Seven Kiwi startups spanning space, health and cleantech have scored NZ$17.5 million in government funding under the country’s Ārohia Trailblazer grants program.
The program, administered by the New Zealand government’s innovation agency, Callaghan Innovation, backs startups with global potential.
Callaghan Innovation chief product officer Brett Calton said Astrix Astronautics, Basis NZ, Emrod, Fabrum Solutions, Toku Eyes, Zincovery Process Technologies and Zenno Astronautics received grants.
“Congratulations to these Kiwi innovators who have developed these impressive, and ambitious innovations with the potential for success here and in global markets,” he said.
“We look forward to following their success as they inspire and enable other, like-minded ambitious innovators.”
The program offers up to NZ$4m per startup.
Astrix Astronautics designs and builds inflatable solar array deployment systems that reduce the cost and complexity of powering satellites. The Kiwi startup was part of Startmate in 2023.
Cofounder and CEO Max Daniels said the grant will get them to market faste, with the first customer delivery expected by the end of the year.
“ This support validates the hard work our team has put into developing this transformative technology, and it’s rewarding to know that our work will contribute to New Zealand’s thriving innovation ecosystem,” he said.
“We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to our fellow Trailblazers and look forward to seeing the collective impact this initiative will have on New Zealand’s innovation landscape.”
The grant recipients are:
Auckland
Astrix Astronautics design unique, reliable high performance power systems for small satellites using a state-of-the art inflatable deployment mechanism that delivers solar power to mega-constellations.
Auckland
Basis has developed the world’s first residential Smart Panel, enabling homeowners to reduce their electricity costs, make their homes dramatically safer and lower barriers to adopting electrification technologies (EV, battery & solar).
Auckland
Emrod is pioneering the transition to a wireless, global energy network. Its technology is hardware for wirelessly sending large amounts of power over long distances, safely and efficiently. Just as the internet transformed communication, wireless power will transform the world’s ability to generate and use energy.
Christchurch
The fundamental technologies that Fabrum has developed leverage over 20 years of composite and cryogenic discovery. The company has developed a very desirable library of patents and trade secrets, including cryocoolers, refuelling technologies, liquefiers and storage systems for hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and LNG. Fabrum operates around the globe with 80% of its product made in New Zealand and exported globally.
Auckland
Toku has developed a product that can identify individuals with elevated chronic kidney disease risk (CKD) using retinal fundus images only. Commercialisation of this AI medical device will remove the need for blood and urine test to identify high-risk CKD individuals, enabling preventative care to avoid costly debilitating kidney failure.
Zincovery Process Technologies
Christchurch
Zincovery is looking to bring the first 100% recycled, low carbon and high purity zinc product to the market. This is enabled by their innovative zinc recycling technology that avoids the use of fossil fuels, reducing emissions by up to 95% and processing costs by 45%.
Auckland
Zenno is building the future of agile and sustainable operations in space. They have developed a patented technology based on superconducting magnets that enables spacecraft operators to reduce their costs while also increasing their mission value.
Trending
Daily startup news and insights, delivered to your inbox.