SentryAI
A Christchurch company building solar-powered, AI-enabled surveillance towers for construction sites. They hired Karl out of the community.
Hired from YKIA
Supporters
The businesses backing young Kiwis in AI
Some opened their offices so our meetups could stay free. Others hired people they met through YKIA. These are those companies.
6
students and grads placed in AI roles
5
companies have hired from YKIA
3
businesses have hosted a meetup
5
cities, every event free to attend
Talent
Companies that have hired from YKIA
Real hires, not logos on a slide. Each of these businesses met someone through the community and gave them a job in AI.
Looking for early-career AI talent in New Zealand? This is what the community is for.
Harkness AI
The AI consultancy Blake runs, and the founding supporter of YKIA. Two of its engineers came straight out of the community: one who had already run his own tests on a new model before the interview, and a first-year Canterbury engineering student who offered to work for free and ended up on a contract.
Hired from YKIA
Flock Consulting
A data and AI consultancy based in Dunedin. Flock hosted and catered our Ōtepoti meetup, and hired an AUT Master’s graduate from YKIA.
Hired from YKIA
N16 Consulting
An AI and automation advisory for New Zealand businesses. N16 has hired from YKIA.
Hired from YKIA
GrowLab
An Auckland AI consultancy building AI-native operating models for infrastructure and engineering firms. GrowLab hired an AUT graduate from YKIA as an AI developer.
Hired from YKIA
Every meetup is free because a New Zealand business opened its doors.
Venues
The companies that hosted us
A room, their people and an evening, so a meetup could happen at all. The photos are from our meetups in those cities.
Flock Consulting
A data and AI consultancy based in Dunedin. Flock hosted and catered our Ōtepoti meetup, and hired an AUT Master’s graduate from YKIA.
Zuru
The New Zealand founded toy and consumer products company. Zuru opened its Auckland HQ for a YKIA meetup.
Four ways to back the community
Hire from YKIA
Tell us the role. We know who is building what, and who is ready.
Host a meetup
A room, some food and an evening. We bring 20 to 90 keen people.
Speak
Ten minutes on what your team is actually building with AI.
Sponsor the conference
Put your name in front of the whole community in February 2027.
Want your name on this page?
Host a meetup, speak at one, sponsor the conference, or hire from YKIA. We are always looking for spaces around the country, and for companies keen to meet the people building with AI here.
See where we run meetupsLast updated