Kia ora
Welcome to the July edition of the HealthTech Activator (HTA) monthly wrap.
This month, we take a look back at HealthTech Week, share upcoming opportunities for startups, and continue our journey through quality management systems with the second article in our ISO 13485 series. There's also a round-up of local and global healthtech news worth knowing.
Looking Back: HealthTech Week 2025
HealthTech Week is always a chance to step back, connect, and reflect on how far the sector has come—and where it’s going next. This year’s event was no different. Across the sessions, panel discussions, and informal conversations, a consistent theme emerged: the urgent need to unlock the commercial potential of New Zealand’s healthtech sector. Equally strong was the emphasis on the power of community, relationships, and a shared commitment to equity.
As part of the event, we asked attendees to share their thoughts on one simple but powerful question:
What would make it easier to commercialise healthtech in New Zealand?
From companies, the message was clear: know your customer and customise accordingly. Before scaling or seeking investment, be sure you’ve validated your market and sharpened your solution to meet real clinical or operational needs.
From the broader ecosystem, the responses reflected the complexity of the journey. Access to capital, early adopters, clinical trials, product/market fit, and go-to-market strategy support were all flagged as key pressure points. These aren’t new themes—but the consistency of the feedback shows we still have work to do. For anyone navigating those challenges right now, the HTA is here to help. Whether you’re looking for support with market validation, regulatory planning, or investment readiness, now is a good time to get in touch and check out our events below!
Also, a quick nod to a lighter moment: our jellybean guessing competition drew plenty of entries. The winning guess—just 33 beans off the actual count of 671. Well played!
QMS Corner: Quality Systems for Startups
Why Quality Management Matters—Even for Startups Quality management isn’t just for big healthtech companies—it’s foundational for startups too. That’s why the HTA, in partnership with the Johner Institute New Zealand, has launched a 12-month content series on ISO 13485, the global standard for medical device quality systems. Stay tuned for articles, tools, and guidance throughout the year.
Featured Articles (Q1 Focus: General Awareness): - ISO 13485 – Introduction, General Understanding and the Role of Training in the Medical Technology Sector
- Understanding ISO 13485: A Practical Guide for Small Medical Device Companies (NEW)
Coming soon: More Q1 resources to deepen your understanding of medical device quality systems. See below! Upcoming HTA workshopsKnow Your Customer, Know Your Market Workshop - 20 August, Auckland A lack of robust market validation is one of the most common weaknesses of Healthtech businesses searching for investment. This workshop is aimed at early-stage Healthtech companies, or Healthtech companies that would like to have a fresh look at their market and how they have validated it to date. Led by Dan Hansen, director of consulting firm Apagie and CEO of AVRT Group, this workshop will utilise Dan’s cross-industry and first-hand experience to give companies the right processes for successfully commercialising and growing their health technology products and services. Commercial Planning & Strategy – 14 October, Auckland Navigating health tech supply chains is challenging. This workshop equips you with essential commercial planning and strategy insights to chart your journey to success. Led by Dan Hansen, director of consulting firm Apagie, and CEO of AVRT Group, this workshop is ideal for early-stage companies planning for their future market entry. Registrations opening soon for:
Introduction to ISO 13485 - 7 October, 11:00am NZT, webinar Join us for our first live webinar in the QMS series, led by Anne Arndt, Director of Johner Institute New Zealand Ltd. Learn practical approaches to implementing ISO 13485 in your business, followed by an interactive Q&A session. Ideal for those seeking to enhance their quality management systems.
Health Economics – 10 Sept, Christchurch Understand the drivers and processes used to determine economic value and a health system’s willingness to pay for a healthcare product. This highly interactive workshop is intended for decision-makers and organisations wanting to systematically compare technologies, access new markets, and secure reimbursement strategies across several healthcare environments and systems. Led by Abbas Al-Murrani - Managing Director & Founder, Health Economics Consulting NZ.
Medical Software Regulatory Requirements - 6 November, Christchurch Gain a deeper understanding of the regulatory landscape for medical software products, including Software in a Medical Device (SiMD) and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). Facilitated by Anne Arndt, Director of Johner Institute New Zealand Ltd., this session will help improve your understanding and application of regulatory requirements and standards, including IEC 62304. |
