Six startups putting Christchurch on the global tech map

Six Christchurch startups to watch in 2026

A burst of founder-led innovation is coming out of Ōtautahi Christchurch, with startups applying AI, fintech and satellite connectivity to problems that cost industries time, money and trust.

Here are six local startups to watch in 2026 – each building momentum from Christchurch, with global markets in view.

Traft AI: speeding up claims and construction costing

When Cyclone Gabrielle sparked a surge of insurance claims in 2023, it exposed how slow and manual damage assessment still is, with some homeowners waiting months for inspections. Christchurch-founded Traft AI is addressing that bottleneck with Inoscope, which generates damage assessments and repair estimates from photos in minutes.

Inoscope uses “spatial logic” to infer the work behind visible damage – from plumbing to cabinetry. For insurers, it enables faster remote settlement of straightforward claims. For builders, it cuts admin and speedsup quoting – producing a precise materials “shopping list” that reduces waste and rework.

Backkr: making customer insight usable for small service firms

Backkr is built for businesses that can’t afford a marketing agency but still need to grow. Founder Kate Radcliffe-Reid saw a persistent gap between high-end marketing support and the reality for small service businesses (think accountants, consultants, tradies and HR firms) who often don’t know where to start.

Backkr connects to a business’s web analytics and turns complex customer data into clear, practical personas – then guides users through actions to improve messaging, SEO and website performance. The product is deliberately “data-first”, designed to replace hours of manual analysis with fast, repeatable insight and practical next steps.

Lightning Pay: Building faster, lower-cost digital payments

Lightning Pay is developing payment infrastructure using the Bitcoin Lightning Network to enable fast, low-cost transactions and transfers. The platform aims to make digital payments more accessible in New Zealand by combining open banking with real-time value exchange.

In 2026, the company plans to launch a digital wallet built on Spark technology, designed to support rapid transactions and automated payments. Planned features include invoice scanning, simplified payment workflows and programmable payment options, positioning the platform within a new generation of financial services tools.

Script Sense: award-winning system aiming to make pharmacies safer

Christchurch health-tech startup Script Sense is taking on medicine-related errors with a cloud-based pharmacy management system designed to reduce manual data entry and automate non-clinical tasks.

The company won Start-up of the Year at the global Association of MBAs (AMBA) and Business Graduates Association (BGA) awards in 2024. Script Sense says its goal is to lift safety and productivity in pharmacies by freeing clinicians from admin, and it is continuing to onboard customers and build new functionality as it scales.

Contented: turning conversations into usable business assets

Plenty of tools can transcribe meetings. Contented goes further: it records conversations and transforms them into outputs teams can actually use – action tables, decision logs, SWOT analyses, proposals, compliance checklists, marketing material and training content.

Founded by Lucy Pink and Hannah Hardy-Jones, the startup has built traction with organisations that want accuracy, privacy controls and strong transcription performance (including te reo Māori and different accents). With a growing customer base across New Zealand and offshore, Contented is positioning itself as a trusted platform for organisations that want to extract value from the “wasted words” inside everyday business conversations.

RIVIR: making industrial devices “text” from anywhere via satellite

Christchurch startup RIVIR is tackling one of the toughest Internet of Things (IoT) challenges: keeping assets connected in places with little or no mobile coverage. The company has developed industrial IoT gateways designed for Starlink Direct to Cell, allowing equipment and sensors to send small packets of data via satellite when continuous connectivity isn’t available.

In a major milestone, RIVIR recently signed an agreement with Rogers Communications, enabling hybrid cellular and satellite IoT connectivity across Canada. The partnership supports remote assets, roaming machinery fleets and critical infrastructure, with core engineering delivered from Christchurch.

What’s behind the Christchurch startup boom?

The city’s startup pipeline is anchored by Ministry of Awesome, supported by ChristchurchNZ and an active network of mentors, advisors and investors. That combination – talent, backing and connectedness – is a key ingredient in delivering the Christchurch Economic Ambition, which is focused on building a more productive, resilient and inclusive economy through high-value, future-facing industries.

Graham Scown, Chief Executive of Ministry of Awesome, says Christchurch’s advantage is the way support wraps around founders early – and stays with them as they scale.

“Christchurch is showing what happens when a community truly backs its entrepreneurs. With the foundation support of Ara Institute, ChristchurchNZ and Kiwibank, Ministry of Awesome has built connected spaces where bold ideas grow into lasting ventures,” says Scown.

“This startup momentum is fueling high‑value jobs, stronger industries and meaningful economic growth for all of New Zealand.”

Dianna Rhodes, Head of Business Growth and Innovation at ChristchurchNZ, said the strength of the ecosystem is its ability to connect startups quickly to capability, customers and capital.

Why startups matter for Christchurch

Taken together, these startups reflect a shift toward export-capable innovation: companies building real products, solving industry pain points, and targeting scale. For Christchurch, they also underline the region’s growing strength as a place to start, test and grow technology, supported by a connected ecosystem that aligns with the Christchurch Economic Ambition.