WAIPĀ TECH MEETUP
Where Waipā’s innovators connect, build, and grow
The 2026 Waipā Tech Series offer a high‑energy line-up of topics and guest speakers. Join us if you're a founder, tech professional, creative, thinker, or just curious about innovation in our business community.
2026 Waipa Tech Series Meetup #2 - Harness AI to enhance your business offering
Don't get 'bucked off'! It's time to learn how to enhance your business with AI.
The business world is changing rapidly with AI. Hear from experts in the field to learn about how SME's can leverage what's happening for their benefit.
The panel discussion will be facilitated by Grant Johnson from Rocketspark, with a chance for audience questions.
Speakers to be announced soon, with three key focus areas:
Marketing and communications
Product
Customer success
Enjoy drinks and nibbles while connecting and networking with other founders, operators, and support providers.
Why attend?
Fresh insights
Clear, practical advice you can act on immediately
Connection with the district’s thinkers and doers
2026 Series Meetup #2 event sponsors
A huge shout-out to BNZ Cambridge for hosting us at our next meetup, and of course, our regular sponsors: Waipā District Council, Rocketspark, Soda INC., and Belle PR.
A rising tide lifts all boats
In late 2024 Waipā District Council, Soda Inc and Rocketspark came together to plan a series of tech meetups in 2025.
Our mission for the Waipā Tech Meetup is to bring together the local tech community where we can learn from and help each other as we take on the world from the Waipā District.
Discover insights, build networks, and connect with local experts who are happy to share their knowledge and wisdom.
Waipa Tech Meetup #1 2026 Recap:
Cyber Security: How big a threat is it to small businesses and what can you do to protect yourself?
In this session, we heard from Kelcy Ballantyne and Tim Bixley from IT Partners, as well as Barry Mitchell from Millennium Technology and Support, about protections businesses can put in place to protect themselves against cyber attacks, from basic hygiene through to more considered system and staff safeguards.
Just as valuable were the stories shared about incidents where things went wrong, and the reality of what it took to respond, recover, and rebuild trust once the damage was done.
The session reinforced a clear message: cyber security isn’t just an IT issue. It’s a business risk that requires leadership, preparedness, and ongoing attention. The open discussion that followed reflected the value of learning not only from best practice, but also from hard-earned experience.
Series Two Meetup #7 2025 Recap:
Free money? Avenues to Government funding and services for tech startups
This event was more than just a presentation from five government support agency representatives; it was a shared experience, strengthening genuine connections and practical learnings among the Waipā business community.
Five leading experts took the front of the room, each sharing their business elevator pitch in a lively “Dragons’ Den” style session.
Their insights ranged from the importance of targeted market research and refining business fundamentals to understanding export credit guarantees and the latest updates on R&D tax incentives.
Working together to bring you Waipā Tech Meetup
Building Waipā's tech community together
At Waipā Tech Meetup, we create a space for people in tech to connect and grow. Our events focus on collaboration and drawing in locally based experts to share their knowledge.
Whether you're new to tech or advancing your career, the meetups will provide opportunities for development in Waipā's tech scene.
Can't make the event? Sign up to be in the loop.
