Wellington Gold Awards

Name: Wellington Gold Awards
Address: PO Box 11/549, Wellington, 6011, NZ
Telephone: +64272088780

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Wellington Gold Awards

Celebrating Inspiring Wellington Businesses The Wellington Gold Awards are an annual celebration of the greater Wellington region's business community.

The Awards Night is an important date in the business calendar, over 600 people attend a red carpet event at Wellington's iconic Embassy cinema to celebrate inspiring Wellington businesses and their teams. Special Tributes are also given to deserving individuals and special projects or initiatives that have had a positive impact on the region.

14/06/2026

Pertronic Industries Limited - TECHNOLOGY GOLD Finalists

SNAPPER SERVICES

Big fish, bigger data

You know the Snapper card – but the whole story is much bigger than that.

Snapper Services exists to decarbonise and decongest cities – accelerating the journey towards a more sustainable world.

Its transit intelligence platform, Mosaiq, launched in 2023 and now processes more bus data than any other solution on the market – ingesting more than 12 billion bus ‘heartbeats’ each month.

39 transit operators across 10+ countries use Mosaiq to make confident, evidence-based improvements to their networks.

"Every improvement to a bus network means more people choosing public transport. That's how we make cities better.” - explains CEO Miki Szikszai (pictured).

Mosaiq has grown strongly year-on-year since launch, with the team 89% Wellington-based – and they're a previous Gold winner.

LEARN MORE:
www.mosaiq.co/
www.linkedin.com/company/snapper-services-limited

14/06/2026

Pertronic Industries Limited - TECHNOLOGY GOLD Finalists

Silverstripe

No One Left Buffering

For over 26 years, Silverstripe has been creating digital solutions that make a difference to everyday life.

From banking to education, emergency services to immigration, they design and deliver the essential digital services people can rely on.

In the last 12 months, Silverstripe further evolved its impact—becoming a key global player guiding the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) movement.

Using their framework DPI Connect, they delivered South Africa’s single digital service portal in just 10 weeks.

By utilising a modular "Lego-block" architecture, responsible innovative AI, and designing for inclusion, the project transformed hours of queuing into minutes of mobile interaction.

"With DPI Connect, we’re aiming not merely for a technical upgrade, but a measurable lift in society. We’re striving for digital solutions that truly leave no one behind," says Sigurd Magnusson, co-founder and CEO (pictured).

LEARN MORE:
www.silverstripe.com

14/06/2026

Pertronic Industries Limited - TECHNOLOGY GOLD Finalists

PaySauce

Wage against the machine

Petone-built, NZX-listed, and the only truly mobile payroll platform in the country.

PaySauce is fintech SaaS for the businesses payroll usually forgets — micros and SMEs — and it's quietly running the numbers for 8,500+ employers and around 80,000 employees.

The 45-strong team grew processing fee revenue 14% in the past year, raised $5M in December, and took their new payroll product to enter Australia.

CEO Asantha Wijeyeratne, (pictured): explains "We turn payroll expertise into easy-to-use technology, so employers can focus on what really matters to their business.”

PayNow gives staff free earned wage access (a polite poke at the payday lenders), and across their product portfolio are serving payroll in 14 APAC countries.

A previous Gold alumni - and clearly still hungry.

LEARN MORE:
http://www.paysauce.com
http://www.facebook.com/PaySauce
www.linkedin.com/company/paysauce

14/06/2026

Pertronic Industries Limited - TECHNOLOGY GOLD Finalists

KOAN

Cloud Control

Koan is a Wellington-based AWS and software engineering consultancy. Senior teams deliver complex cloud work for clients across New Zealand and overseas, from national health payment systems to global sports brain-health platforms, where accuracy, security and uptime matter most.

"We start with deep, upfront discovery, then focus on outcome based models rather than hours. Our engineers come from the likes of Xero, AWS and banking, and are passionate about building," says founder Gareth Lawrence (pictured at AWS Summit Sydney).

A place on the Health New Zealand Integration Panel, strong year-on-year growth and export-grade work from a local base into the EU and US show the model is working. Koan remains New Zealand owned and committed to responsible AI."

LEARN MORE:
www.koan.co.nz
www.linkedin.com/company/koan-limited

14/06/2026

Pertronic Industries Limited - TECHNOLOGY GOLD Finalists

AUTOHIVE AI

Honey, I shrunk the job

Some startups talk fast; Autohive moves faster.

Launched in June 2025 out of Te Aro, this Wellington-built AI automation platform lets anyone — accountant, marketer, office manager — describe a task in plain English and have a working AI agent doing it in under 60 seconds.

No code or developer or drama. Inside twelve months, Autohive went from idea to global product with 4,500+ customers, a marketplace of 60+ pre-built agents, a mobile app, and net negative churn of -23.9% (translation: customers don't leave, they expand).

Founder John-Daniel Trask (pictured) says "We did not set out to build software. We set out to fix how teams work, and that is what shipped.”

One client saves 150 hours a month; another doubled customer-service volume without a single new hire. Multi-agent conversations, an agent marketplace, sub-60-second builders — Autohive shipped all of it before the global giants did.

Kiwi-built, Silicon Valley-validated, and only just getting started.

LEARN MORE:
www.autohive.com
www.facebook.com/autohiveai

14/06/2026

Talent Army - SUPPORTING GOLD Finalists

Youth Inspire

Rangatahi Rising

Led by Chief Executive Officer Zainab Ali (pictured right with rangatahi Zion Tiaki), this Taita based charity backs rangatahi aged 15–25 with exactly what employers actually care about: confidence, skills and a full licence in their pocket.

There’s no entry criteria, no judgement and definitely no box ticking – just real relationships, bespoke employment programmes, driving lessons and the kind of wraparound mentoring that can get rival gang members working side by side in the same class.

With strong outcomes, fierce community trust and a waitlist of keen rangatahi, Youth Inspire is quietly building tomorrow’s leaders, one hard won opportunity at a time.

LEARN MORE:
www.youthinspire.co.nz
Youth Inspire
Instagram:
www.linkedin.com/company/youth-inspire-lower-hutt

14/06/2026

Talent Army - SUPPORTING GOLD Finalists

TaskMasters

The gentle art of letting go

Since its foundation in 2016, TaskMasters has supported seniors and families by providing organising and decluttering services built on trust and empathy.

Our compassionate, wrap-around service guides clients through downsizing into homes and retirement villages, and clearing loved ones' estates, making the grieving process easier.

"Our work frees up much-needed housing, supports local businesses and charities, and provides flexible employment for individuals aged 50+ who are balancing work with caring for aging parents.” explains Founder Judy Thorpe (pictured right with Co Founder Jane van der Wilt).

Committed to sustainability, we ensure belongings are thoughtfully rehomed and recycled, diverting tonnes from landfills.

Last year, TaskMasters prepared 105 properties for sale and managed 116 retirement move-ins, achieving 42% business growth.

Moving forward, we aim to meet the needs of more people across the Wellington region.

LEARN MORE
www.taskmasters.co.nz
Instagram: taskmasters_organisers

14/06/2026

Talent Army - SUPPORTING GOLD Finalists

TAIAWA - WELLINGTON TECH HUB

Local roots get global wings

Taiawa - Wellington Tech Hub is the high-energy growth community powering global growth of the capital's scaling tech scene.

A first-of-its-kind partnership between Wellington City Council and Victoria University of Wellington, Taiawa opened in June 2024 to support and propel local tech innovators onto the world stage.

Founder Dascha Cooper (pictured) tells us "The impact is tangible: in its first year, resident companies generated $11.9 million and 127 jobs for the Wellington region."

Our founders are scaling at pace with Factor recently acquired for $24 million, Litmaps active in 180 countries and Storbie growing its US base by 2,000%.

By blending VUW student talent with high-trust, low ego community, Taiawa ensures Wellington's "weightless" exports solve real-world problems globally.

LEARN MORE:
taiawawellington.co.nz
www.linkedin.com/company/taiawa-wellington-tech-hub
www.youtube.com/channel/UCgdO_ADANHdr9f2gyCZM0-A

14/06/2026

Talent Army - SUPPORTING GOLD Finalists

PORIRUA CAREERS EXPO

Paddling their own waka

A community-led event that's quietly become the careers expo of choice in our region.

Established by Porirua City Council in conjunction with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, MoE, MSD, Le Fale, Partners Porirua and local colleges, it's growing fast: 2,700 attendees in 2024 and over 3,300 in 2025 and 2026.

"With free buses for colleges - the expo was launched to help young people discover new career and study pathways, opening doors to a brighter future.” explains Porirua City Council Organiser Shaun Freemantle (pictured left with fellow organiser Sam Tyler).

Anchored in a waka kaupapa, featuring Cook Island drummers, a va'a, and the moana symbolising the journey our rangatahi navigate as they steer and find their own career paths.

Hoea tō waka – paddle your canoe.

Pathways, with a pulse.

LEARN MORE:
www.poriruacity.govt.nz/careers-expo

14/06/2026

Talent Army - SUPPORTING GOLD Finalists

PledgeMe

Girls just wanna have funds

PledgeMe is the Aotearoa‑born crowdfunding platform that decided capital raising should feel like a party, not a bank meeting.

Since 2012 they’ve helped more than 1,700 campaigns raise almost $80 million, backing everything from community projects to Wellington icons like Hills Hats and newcomers Dose Buddy.

Founder Anna Guenther (pictured) says “Our secret sauce is crowd activation, not gatekeeping – especially for women, Māori, Pasifika, regional and impact founders who are often locked out of traditional funding.

With equity success rates jumping from 60 to 80 percent and half of all funds raised going to female founders, they’re smashing global VC stats. PledgeMe is putting the fun back into funding – and making sure more of that money lands close to home.

LEARN MORE:
PledgeMe.co.nz
www.facebook.com/pledgeme
www.linkedin.com/company/pledgeme

Address

PO Box 11/549
Wellington
6011

Telephone

+64272088780

Website

http://www.goldawards.co.nz/

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