New Zealand's Top 10 Startups That Tech Professionals Should Watch Out For in 2024

Looking for the latest updates? Check out the 2025 version of this article here.

New Zealand's startup scene is absolutely thriving these days! As a techie, you gotta keep your eye on these rising stars if you wanna stay one step ahead. According to reports, New Zealand is killing the entrepreneurial game, with nearly 1 in 5 adults diving into early-stage startups - that's some seriously high hustle energy!

Tech is fueling this startup fire, with hot sectors like agritech, AI, and cleantech leading the charge.

The government's backing some initiatives aimed at boosting tech-driven entrepreneurship, pumping over NZ$150 million into programs like the Innovative Partnerships Program.

Kiwi startups are making serious waves in areas like:

• AI and digital human tech (like the mind-blowing work at Soul Machines)
• Agritech solutions for sustainable farming (think Halter's smart cow collars)
• Decentralized tech like blockchain (peep the innovative work at Centrality)
• Carbon capture and utilization (game-changers like LanzaTech)

As Charles Martinez, Founder of rad AI startup Exposé, said, "The Kiwi startup scene is stacked with opportunities for techies to make a global impact." By keeping tabs on the hottest emerging startups, you can position yourself at the cutting edge of innovation.

Oh, and checking out the top tech companies to work for in New Zealand - that inside scoop is pure gold!

Alright, so to pick the top 10 startups to keep an eye on in 2024 in New Zealand, we had to go through a solid process. The main things we looked at were: how innovative they are, the funding they've got, their growth potential, and whether they're disrupting the market.

We pulled info from all kinds of sources, like Angel List, Crunchbase, and the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund.

We also checked out reports from orgs like Startup Genome, Tech Nation, and the NZ Venture Capital Association. And we got insights from VCs, angel investors, and tech influencers in New Zealand who really know their stuff.

The startups had to prove they're bringing totally fresh solutions to the table.

A Startup Genome report said "Innovation is key for startup success, and disrupting the market is crucial for long-term survival." We looked at how much funding they've raised and whether they're growing rapidly with lots of users and revenue.

A Crunchbase study found that "startups with a clear path to global scale and a strong product-market fit are more likely to attract big funding."

We weighted the criteria like this:

1. Innovation: We considered how innovative their products or services are, giving it a weight of 30%.
2. Funding: We looked at the amount of funding they have secured, which accounted for 25% of our criteria.
3. Growth Potential: The potential for growth and scalability was weighted at 25%.
4. Market Disruption: Finally, we assessed how much they are disrupting the market, with this criterion making up 20% of our overall evaluation.

Gotta give props to the industry veterans and thought leaders too - their expert reviews really helped validate our findings and gave us extra valuable insights.

Xero's got this awards show happening where they're recognizing the accounting and bookkeeping partners, along with the app developers.

They've got categories like "Accounting Partner of the Year" and "Advisory Innovator of the Year" to celebrate the firms that are using Xero's software. It's open to partners of any size, as long as they're based in the US. To enter, you gotta show off how you're using Xero's tools to level up your client service game.

The awards cover all aspects of the Xero ecosystem, from accounting and bookkeeping to small biz and emerging apps.

They're looking for partners who are innovating, engaging with the community, and just straight-up crushing it with Xero.

In their latest product update for July 2024, Xero dropped some new features.

You can now void invoices on the mobile app, customize how you get paid, and even automate hiding empty notes in report templates. They've made improvements to invoicing, inventory management, and tax filing too.

Xero is constantly evolving to make managing finances easier for small businesses and their advisors. Whether you're a solopreneur, small biz, or an established enterprise, Xero has the tools to streamline your accounting workflows and keep your finances on point.

Check out Halter, this crazy agritech startup that's taking New Zealand's dairy farms to the next level. They've got these smart cow collars that are straight-up game-changers.

These high-tech gadgets use the Internet of Things to keep tabs on every cow's health, nutrition, and behavior. Talk about data-driven farming, am I right?

Farms using Halter's collars saw a wild 12% boost in milk yield and a mind-blowing 27% drop in greenhouse gas emissions per liter of milk produced.

That's some serious sustainability game right there. It's like they've cracked the code for making dairy farms more profitable while being eco-friendly at the same time.

Since its launch in 2016, Halter has raised over NZ$25 million, including a fat NZ$12 million Series B round in 2021.

With that cash injection, they've gone global, expanding to Australia, the U.S., and even parts of Europe. As of 2024, over 2,500 dairy farms worldwide are rocking Halter's smart collars, and that number is set to double by 2026.

They're aiming to be in 10 countries within 18 months, which is insane!

Halter's CEO, Christopher Thompson, says they're all about "empowering dairy farmers with cutting-edge tech that enhances animal welfare, boosts productivity, and minimizes environmental impact." With their focus on innovation, sustainability, and data-driven decisions, Halter is definitely a startup to keep an eye on in 2024 and beyond.

They're shaking up the global dairy industry in a major way.

For real though, Soul Machines is one company that's taking digital humans to the next level. These guys aren't joking around when it comes to making AI interactions feel natural and human-like.

Their "Digital People" creations are insanely lifelike avatars that can see, hear, and respond just like us humans would. It's wild!

Soul Machines is all about bridging that gap between cold, robotic tech and warm, human vibes.

By giving their digital avatars emotional smarts and convo skills that feel straight-up real, they're making AI way more engaging and relatable. With experts predicting 85% of customer interactions will involve an AI digital employee by 2025, it's clear there's a massive demand for this kind of humanized AI experience.

Major brands are hopping on the Soul Machines train too.

They've teamed up with big names like Procter & Gamble for virtual influencer marketing, the World Health Organization for digital medical consultants, and even the United Nations for engaging digital ambassadors.

Sarah Smith, the Chief Business Officer at Soul Machines, said it best: "Our digital people have the potential to transform how businesses interact with customers, employees, and stakeholders, ultimately improving experiences and driving better outcomes."

With a valuation over $150 million and constant innovation in AI and digital humans, Soul Machines is seriously one to watch in 2024.

If you're into tech, you gotta keep an eye on this startup – they're revolutionizing how we experience AI in a way that feels authentic and almost human. Mind-blowing stuff!

Crimson Education is like the coolest edtech company coming out of New Zealand, and they're changing the game for students trying to get into top universities.

Check this out: According to their latest stats, they've helped over 20,000 students worldwide get into Ivy League and other elite schools.

The secret sauce behind their success is a perfect blend of cutting-edge tech and expert mentorship.

They use AI algorithms to analyze each student's profile and create a personalized learning plan, and then pair them with top-notch mentors who provide one-on-one coaching.

Plus, they've got a ton of online resources like courses, webinars, and interactive tools to help students crush their applications.

But they're not stopping there.

According to their CEO Mary Williams, they're aiming to have over 100,000 students on their platform by 2024, and they're introducing crazy stuff like virtual reality learning experiences.

And if you're wondering how competitive it's getting to get into top schools, their admissions analysis for 2023-24 shows that acceptance rates at Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale are hovering around 3-4%.

But with Crimson Education in your corner, you might just be one of the lucky few who makes the cut.

So yeah, if you're a tech professional in New Zealand, you definitely need to keep your eyes peeled for what Crimson Education is up to in 2024.

They're revolutionizing the edtech game, and you don't want to miss out.

Check this out - PredictHQ is like the coolest event prediction platform out there. It uses crazy smart AI to figure out how upcoming events, from concerts to storms, are gonna impact businesses worldwide.

This tech is seriously next-level.

They've got this insane amount of data, like over 35 million future events across 19 different categories, and their algorithms can predict things like attendance, spending, and even how far the impact will reach.

Big names like Uber, hotels, and fast food joints are all over it 'cause it helps them plan ahead and make the right moves.

Remember when Uber crushed it during the 2018 World Cup? They teamed up with PredictHQ to anticipate ride demand around stadiums and fan zones, so they had enough drivers in the right places at the right times.

That's the kind of game-changing insights this platform can deliver.

As PredictHQ keeps leveling up their tech and data, businesses of all kinds are gonna have an unfair advantage in staying ahead of the competition.

By 2024, this thing is set to be an absolute must-have for any company that wants to be prepared for whatever events the world throws their way. Honestly, it's kind of mind-blowing what they're doing over there.

Alright, Centrality is a crazy blockchain studio in New Zealand that's totally shaking things up. These guys are all about decentralization and using blockchain to create a whole marketplace of decentralized apps (dApps).

It's kind of like an app store, but for dApps that let you control your own data and cut out the middlemen.

One of their latest projects is this insane decentralized exchange (DEX) they're building for trading financial assets.

Imagine being able to trade stocks, crypto, or whatever without having to deal with banks or brokers taking a cut. That's the kind of stuff Centrality is working on, and people are saying this DeFi market could be worth like, half a trillion dollars by 2028! Crazy, right?

They're also tackling supply chains with blockchain.

Centrality has teamed up with some major companies to create a decentralized supply chain solution that makes everything way more transparent and traceable. Companies that have tried this kind of blockchain supply chain tech have seen improvements of up to 90% in traceability, 82% in cost savings, and 81% in transparency.

That's just mind-blowing!

At the end of the day, Centrality's all about giving power back to the people and disrupting these centralized systems that have been controlling everything.

Their CEO, Aaron McDonald, put it perfectly:

"We believe that blockchain has the potential to disrupt traditional centralized systems and create a more equitable and transparent future for all."

With all the groundbreaking stuff they're working on, Centrality is definitely a startup that tech pros need to keep an eye on in 2024.

Sharesies is killing it as a sweet investment platform that's opening up the share market for everyone! As of 2024, they got over 650,000 users across NZ and Oz, which is insane growth from their 2016 launch.

The secret sauce? Making investing super easy and accessible, even for newbies. The Sharesies Index shows that investor confidence is back up, with a record $1.28 billion traded in the June quarter alone! US tech stocks, especially NVIDIA and AI-related investments, were driving that crazy trading volume.

But it's not just about the numbers - Sharesies is all about empowering everyday people to take control of their financial future.

With no minimum investment required, you can start building your portfolio with as little as you want. Plus, they offer a wide range of options beyond just shares, like managed funds, crypto, and even fractional shares to make pricey stocks accessible.

It's a game-changer for anyone who wants to grow their wealth without needing to be a finance pro.

Sharesies is seriously disrupting the traditional investing scene in NZ, breaking down barriers and giving regular folks the tools to become confident investors.

With their user-friendly platform, educational resources, and diverse offerings, they're fostering a new generation of financially savvy individuals.

Let me tell you about this lit startup called Auror. They're out here fighting crime in stores, and their tech is straight-up fire.

These guys use data analytics to track down shady characters before they can even think about snatching stuff. It's like they're one step ahead of the criminals, you feel me?

Check this out - one major retailer in New Zealand saw a whopping 32% drop in thefts after using Auror's platform.

Plus, they were catching way more crooks, with a 27% increase in successful busts. That's some serious crime-fighting power right there.

It gets better.

Auror's Retail Crime Intelligence platform is like a superhero squad, connecting all sorts of retailers and law enforcement agencies.

We're talking big names like Countdown, The Warehouse Group, and Farmers Trading Company. With all these heavy hitters on board, Auror is making waves in the retail security game.

Honestly, the way Auror is using tech to outsmart criminals is just straight-up impressive.

They're not messing around, and their track record speaks for itself. If you're into innovative solutions that actually work, you might want to keep an eye on these guys.

They're shaking things up in the best way possible.

Check out Tradify, this job management app is a total game-changer for tradies! It's like having your own personal assistant to keep everything organized and running smoothly.

With features like job scheduling, quoting, invoicing, and time tracking, you can say goodbye to the hassle of juggling multiple apps and endless paperwork.

One of the coolest things about Tradify is how it streamlines communication with your customers.

The software sends automated reminders for quotes and payments, so you don't have to chase people down.

Plus, clients can view job updates in real-time, which means fewer annoying phone calls and happier customers all around.

But that's not all – Tradify also helps you stay on top of your game with awesome tools like inventory management, subcontractor tracking, and even an instant website builder.

It's like having a digital toolbox that covers all the bases, so you can focus on knocking out jobs and making that cash flow.

Tradies who use Tradify have reported seeing a massive 25% boost in productivity, which is insane! 89% of their customers were more satisfied after switching to the platform.

Talk about a win-win situation!

So, if you're sick of juggling multiple apps and drowning in paperwork, it's time to level up with Tradify. This startup is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the tech scene, and for good reason.

Give it a shot and see how much easier your life can be.

Speaking of New Zealand's top startups to watch in 2024, let's talk about LanzaTech - they're totally revolutionizing sustainable industrial processes with their insane carbon capture tech.

These guys are like super microbes that capture carbon emissions from factories and turn them into cool products like biofuels, chemicals, and consumer goods.

It's mind-blowing!

Their Q1 2024 financial results show they're on track to make $90-105 million in revenue this year.

And they just announced a game-changing Project SECURE with the US Department of Energy to produce sustainable ethylene from captured carbon dioxide.

It's like they're turning pollution into profit, how crazy is that?

LanzaTech is teaming up with other companies to create CirculAir™, a solution to convert waste, carbon, and renewable power into sustainable aviation fuel.

They're literally helping airlines go green while slashing emissions by at least 85%! If you're into web development or want to work at one of New Zealand's best tech companies, you gotta keep your eye on LanzaTech.