Advantage Head Start 2026 – Terms and Conditions

1. The programme

1.1 The promoter of The Advantage Head Start 2026 is Advantage Limited, trading as Advantage, of 73 Queen Street, Palmerston North, Manawatū 4410 (“Advantage”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

1.2 The Advantage Head Start 2026 (“Head Start”) is an awards programme through which one eligible emerging New Zealand business will be selected to receive 12 months of IT and cybersecurity services from Advantage, valued at up to NZ$10,000 including GST.

1.3 By submitting an entry, the entrant confirms that they have read, understood and agreed to these terms and conditions.

1.4 Entries open at midnight NZST on 1 September 2026 and close at 23.59 NZST on 16 October 2026 (“Entry Period”).

1.5 Entries received after the Entry Period will not be accepted.

2. Eligibility

2.1 To be eligible for the Head Start, the business named in the entry (“Entrant”) must, at the closing date:

1. be 100% New Zealand owned;
2. be headquartered in New Zealand;
3. hold a registered New Zealand Business Number, or NZBN;
4. have been operating for less than 24 months as at 16 October 2026;
5. have a team of no more than six people, including working founders and employees; and
6. not be a franchise of an existing business.

2.2 The person completing the entry must:

1. be aged 18 years or over;
2. be authorised to submit the entry on behalf of the Entrant; and
3. provide complete, current and accurate information.

2.3 Employees, directors and contractors of Advantage, members of the judging panel, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.

2.4 Any individual or organisation directly involved in administering, judging or promoting the Head Start is not eligible to enter.

2.5 Advantage may request evidence that an Entrant meets the eligibility requirements. Evidence may include proof of identity, ownership, business location, NZBN registration, operating date and team size.

2.6 If an Entrant does not provide satisfactory evidence within the timeframe specified by Advantage, Advantage may determine that the entry is ineligible.

2.7 Entry is free, and no purchase from Advantage is required.

3. How to enter

3.1 To enter, an authorised representative of the Entrant must:

1. visit advantage.nz/headstart during the Entry Period;
2. complete all required fields in the online entry form;
3. accept these terms and conditions; and
4. submit the completed form before the Entry Period closes.

3.2 An Entrant may submit only one entry. If multiple entries are received for the same business, Advantage may assess only the most recent complete entry or ask the Entrant to confirm which entry should be considered.

3.3 Entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted, misleading, fraudulent or submitted by an unauthorised person may be excluded.

3.4 Advantage is not responsible for an entry that is lost, delayed, misdirected, incomplete or not successfully submitted because of a technical problem outside Advantage’s reasonable control.

3.5 Advantage may contact an Entrant to clarify information or request supporting material. Entrants are not entitled to materially rewrite or expand an entry after the closing date unless Advantage invites them to do so.

3.6 Advantage may disqualify an Entrant if Advantage reasonably believes that:

1. the entry contains false, misleading or materially incomplete information;
2. the Entrant does not meet the eligibility requirements;
3. the entrant has attempted to unfairly influence the judging process;
4. the entry infringes another person’s intellectual property or other rights; or
5. allowing the Entrant to continue would undermine the integrity of the Head Start.

4. Information required

4.1 The entry form will request business and contact information and responses addressing:

1. business potential;
2. founder capability and commitment;
3. innovation and differentiation;
4. impact on New Zealand; and
5. the likely benefit of receiving the Head Start.

4.2 All information supplied must be true and accurate as at the date of submission.

4.3 Entrants should not include confidential information, trade secrets or commercially sensitive technical information unless specifically requested by Advantage. An Entrant remains responsible for deciding what information it is comfortable providing.

5. Judging process

5.1 This is a judged awards programme and not a random prize draw.

5.2 After entries close, Advantage will check entries for compliance with the eligibility requirements.

5.3 All eligible entries will then be reviewed by the Head Start judging panel.

5.4 The judges will assess eligible entries against the following published criteria:

1. business potential (30% of overall result);
2. founder capability and commitment (25% of overall result);
3. innovation and differentiation (20% of overall result);
4. actual or potential impact on New Zealand (15% of overall result); and
5. the degree to which the Entrant is likely to benefit from the Head Start (10% of overall result).

5.5 The judging panel will select the eligible Entrant that, in the judges’ collective assessment, demonstrates the strongest overall response to the judging criteria.

5.6 Judges may consider the complete entry and any clarification or supporting information properly requested by Advantage.

5.7 Judges must disclose any actual or reasonably perceived conflict of interest relating to an Entrant. Advantage may require a judge with a conflict to take no part in assessing or discussing that Entrant.

5.8 If two or more Entrants receive an equal overall assessment, the judging panel will reconsider those entries against the published criteria and determine which entry demonstrates the strongest overall case for receiving the Head Start.

5.9 The judges’ decision is final, subject to these terms and conditions, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding scores, deliberations or the outcome.

5.10 The successful Entrant will be contacted using the email address or telephone number provided in the entry by 9 November 2026. The public date or method of announcement may be different from the date on which the successful Entrant is privately contacted.

5.11 Advantage may also notify unsuccessful Entrants after the successful Entrant has accepted the prize.

5.12 Selection as the successful Entrant is subject to final verification of eligibility and acceptance of the prize and any associated service documentation.

6. Accepting the prize

6.1 The successful Entrant must respond to Advantage and confirm acceptance within five working days after Advantage’s first notification attempt.

6.2 Before the prize is confirmed, the successful Entrant may be required to:

1. provide evidence that it meets all eligibility requirements;
2. confirm the accuracy of its entry;
3. disclose any issue that may materially affect service delivery;
4. participate in a technology and cybersecurity discovery or scoping process; and
5. sign reasonable service, confidentiality, security, privacy, licensing or onboarding documentation required for Advantage to deliver the prize.

6.3 If the successful Entrant:

1. cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts;
2. does not respond within the required period;
3. does not meet the eligibility requirements;
4. declines the prize;
5. does not provide required verification or documentation; or
6. cannot reasonably receive the services,

Advantage may withdraw the offer and offer the prize to another eligible Entrant selected by the judging panel.

6.4 The successful Entrant must cooperate reasonably with Advantage to complete scoping and onboarding in preparation for the scheduled start date.

7. The prize

7.1 The prize is 12 months of eligible Advantage IT and cybersecurity services with a maximum total retail value of NZ$10,000 including GST.

7.2 The support period will begin with onboarding on 1 February 2027 or as mutually agreed and, subject to these terms and any agreed onboarding schedule, will run for 12 consecutive months.

7.3 The particular services supplied will be agreed following an assessment of the successful Entrant’s business needs, existing environment, risks and suitability for Advantage services.

7.4 Services may include core remote IT Services and inclusive cybersecurity services.

7.5 The prize may include third-party software licences where those licences are directly related to and reasonably required for an eligible service being provided as part of the prize.

7.6 Any software licence included in the prize:

1. is subject to the applicable vendor’s terms and conditions;
2. may only be used by the successful Entrant for its intended business purpose;
3. will be included in the NZ$10,000 total prize value; and
4. may expire or become chargeable at the end of the prize period if the successful Entrant chooses to continue using it.

7.7 Advantage will explain any proposed third-party charges before the successful Entrant commits to services or products outside the prize.

7.8 The prize does not include:

1. hardware or physical equipment;
2. services, products or licences that are not directly related to the agreed prize services;
3. costs exceeding the maximum NZ$10,000 including GST value;
4. travel or on-site costs unless expressly agreed in writing;
5. remediation, projects or professional services outside the agreed scope; or
6. any item described as excluded in the final service scope.

7.10 Any costs not expressly included in the prize are the responsibility of the successful Entrant.

7.11 The prize:

1. is not transferable to another business or person;
2. is not exchangeable for other products or services outside the agreed scope;
3. cannot be redeemed for cash, credit or any other benefit; and
4. cannot be sold or assigned.

7.12 If the full NZ$10,000 value is not used during the 12-month support period, the unused balance:

1. will expire at the end of the support period;
2. cannot be carried forward;
3. cannot be transferred; and
4. cannot be redeemed for cash, credit, products, hardware, unrelated services or any other benefit.

7.13 If the successful Entrant requests services or products that would cause the total value to exceed NZ$10,000 including GST, Advantage will obtain the successful Entrant’s agreement before supplying any chargeable amount above the prize value.

7.14 The successful Entrant is not required to purchase additional services from Advantage as a condition of receiving the prize.

7.15 If a proposed element of the prize becomes unavailable for reasons outside Advantage’s reasonable control, Advantage may replace it with a reasonably comparable eligible service of equivalent value, provided that the overall nature and value of the prize are not materially reduced.

8. Delivery and use of the services

8.1 Advantage and the successful Entrant will agree a written scope describing the services to be delivered, applicable third-party licences, responsibilities, dependencies and any exclusions.

8.2 The successful Entrant must provide the access, information, approvals and cooperation reasonably required for Advantage to scope, onboard and deliver the services.

8.3 Service delivery will depend on the successful Entrant’s environment being reasonably compatible with the proposed services.

8.4 If compatibility, security, supportability or legal issues make a proposed service unsuitable, Advantage may recommend an alternative eligible service within the prize value.

8.5 Services must be used for the successful Entrant’s own New Zealand business operations and must not be resold, sublicensed or supplied to another party.

8.6 Any ongoing services or licences requested after the 12-month support period will be subject to separate written agreement and the charges applying at that time. Advantage will not automatically commit the successful Entrant to paid renewal merely because the prize period ends.

8.7 Nothing in these terms guarantees a particular commercial, technical, security, financial or business outcome.

9. Publicity

9.1 By entering, each Entrant agrees that, if shortlisted or selected as the successful Entrant, Advantage may identify the Entrant by its:

1. business name;
2. business location;
3. website or business social media channels;
4. general business description; and
5. non-confidential information provided in the entry,

for the purpose of administering, announcing and promoting the Head Start.

9.2 Advantage will seek separate approval before using identifiable photographs, video, personal quotations or detailed case study material featuring founders, employees or other individuals, except where that use is already clearly authorised through the entry process or a subsequent written release.

9.3 The successful Entrant agrees to participate in reasonable publicity relating to the Head Start. This may include an announcement, interview, photograph, social media content or case study.

9.4 Advantage will consult the successful Entrant before publishing commercially sensitive details or making attributed claims about the Entrant’s experience.

9.5 Participation in reasonable Head Start publicity will not attract additional compensation.

9.6 Entry into the Head Start does not constitute consent to receive unrelated marketing communications. Any such marketing consent must be obtained separately.

10. Intellectual property

10.1 Each Entrant retains ownership of the intellectual property in its entry.

10.2 By submitting an entry, the Entrant grants Advantage a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to access, copy and share the entry with Advantage personnel, judges and advisers solely for the purposes of administering, assessing, verifying and promoting the Head Start in accordance with these terms.

10.3 Public use of entry material will be limited to the purposes described in clause 9.

10.4 The Entrant warrants that:

1. it owns or is authorised to use the material contained in the entry; and
2. Advantage’s permitted use of that material will not infringe another person’s rights.

10.5 Advantage retains ownership of its existing intellectual property, methodologies, tools, documentation, brands and service materials.

10.6 Ownership and permitted use of any material created during service delivery will be addressed in the written service scope or applicable service terms.

11. Privacy

11.1 Advantage will collect personal information submitted through the entry form for the purposes of:

1. administering the Head Start;
2. checking eligibility;
3. communicating with Entrants;
4. facilitating judging;
5. selecting and verifying the successful Entrant;
6. delivering and publicising the prize as permitted by these terms; and
7. meeting legal and record-keeping obligations.

11.2 Personal information may be disclosed to:

1. Advantage employees and contractors involved in administering the Head Start;
2. members of the judging panel;
3. professional advisers where reasonably required; and
4. suppliers providing systems used to receive, store or process entries.

11.3 Advantage will handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and Advantage’s privacy policy. The earlier prize-draw terms also use this approach, but the current website should provide a clickable link to the live privacy policy.

11.4 Entrants may request access to or correction of their personal information by contacting sales@advantage.co.nz

11.5 Advantage will retain entry information only for as long as reasonably required for the purposes described in these terms or to meet legal and business record-keeping obligations.

11.6 Entrants must obtain any permission required before providing another individual’s personal information in an entry.

12. Confidentiality and judging materials

12.1 Advantage will take reasonable steps to limit access to full entries to people involved in administering, judging or advising on the Head Start.

12.2 Judges and administrators must use entry information only for legitimate purposes connected with the Head Start.

12.3 While reasonable care will be taken, Entrants should not submit information that is subject to third-party confidentiality obligations or that would cause material harm if disclosed.

12.4 Judges’ notes, scores, rankings, deliberations and conflict disclosures are confidential to Advantage and the judging process, subject to any applicable legal obligations.

13. Changes, suspension or cancellation

13.1 Advantage may amend, suspend, extend, postpone or cancel the Head Start if circumstances outside its reasonable control prevent it from being administered fairly, safely or substantially as described.

13.2 If a material change occurs, Advantage will take reasonable steps to publish notice of the change on the Head Start webpage and, where appropriate, contact affected Entrants.

13.3 Advantage will not materially reduce the advertised prize value after entries have opened unless required by law or circumstances outside its reasonable control. If an element becomes unavailable, clause 7.15 will apply.

13.4 Advantage may correct an obvious error or ambiguity in these terms where doing so does not unfairly disadvantage Entrants.

14. Liability

14.1 Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.

14.2 Subject to clause 14.1, Advantage is not responsible for loss arising from:

1. an Entrant’s failure to submit a complete and timely entry;
2. inaccurate information supplied by an Entrant;
3. a technical failure outside Advantage’s reasonable control;
4. an Entrant’s failure to comply with these terms; or
5. products, licences or services outside the agreed prize scope.

14.3 The successful Entrant remains responsible for its own business decisions, legal compliance, internal controls, data, systems and use of any advice, services or software provided.

14.4 Specific service responsibilities and applicable service limitations will be stated in the written service documentation agreed before delivery begins.

15. General

15.1 If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

15.2 Advantage’s failure or delay in enforcing a provision does not waive its right to enforce that provision later.

15.3 These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of New Zealand, and the parties submit to the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.

15.4 Questions about the Head Start or these terms may be sent to: