Electrify Accelerator

Electrify Accelerator, based in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a pioneering business accelerator dedicated to fostering women-led startups. Established in 2022 by Marian Johnson, who serves as the Chairwoman of Electrify Women Founder Programmes and former CEO of Ministry of Awesome, it emerged from the Ministry of Awesome's broader mission to drive startup innovation and address critical gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The accelerator is distinctively positioned as New Zealand's only women founders' accelerator, developed to support the under-represented community of women and non-binary founders across the nation. It operates as a cornerstone initiative of the Ministry of Awesome, an organisation founded in 2012 that has been instrumental in cultivating Christchurch's vibrant startup scene.

Electrify Accelerator delivers a comprehensive 12-week programme designed to accelerate the venture-building process for early-stage, high-growth startups. Participants benefit from intensive activation, masterclasses, and mentorship from seasoned venture capitalists and entrepreneurship experts. The programme culminates in a demo day, offering founders a crucial platform to pitch their ventures to a network of leading investors, government representatives, and startup enablers. This integrated approach is a key differentiator, as it represents New Zealand's first whole ecosystem-backed startup accelerator for women founders, with strategic partners including Blackbird Ventures, GD1, NZ Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP), AWS, MYOB, and ChristchurchNZ.

The accelerator's unique model is specifically crafted to tackle the tech sector's significant diversity challenges by providing tailored support and a clear pathway towards investment and scale for women-led businesses. Marian Johnson's vision was to involve venture capital firms early in the process, ensuring participants are well-prepared for investment opportunities and fostering stronger relationships within the funding community. This commitment to empowering wahine (women) founders through powerful networks, personal development coaching, and domain expertise is central to its mission.

Since its inception, Electrify Accelerator has successfully nurtured cohorts of ambitious startups from various sectors, leading to successful demo days and contributing to the growth of New Zealand's innovation economy. The programme accepts highly ambitious startups from any sector, provided they have at least one woman on their founding team. By providing resources and connections, Electrify Accelerator plays a vital role in building a more inclusive and robust startup landscape in Aotearoa, empowering the next generation of female entrepreneurs to achieve global impact. Its ongoing success is pivotal in fostering a diverse and equitable startup ecosystem in New Zealand.