START-UP THE FUTURE
21 years of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Auckland
At the University of Auckland Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), we empower changemakers, spark ideas, and develop entrepreneurial mindsets across every faculty at the University of Auckland. By fostering entrepreneurial talent, we’re shaping a prosperous future for Aotearoa New Zealand. CIE has been the launchpad for transformative ideas and ventures addressing critical challenges in energy, medicine, education, and beyond. Our alumni lead industries, influence government, and drive start-ups that create lasting social, environmental, and economic impact. As New Zealand’s top university innovation hub, our success is clear—but the need is greater. To secure our future, we must amplify our efforts, growing the talent and solutions to meet global challenges.
Join us in turning ideas into action. Let’s start-up the future together.
Find out how you can support CIE through becoming a mentor, speaker, donor, project partner or competition judge.
Entrepreneurial universities are the heart of global innovation, turning knowledge into impactful technologies and start-ups that drive progress. Leading innovation hubs worldwide thrive with universities at their core, fostering cutting-edge ideas and talent.
At the University of Auckland, CIE drives this mission, by providing students and staff with the opportunity to stand out and create value through innovative careers and start-up creation.
To accelerate innovation, New Zealand must focus on:
- A national innovation strategy.
- Embedding entrepreneurship in education.
- Developing diverse talent.
- Boosting research commercialisation.
- Strengthening R&D funding.
The time to act is now—let’s ensure New Zealand’s future is one of bold innovation. Learn more: Universities as catalysts for New Zealand's start-up and innovation ecosystem
University start-up ecosystem
Since 2003, CIE has grown from a daring idea into a global powerhouse for innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. As part of the Business School’s commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship and together with UniServices, MedTech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau, Cloud 9, and the Newmarket Innovation Precinct, the University has built a vibrant ecosystem where research turns into real-world solutions, start-ups thrive, and talent is nurtured to tackle global challenges.
The Business School delivers formal teaching in innovation and entrepreneurship and undertakes research on these topics. UniServices drives research commercialisation, MedTech-iQ Tāmaki Makaurau advances life-changing health technologies, and Cloud 9, New Zealand Product Accelerator, Newmarket Innovation Precinct foster collaboration and bold thinking.
What began as a spark has ignited a movement, positioning Auckland as a hub for innovation and driving impact for New Zealand and beyond.
Start-ups
Over the last 21 years, we’ve had a track record of creating highly motivated and talented innovators and entrepreneurs who are achieving the remarkable. This year alone, we have supported over 100 early-stage start-ups. Every day, students and staff are engaging in creative, entrepreneurial pursuits that will shape tomorrow’s economy.
The place where exceptional talent thrives
CIE prepares talent for innovative careers, regardless of the context. In 2024 we supported over 7,000 people to develop their innovative capabilities through delivering diverse programming including technology training, start-up internships and hackathons. Our graduates go on to excel in a range of careers ranging from leading climate change innovations to being head of machine learning to nuclear fusion engineering.
Learn more about the people from CIE powering New Zealand’s ecosystem:
What our participants say
Alex Kendall
Co-founder & CEO of Wavye
“I really do believe that the culture at the University of Auckland and my experience in the CIE Velocity programme were formative for me to become an entrepreneur. I loved the things I learned through being involved with CIE.”
Phil Thomson
Co-founder of Auror
“CIE’s Velocity programme enabled us to put our company strategy down on paper. We didn’t walk away with just seed funding. It helped us create the real basis for the company and to stress test it with judges and mentors. It’s surprising how much of it still holds true today.”
Professor Greg O’Grady
Co-founder and CEO of Alimetry
“I cut my teeth in the CIE Velocity programme, and still highly recommend it to anyone. You learn best by doing. The structured programme and mentorship that comes with it are both fun and rewarding. I have also benefited from excellent mentorship and advice from UniServices and within the CIE, and I continue those relationships today.”
Dr Ninna Granucci
Founder and CEO of Greenspot Technologies
“You will always have a next big problem that will need a big solution. It’s not enough to have one good idea, you have to have many good ideas and work hard to transform them into solutions on the path to taking something from the lab to market. Going through CIE’s Velocity, I learned that you have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and that still holds true.”
Hengjie Wang
Co-founder of Kami
“It was through CIE that we met our Chairman and Chief Revenue Officer Bob Drummond and one of our early investors Rudi Bublitz from Flying Kiwi Angels. When you join Velocity, you don’t just join to win. You learn and grow every aspect of your business and entrepreneurial life.”
Leila Deljkovic
Co-founder of Cropsy
“The process of developing your idea into a business is more important than the idea itself, and that’s what we learned from CIE. Highlights for me were the mentors we got from the programme, both of whom we stay in touch with regularly, and one of our mentors is now an advisor for Cropsy.”
Prosperity and productivity are about more than economics—they reflect human progress. For over 21 years, CIE has been driving entrepreneurship in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Now, we’re ready to scale our impact. By nurturing talent and growing innovative ideas, we aim to keep New Zealand competitive and globally relevant while fostering prosperity in our community.
Join us by making the Innovators and Entrepreneurs' Pledge – a meaningful way to give back. Commit now, contribute later.
Your future support will help CIE inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of innovators. This pledge connects you with a network of like-minded supporters and provides exclusive CIE updates, event invitations, and recognition for your contributions. Flexible and non-binding, it’s your way to give back when success allows. Make your pledge today and help us shape the future of innovation.
We look forward to staying connected and supporting your journey.
The CIE Team
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