AI Investment Fund – First Focus

Put AI To Work On A Real Problem In Your Business

Pick a job that’s slow, costly or repetitive, and we’ll fund the work to fix it with AI and/or automation. $100,000 NZD on the table, up to $20,000 each across five projects.

Applications have closed. We’re currently shortlisting the finalists.

The AI Investment Fund At A Glance

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$100,000 NZD

Up to $20,000 each, across five NZ client projects.

23 July

Applications close on the 23rd of July 2026.

AI Built With You

Our team does the technical work. You bring the idea.

Eligibility

Open to First Focus New Zealand clients

What Could You Build?

You don’t need a finished AI plan to apply. You need a job that’s costing your team more time or money than it should. Here’s the kind of thing First Focus has already built with AI, and the everyday problem each one started as.

We ran this fund in Australia first, backing five client projects with $100,000. You can see what they built, and the results they’re chasing, on the Australian fund page.

See The Australian Winners

Document ReviewAn AI assistant turns a weeks-long manual review into structured insight in minutes. One firm expects to cut analysis time by up to 80%, worth over $100k a year.Read the case study →

Repeat QuestionsAn AI assistant trained on your own history answers routine queries instantly, around the clock. One business sees scope to avoid up to $500k in extra staffing costs.Read the case study →

Inbox OverloadAn AI assistant in Outlook sorts incoming mail and drafts replies for a person to approve. One firm expects to halve handling time, worth around $125k a year.Read the case study →

Monthly ReportsAn AI tool pulls data from across the business, drafts the board pack and flags key trends. Reporting that took days is ready fast, so leaders decide instead of assemble.Read the case study →

How It Works

Five steps from idea to a working tool. Most of the effort sits with us.

1. Apply Fill in the two-page form with your idea, the business problem and a rough cost. It takes about 20 minutes, and there’s no cost to apply. Applications close 23 July 2026.
2. Shortlist We read every application and come back to the strongest with a few follow-up questions to firm up scope and feasibility.
3. Selected Five projects are chosen and the clients announced. If yours is one, we confirm the plan and sign a short agreement before any work starts.
4. Build Our team does the technical work with you over 8 to 12 weeks. Funding is released against milestones as the tool takes shape, so progress is visible the whole way through.
5. Live You finish with a working AI tool your team uses, and we capture the result as a case study.

What We Ask In Return

In return for the funding, we tell the story of what you built. You approve everything before it’s published, and the case study is yours to keep.

A case study in writing and on video, covering the problem, the build and the result.
A short podcast where an executive talks through the outcome and its impact.
Permission to share the project across press, social and marketing.

Everything is produced by professionals, and nothing is published until you’ve seen and approved the final content. You keep the case study to use however you like.

Submissions are now closed

Good luck to all those that have submitted their AI idea. We will be in touch soon.

First Focus About New Zealands Managed AI & IT Provider

All in on AI?

CORE is the managed service model built for businesses that are all-in on AI, automation and cyber security. This new model ensures your technology investment is a driver of productivity and profitability.

Get measurable ROI and productivity gains from AI and automation.

Reduce risk with built-in Essential 8 Maturity Level 1 alignment.
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EXPLORE CORE