Free money? Avenues to government funding and services for tech
Tuesday 7 October 2025, 5pm - 6:30pm - BNZ Partner Centre, Level 1 55 Victoria Street Cambridge
Free money? What’s really on offer for tech founders?
Government support for tech ventures is out there, but are you making the most of it?
Join us for a fast-paced, practical session that explores the real opportunities available to tech founders through government-backed funding and support. From R&D tax incentives to capability building and accelerator programmes, this event will help you understand what’s on offer and how to engage.
Hear directly from representatives of key support organisations, including:
Anna Devcich - General Manager, Soda Inc.
Dr Fern Kelly-Zander - Innovation Specialist, Soda Inz
Renee Polaczuk - NZ Export Credit Office
Maria Vosper-Rink, Regional Manager, NZTE
Ross Jensen, Oxygen Advisors
Each speaker will provide a brief overview of their offerings, followed by a facilitated Q&A session. Read their bios below.
Enjoy drinks and nibbles while connecting and networking with other founders, operators, and support providers.
Thanks to our sponsors
A huge shout out to BNZ Cambridge for hosting us, and of course, our regular sponsors: Waipā District Council, Rocketspark, Soda INC., and Belle PR.
Meetup #6 is sponsored by BNZ
Anna Devcich - General Manager, Soda Inc.
Anna Devcich leads the team at Soda Inc., driving initiatives that support innovation and entrepreneurship across the Waikato region.
As General Manager, she oversees a diverse portfolio including the Regional Business Partner (RBP) programme, RISE UP, and Startup Aotearoa. Anna plays a pivotal role in helping local businesses access tailored support through the RBP network, connecting founders and SMEs with the resources they need to grow.
With a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem and a passion for regional development, Anna brings valuable insights into how government and private sector support can unlock opportunities for tech founders.
Dr Fern Kelly-Zander - Programme Manager, Soda Inc
Fern Kelly-Zander leads Soda’s Business Fundamentals online learning platform, a practical and accessible resource designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners build strong, sustainable ventures.
With a focus on real-world tools and insights, Fern supports founders at every stage of their journey, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to navigate challenges and grow their businesses. Her work reflects Soda’s commitment to empowering regional innovation and making business support more inclusive and impactful.
Maria Vosper-Rink – Regional Manager, NZTE
Maria Vosper-Rink is the Regional Manager for the Waikato at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), helping NZTE stay connected to the local business ecosystem and play a role as a key contributor to regional export growth.
At the heart of her role, Maria works closely with a focus portfolio of ambitious New Zealand exporters - supporting their international growth through tailored support, strategic insights, and global connections.
NZTE’s purpose is simple: to grow New Zealand companies internationally - bigger, better, and faster - for the good of New Zealand.
Renee Polaczuk - NZ Export Credit Office
Renee supports New Zealand exporters to grow through innovation and internationalisation. As a Regional Manager for the NZ Export Credit Office, she works with businesses across South Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, helping them unlock new opportunities through Trade Credit Insurance and Financial Guarantee solutions. Renee is passionate about enabling Kiwi companies to expand confidently into global markets.
Ross Jensen - Oxygen Advisors
Ross Jensen is a virtual CFO with Oxygen Advisors, a dynamic Auckland-based financial advisory firm supporting over 100 Australasian innovators through cashflow planning, capital raising, strategic planning, R&D grant funding, and more. After six years at Oxygen, Ross knows high-growth tech ventures inside and out and brings deep hands-on experience.
At this Waipā Tech meetup, he’ll offer a practical perspective on navigating the sometimes tricky world of R&D tax incentives and R&D tax loss cash outs, which, if mastered, can provide a significant level of funding for your R&D programmes.
