SQL Microgrants Recipients Announced: “Celebrating Innovation”.
Our SQL Microgrants have been announced, created to give local founders a boost of support and encouragement.
This one-off Microgrants fund of $20,000 was designed to support early-stage startups in Queenstown Lakes to run an experiment, meet a goal, or move the needle on a specific goal or objective with a small one-off cash injection.
Celebrating our SQL Microgrant recipients receiving their grants.
Startups can put the money toward a range of activities, i.e. the purchase of specialised equipment, the development of prototypes, running product trials, and customer interviewing or market research.
We were pleased to see how much interest there was from local startups. In total there were 67 applications for $191,750 funding requested - more than nine times the amount we had in the fund itself. The quality of applications, the diversity of industry sectors and ideas were really impressive, reiterating to us that great ideas can come from anyone, from anywhere, and from any background.
Startup Queenstown Lakes was also lucky enough to have the support of a panel of experts, business and community leaders, who got together to review the applicants and award the funding. A big thank you to David Wallace SQL Board Chair, Fiona Laryn Founder of Laryn Allied Health, Giovanni Stephens Community Investment Advisor at QLDC, and Carmen Blackler Independent Energy Consultant.
Here’s an overview of the funding allocated:
Playcation, a global rewards and loyalty platform built for tourism and hospitality workers.
Scouty, an online marketplace that helps people find and connect with the right personal trainer or coach for their unique goals.
Caretrack Pro, an online tool to transform care quality in aged care homes, through intuitive documentation and smart insights.
RYD, a shared mobility platform to unburden people from the need to own personal vehicles.
Seeding Investments, addressing the succession crisis in farming, by helping plug the capital gap for young farmers.
HempCentral, a regionally based hemp fibre business that supports sustainable building, local employment, and land-use diversification.
Arrowtown Audio Tour, a locally developed app that delivers rich character-driven narratives and soundscapes.
Casa Jaguar, a café, cultural hub, and community project based in Glenorchy, sharing Mexican culture through food, storytelling, and connection.
Sylvantis, a nature-based neurotoxic vertebrate pesticide together with a smart delivery system to control agricultural pests.
Check In Global, a values-led digital platform designed to foster real-world connection through shared values, purpose, and timing.
At The Fishery, a smart, sustainable POS-integrated mobile application to improve internal operations, and strengthens connections with the local Queenstown community.
Habitat Domes, designing and manufacturing affordable, sustainable geodesic domes for housing, greenhouses, and community spaces.
QuickCrew, solving the staffing problem in high season especially in Hospitality and Tourism.
Screen Teens, a youth-focused screen acting and filmmaking programme in Queenstown.
Lost Property Ninja, reuniting kids with their items, using a personalised, anonymised, geolocated QR code system.
Would you like to get involved for the next funding round?
Given the oversubscription, the team is already looking at how we might run a microgrants fund annually. If you’d like to get involved or sponsor for 2026, get in touch with the team at intheloop@startupqueenstownlakes.com
A huge thanks to our funders Queenstown Lakes District Council and the generous business supporters for making this all possible.
