Youth Enterprise Funds
The Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) – Te Manatū Whakahiato Taiohi established a funding stream dedicated to supporting youth enterprise programmes in 2014. The aim is to support young people (aged 12 to 24) to be better prepared for the future work environment through funding strength-based enterprise education and skills development opportunities and investing in young people’s business potential.
Expanding Youth Enterprise and Education Funding Streams
The Expanding Youth Enterprise and Education funding stream equals $1.500 million (per annum). From 2025/2026 Financial Year, the following three funds sit within this funding stream:
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Introduction to Enterprise Fund (IEF) $0.475 million (per annum)
The IEF supports skill-building (including financial literacy, digital/computing skills, and problem-solving and communication skills) to enhance young people’s access to, and success in, future business or employment opportunities.
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Building Entrepreneurial Capital Fund (BECF) $0.725 million (per annum)
The BECF provides young people with enterprise experiences and knowledge needed to create a business. Young people will have the opportunity to test their ideas, and all young people will have developed a ‘business model canvas’ (a one-page business plan template designed to help articulate, test, and refine business ideas) and budget, by the end of the programme. Young people will be supported by mentoring or youth worker relationships as they explore how they choose to engage in their community and the economy.
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Developing Youth-Led Businesses Fund (DYBF) $0.300 million (per annum)
The DYBF offers seed funding and mentoring for young people who have businesses ready to take to the next level. MYD is providing contributory funding to be added to business and private investment into young people who have already participated in an enterprise programme and are ready to apply their learning to the real-world business they have created. Young people, who would not otherwise have access to the ecosystem, will be supported to create economic opportunities for themselves and their communities.
Youth Enterprise Funding Decisions (2025-2027)
Decisions have been made regarding recipients of funding through the three funds within MYD’s Expanding Youth Enterprise and Education funding stream. For the Introduction to Enterprise Fund and the Building Entrepreneurial Capital Fund, the initial term of this funding is for the period Tuesday 01 July 2025 to Wednesday 30 June 2027. For the Developing Youth Led Businesses Fund, the initial term of this funding is for the period Tuesday 01 July 2025 to Tuesday 30 June 2026.
Information on funded organisations can be found here (PDF 165 KB) or in the tables below.
Introduction to Enterprise Fund
| Provider | 2025/2026 Financial Year Funding | Total Funding Value (01 July 2025 - 30 June 2027) |
|
Youth Enterprise Trust |
$475,000.00 | $950,000.00 |
|---|
Building Entrepreneurial Capital Fund
| Provider | 2025/2026 Financial Year Funding | Total Funding Value (01 July 2025 - 30 June 2027) |
|
Living Well Trust |
$24,577.00 | $49,154.00 |
|---|---|---|
|
Pasifika Digital Knowledge Trust |
$75,000.00 | $150,000.00 |
|
RISE Group Trust |
$20,000.00 | $40,000.00 |
|
Stand Tall Community Trust |
$20,000.00 | $40,000.00 |
|
The Kind Foundation |
$83,246.00 | $166,492.00 |
|
The King's Trust Aotearoa New Zealand |
$120,000.00 | $240,000.00 |
|
The Southern Youth Development Trust Board |
$120,000.00 | $240,000.00 |
|
The Wellington Boys' and Girls' Institute Board |
$82,177.00 | $164,354.00 |
|
YMCA of South Waikato |
$60,000.00 | $120,000.00 |
|
Youthtown Incorporated |
$120,000.00 | $240,000.00 |
Developing Youth-Led Businesses Fund
| Provider | 2025/2026 Financial Year Funding | Total Funding Value (01 July 2025 - 30 June 2026) |
|
The King's Trust Aotearoa New Zealand |
$300,000.00 | $300,000.00 |
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