Tupu is an eight-week accelerator for Māori founders building high-growth startups, equipping them with the tools, mentorship, and support needed to become investment-ready and scale into global markets.
Is Tupu right for your pakihi?
Tupu is designed for Māori founders building innovative, scalable startups with the potential to grow beyond local markets
Tupu may be a good fit if your pakihi:
- Is developing a product, technology, or innovation-led solution
- Has the potential to scale nationally or globally
- Is building something that can grow beyond the founder’s time and labour
- Has ambitions to raise investment or expand into new markets
Tupu may not be a good fit if your pakihi:
- Provides consultancy or freelance services
- Provides trades or contractor-based work
- Is a localised retail or hospitality venture
- Can only scale primarily by adding more labour
Navigate the next stage of business growth
With access to expert mentors, dedicated coaches, and a community of ambitious Māori founders, Tupu supports you to unlock the full potential of your pakihi. Throughout the programme, you’ll develop the essential skills needed to build scalable business models, strengthen revenue strategies, and establish robust commercial foundations.
You’ll dive deep into understanding market demand and customer needs, refine your product–market fit, and strengthen your financial and growth strategy. The programme also prepares you to navigate investor relationships, financial modelling, and pitching with confidence, positioning your pakihi to succeed within the venture capital ecosystem.
E tū Tupuānuku, ko te one paraumu. Ringihia mai rā tō rahi ki te whenua haumako, kia puta ko te ora o Rongo. Koia!
Behold Tipuānuku, of the fertile soil. Spread your plenty across the land, reveal the bounty of Rongo. Indeed!
– Nā Rangi Mātāmua
In partnership with Tapuwae Roa and Sprout Agritech
United through the shared vision of driving Māori entrepreneurship forward, Sprout Agritech and Tapuwae Roa have partnered to deliver Tupu, an innovative business accelerator that is paving the way for pakihi Māori to to grow and become investment-ready, co-funded by MBIE.
Key dates and programme outline
| Kaupapa | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | 24 February | Online |
| Applications close | 23 March | Online |
| Panel interviews for shortlisted teams |
9 – 10 April | Online |
| Mihi whakatau and Wānanga tuatahi |
8 – 9 May | Tāmaki Makaurau |
| 1 x weekly wānanga 1 x weekly coaching |
11 May – 2 June | Online |
| Wānanga tuarua | 29 – 31 May | Tāmaki Makaurau |
| Wānanga tuatoru | 19 – 20 June | Tāmaki Makaurau |
| Wānanga tuawhā | 1 – 2 July | Tāmaki Makaurau |
| Final Showcase | 2 July | Tāmaki Mākaurau |
Preparing pakihi Māori for global aspirations
The Tupu Accelerator has proven to be a transformative force for Māori entrepreneurship within Aotearoa with a total Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 84.5%*. Recognising the positive influence of the programme on their ventures, many of our former Purapura (founders) believe the programme has significantly advanced their pakihi, providing them with the skills and confidence to scale their operations and elevate their startup to new heights.
*Results from responding Purapura in the 2025 Tapuwae Roa post-programme NPS survey
87%
of participating Purapura believe Tupu has had a positive impact on their pakihi
87%
of participating Purapura believe Tupu was a gamechanger for their pakihi
100%
of participating Purapura believe Tupu exposed key pātai for their pakihi
100%
of participating Purapura would recommend the Tupu Accelerator to other Purapura Māori
“Tupu is just the beginning of my journey, but the lessons and insights I have gained during this course has accelerated this start-up process in a way I could not have imagined”
– Purapura (2024 cohort)
Ō mātou pūkenga | Our coaches
Saara Tawha
Co-facilitator
Brittany Teei
Co-facilitator
Ian Musson
Mentor
James Davis-Sigley
Mentor
Kawepūrongo | News and updates
Tupu is back for 2026!
We’re excited to share that Tupu is back for 2026 — and applications are now open. Now in its third consecutive year, the Tupu Accelerator is seeking ten ambitious Māori founded startups ready to grow their pakihi into global ventures.
Kia tupu ai ki angitū
Whītiki tauā - A huge mihi to everyone who joined us at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki for the Tupu Accelerator Showcase i tērā wiki, he pō whakahirahira hoki. It was an inspiring [...]
Tupu Accelerator Showcase 2025 – Tickets Selling Fast
Tapuwae Roa is proud to present the Tupu Accelerator Showcase 2025, taking place on Thursday 26 June at the Auckland Art Gallery. This all-inclusive event marks the culmination of our eight-week kaupapa-Māori business accelerator, where [...]
