The Ultimate Founder Experience.
Over two transformative days, founders, investors, and supporters come together to connect, collaborate, and create the future of Aotearoa’s startup ecosystem.
Through hands-on workshops, powerful conversations, and curated networking, Electrify inspires women founders to lead boldly, innovate fearlessly, and create real impact.
Workshop Day
Tuesday 9 June
We kick things off with a day of learning that equips founders with the skills, insights, and strategies to accelerate their journey.
Through interactive, founder-led sessions, you’ll explore the key pillars of startup success and gain actionable lessons from those who’ve navigated the path themselves, helping you avoid pitfalls, make confident decisions, and drive lasting impact.
12.30pm [ registration & welcome ]
Workshop 1 - 1:20pm
pick your path - choose one workshop
OPERATING LEAN | Growth - Sales, Revenue
Getting to revenue and understanding your numbers.
Zach Warder-Gabaldon - Host
Ankita Dhakar - Capture The Bug
Chloe Van Dyke - Chia Sisters
Steven Baker - VendorSage
MONEY & INVESTORS | the real stories of funding
Beyond the pitch deck.
Marian Johnson - Host
Camille Hunt - Mainland Angels
Anna Guenther - Pledge Me
Nadine Hill - Punakaiki Fund
Dr Kathleen Lucere - Foggy Valley Aotearoa
Joanna Greaves - Kiwibank
brand & storytelling | turning customer insights into brand
Understanding your customer deeply.
Ashley Bass - Phocas Software
leadership & people | personal leadership fundamentals
The inner game of founding.
Mahesh Muralidhar - Phase One
DEEP TECH | GETTING YOUR IP OUT
Christina Houlihan - Bspkl
2.40pm [ Break / room change ]
Workshop 2 - 2:55pm
pick your path - choose one workshop
OPERATING LEAN | Product - Building & Shipping with Minimal Resources
Product development, rapid decision making, and staying nimble
Zach Warder-Gabaldon - Host
Fiona Bycroft - Naut
Debbie Stowe - Vince
Hayley Killip - NOD
MONEY & INVESTORS | Inside the Investor's Mind
The other side of the table
Marian Johnson - Host
James Pinner - NZGCP
Nadine Hill - Punakaiki Fund
Georgia Robertson - Blackbird
Dr Kathleen Lucere - Foggy Valley Aotearoa
brand & storytelling | Brand Fundamentals for Startups
What brand actually means
Scott Kennedy - Edition
leadership & people | Building a 10x Team
Early culture formation
Harry Uffindell - Partly
DEEP TECH | Defining your product
How to productise your IP
Olivia Ogilvie - Opo Bio
4.15pm [ Break / Room change ]
Workshop 3 - 4:30pm
pick your path - choose one workshop
OPERATING LEAN | The Story - Design, Positioning & Early Marketing on Zero Budget
Crafting compelling positioning and getting initial traction
Kate Radcliffe-Reid & Danni Duncan
MONEY & INVESTORS | Financial literacy
The Numbers that Drive Decisions
Candice Tait - Founded To Be Counted
brand & storytelling | Visual Identity & Storytelling
Bringing your brand to life
Phoebe Devine - Previously Unavailable
leadership & people | How to Lead
Understanding where you are vs. where you need to be
Vanessa Radich - Appetise
DEEP TECH | Finding your pilot corporate sponsor
Karyna Young - ENPOT
5.50pm [ networking drinks]
Conference Day
Wednesday 10 June
On day two, get inspired by women founders sharing their insights, stories, and success. Connect with founders, investors, and key players across Aotearoa’s startup ecosystem, hear bold insights, and take away actionable strategies from thought-provoking panels.
8.00am [ REGISTRATION & NETWORKING ]
Session 1 - 8:30am
The Founder's Journey
Mihi Whakatau
Dale Stephens - Ministry of Awesome
Welcome
Nicole Retter - Emcee
Marian Johnson - Electrify Aotearoa
Councillor Bo Burns - Auckland Council
KEYNOTE | Building courage, capital, and a global business
Two years ago, Justine McIntyre walked into Electrify Aotearoa feeling like an impostor among “real founders”. Today, the founder of Injury Hub is running a global pilot partnership and raising capital to scale her impact.
Dr Justine McIntyre - Injury Hub
panel | smiling mind, winning mind
Unmask the debilitating effects of low confidence and the critical importance of mental and physical self care as a founder. Learn new ways of looking after your mind and your body so that you can be the ultimate version of yourself as a founder.
Marian Johnson - Host
Dr Justine McIntyre - Injury Hub
Sian Simpson - Bountifull Media
Ruby Kolesky - Joyous
Keynote | From pain points to painting farms pink
Ursula Haywood - Scanabull
10.00am [ morning tea | community connect roundtable networking ]
Session 2 - 10:40am
Global go-to-market
fireside | the impact of early stage investment
The impact of early-stage investment, with NZGCP
Nicole Retter - PAM
Emil Schroder - NZGCP
KEYNOTE | Cracking the U.S. Market: The Reality of U.S. Expansion
A founder who successfully cracked the US market explains how they did it from start to finish and how you can do it too.
Alyona Medlyan - Thematic
fireside | emma lewisham
Emma Lewsham
Marian Johnson - Electrify Aotearoa
PANEL | Kiwibank Startup+ NZ's first bank funding for startups
Marian Johnson - Host
Joanna Greaves - Kiwibank
Ankita Dhakar - Capture The Bug
Madeline Patel - Delightable
12.00 PM [ lunchtime | Community connect roundtable networking ]
Session 3 - 1:00pm
NZ UNIQUE - it's not just about the money
Keynote | The Fast Lane to MVP - Built with AI
Olivia Dyet - Empathix
Keynote | Bias in funding. Here's how to make it work for you, not against you.
Jenny Rudd - Dispute Buddy
KEYNOTE | Māori Entrepreneurship: Tikanga to heal the world
Shona Grundy - Source
keynote | Capitalism that’s good for the world
Values don't only light up your passion and fuel your business, but also connect powerfully with customers who become evangelists.
Ellie Brade - Cleanery
keynote | The Power of Community
What's possible when we rise together?
Marian Johnson - Chairwoman, Electrify Aotearoa
2.30pm - 3:30pm [ closing networking ]