LAUNCHED 9 MAY 2022

WHAT IS HE KĀKANO?

He Kākano is a seed fund for young entrepreneurs
aged 17-30 years.

It is a unique partnership between The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand (KTANZ), The Ministry of Youth Development (MYD), business and taiohi.

$1 million has been provided by government, via MYD, and is being matched dollar-for-dollar by private philanthropy/business.

He Kākano is a positive economic response to the Covid-19 global pandemic initiative and invests in the future of business. It will grant funds to 100+ young entrepreneurs over the first 2 years.

Since May 2022, we have been inundated with applications for funding from young entrepreneurs.

So far, we have funded 110 youth-led businesses and we have more waiting to pitch to our panel.

We believe the response from young people shows the reality of the current economic crisis and that young entrepreneurs have unique and inspiring ideas about how they want to live their lives.

He Kākano Alumni Event media release

OUR STORIES

Young kiwi entrepreneur, Alli Kennedy has created a board game challenging the traditional views on financial education. Read about Sharenanigans

Torisse is Samoan from the villages of Afega, Lefaga, Sala’ilua and Falealili and the founder of Lalaga, a card game.Read about the Lalaga

Oakley offers premium car care services through his business Cleaner CarsRead about Cleaner Cars start up and acceleration plans

Meet Our He Kākano Whānau and read their stories here

A marketplace of young entrepreneurs supported by the Trust

Taiohi Traders

KETE OF CREATIVITY

The King’s Trust Aotearoa New Zealand has collected an incredible array of product carefully designed by talented young entrepreneurs who’ve been supported with backing from the Trust’s He Kākano Seed Fund.

The Kete of Creativity celebrates the ingenuity of young designers in Aotearoa, it was showcased and auctioned at The Prince’s Trust Global Gala in New York in last April.

All products are curated in Aotearoa. Included in the Kete of Creativity is:

Tasmyn Roach from Awhi (cherish) Company’s taonga (treasures) of Māori designs on blankets and wraps for pēpi (baby) and whare (home)

Ecobase’s natural, biodegradable, gender neutral Ecobalm lip balm made by Mackenzie Annett and Hamish Stayt

A selection of intricately illustrated books by talented writer and artist Hayley Elliott-Kernot

Baby playmats and wraps that honour Amy Barratt and Dayna Davendale’s Māori and Pasifika heritage and Bo&Ko’s commitment to diversity

Modern Ritual’s self care products that fuse to gether Jesse Waetford’s passion for plants, nature, culture and rituals

A classic kiwiana jet plane t-shirt designed by Abbie Wood from The Together Collective

Luxe activewear designed for curvy babes by Nicole Gaviria from Lulah Collective

Abalro Health’s Alex Livingstone and Abby Green’s pure Barberry fruit powder – a superfood containing incredible health benefits

Dulve Hemp Milk made from NZ grown spray - free hemp hearts, a allergen - friendly milk alternative created by Miah Faumuina

Sustainable activewear by Zach Stephenson from Balmanno Sportswear

Rongoā (natural medicines) Māori product made in an eco-friendly and isolated puni (camp) on the shore of Lake Taupō, in the central North Island, by Kohatrade’s Mokoia Rata