Stone & Chalk expands footprint into New Zealand

Stone & Chalk has announced a strategic partnership with GridAKL, home to Auckland’s startup community — a move set to bolster the support network for tech startups.

Long recognised as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, Stone & Chalk offers startups and scaleups a nurturing environment to grow, learn and connect with industry leaders, investors and mentors. The company is now expanding its reach across the Tasman to extend support to New Zealand’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.

The expansion will be led by Imche Veiga, co-founder and CEO of NZ deep technology hub Outset Ventures, who was recently appointed to Stone & Chalk as Group Executive, Ecosystems. With extensive industry experience including roles with the Startup Advisors Council, Callaghan Innovation Board and BIOTech New Zealand, Veiga will drive the development of Stone & Chalk and GridAKL’s AuNZ startup ecosystem.

Key highlights of the partnership include:

• Cross-border collaboration: Combining region-specific knowledge, resources and opportunities to unite the two existing ecosystems, open doors to new opportunities and markets, and support global expansion efforts.
• Access to expertise: Startups across Australia and New Zealand will have access to a diverse pool of mentors, industry experts and corporate partners for guidance and support to fuel growth.
• Investor connectivity: Access to Stone & Chalk’s established investor community, establishing connections required in the runway to raise funds.
• Global landing pad: Residents from across Australia will gain access to desk and office space at GridAKL and conversely for New Zealand startups entering Australia to support cross-Tasman expansion efforts.
• Innovation events: Joint innovation events, monthly founder meetups, hackathons, conferences and more to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among startups, corporates and industry leaders.
   

Chris Kirk, CEO of Stone & Chalk, is enthusiastic about the partnership.

“Expanding into New Zealand through our partnership with GridAKL is a significant step towards building a robust innovation bridge across the Tasman,” he said.

“We believe that by connecting Australia and New Zealand’s innovation ecosystems, we can collectively drive the growth of startups and emerging tech companies in the Asia–Pacific region.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Peshkova