell the room:

What’s the idea?
What problem could it solve?
What kind of help, skills or collaborator would move it forward?

You don’t need a polished pitch, a business plan or all the answers. An early thought, stubborn problem or interesting possibility is enough.

Everyone else listens for something that catches their imagination. Afterwards, the room becomes a mixer: find the people you want to meet, ask questions and see where the conversation leads.

You might find:

A potential cofounder
Someone with exactly the capability your idea lacks
An idea that needs what you’re good at
A useful connection or fresh perspective
The encouragement to finally take your next step
Or simply an unusually interesting roomful of people

There’s no expectation that you must pitch, join a venture or make any grand commitments. Coming along because you’re curious is entirely legitimate.

Who should come?

Find A Founder is for:

People with business, technology, creative or community ideas
Designers, developers, makers and technical specialists
Marketers, strategists, researchers and storytellers
Operators, organisers and commercially minded people
Potential founders who haven’t yet found their idea
Curious people who enjoy being around possibility

You don’t need to call yourself an entrepreneur. You don’t need startup experience. And you certainly don’t need to arrive wearing a name badge that says “CEO.”

Want to pitch?

Excellent. Book a free Ideas Person ticket so we know to make space for you.

Your idea can be commercial, creative, technical, community-focused or impact-led. It can be thought-through, or totally rough around the edges.

We’ll send you a simple pitch guide before the event. This is a friendly room, not Dragon's Den!

Don’t want to pitch?

Book a free Skills / Curiosity ticket.

Come ready to listen, meet people and follow whichever ideas or conversations interest you. You are not committing to become anybody’s cofounder simply by attending.

Bring an idea. Bring your skills. Bring your curiosity.

Something interesting might begin.

Done Something Meetup: Find A Founder

Choose your tickets

General Admission ticket

Ideas Person ticket

Skills / Curiosity ticket

Donations

Help us cover the food and beverage costs