Entrepreneurship
frequently asked questions

We will usually ask for a CV and Letter of Interest from applicants. There may also be an application form, with further questions about you and your business.

Further information will be made available when we promote an opportunity.

Candidates are selected by relevant staff at the Foundation, sometimes in consultation with New Zealand offshore diplomatic posts and with domestic industry experts where applicable. 

We also ensure there is fair weighting for other considerations such as diversity (gender, geographic, and ethnic), relevant experience and future potential for business and on-going engagement. 

We aim to get back to applicants within 3-4 weeks of the application deadline. In some circumstances, it may require more time. In these cases, we will aim to update you as soon as possible.

Past participants are more than welcome to apply again, but new participants will be favoured in the selection process to ensure our programme is having the widest reach.

Multiple people from the same business are more than welcome to apply, but please note it would be unlikely that more than one person from a single business will be chosen.

The Foundation will cover:

• return flights
• accommodation
• on-ground transportation
• most meals.

The foundation will NOT cover: laundry, sim cards, personal shopping.

Insurance will need to be covered by each individual for the duration of the trip. You will need to provide proof that you have taken out insurance.

All participants are expected to organise their own insurance to make sure you are covered for the duration of the trip.

All participants are expected to organise their own visas for the duration of the trip. The Foundation will provide a letter of support where required.

All participants must attend a pre-departure briefing before travelling offshore. This may be in-person or online.

In this meeting you will be briefed on what the Asia New Zealand Foundation is, the purpose of the programme and what to expect from the trip. We may also bring in external speakers to give you an idea of what to expect during your visit.

The Foundation is happy to let participants stay longer or arrive earlier in a country, but will not cover any extra expenses.

The Foundation will still cover the return flights if a participant who chooses to stay longer in the country they are visiting but will only cover airfares up to the value of the programme's scheduled flights. 

All participants of the programme are expected to take part in all aspects of the programme. We encourage you to not arrive late or depart early, to make the most of the opportunity provided.

There may be some optional activities (which will be indicated on the itinerary) and you may use that time as you wish.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
• Industry experts where we run sector specific delegations.

You may be expected to provide the Foundation with a report or web story of the trip.

 At some point, you will also be introduced to participants from past programmes, which is a very useful network to be involved in!

We periodically bring past entrepreneurs together, either in small local gatherings or as part of a YBLI Summit. These opportunities are a chance for participants to share where they are at on their entrepreneurial journey, especially as it relates to Asia.

You can also get involved in future programmes, connecting with new participants from overseas, and building your knowledge of Asia or New Zealand even further!

We publish stories celebrating successes and maintain an active social media network to keep connections active. This is most frequently used when people are travelling and looking for contacts and information in a particular region.

Participants must agree to the standard terms and conditions for all Foundation-related activities. This will also be sent to you when you are selected to participate in one of our programmes.

Please feel free to email us at: entrepreneurship@asianz.org.nz