SupaHuman, an Auckland company that makes AI software for vocational education and workplace training, has closed a Series A round of NZ$2.6m (about $1.47m). The company announced the funding on 19 October 2026.
Movac, a Wellington venture capital firm, led the round. Ecliptic Venture Capital, K1W1, Snowball and Serge van Dam also took part. Startup Daily reported that David Beard of Movac will join SupaHuman's board. The company did not disclose a valuation.
SupaHuman said the money will be used to grow its products and services in New Zealand and Australia, with Australia the main focus of the next stage of expansion.
“Our belief is simple: free smart minds from tedious work, and build them for what's next.”Dave Howden, Co-founder and CEO, SupaHuman
What SupaHuman does
SupaHuman sells to organisations that design and run vocational courses. Its VETos product produces assessments and learning resources that are mapped to a training provider's accredited courses and checks that material before regulatory audits. Nova 5 takes that material and turns it into learning activities for training providers and for the learning and development teams of employers. A third business, AI Studio, carries out applied AI work across industries and develops products aimed at particular sectors, according to Startup Daily.
Its customers include registered training organisations, TAFEs, private training establishments, industry training organisations and skills bodies. In Australia these providers answer to the Australian Skills Quality Authority, and in New Zealand to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, which is why compliance checking sits at the centre of the product.
Co-founder and chief executive Dave Howden told Startup Daily that designing, validating and delivering training has always taken months and cost a great deal, and that learners and employers end up carrying that cost. "We're collapsing that time and cost," he said. In its own announcement, the company said its aim is for trainers, assessors and learners to spend less time on administration and more on skilled work.
Who is behind it
SupaHuman was founded by Dave Howden, Blair Woods and Zane Hemmingsen-Jensen. Its LinkedIn page lists 2023 as the year it was founded and Auckland as its headquarters, and Startup Daily reported that it has offices in Auckland and Melbourne.
In its announcement, the company credited several New Zealand training organisations, Connexis, Competenz, ServiceIQ and MAST Academy, with helping to shape the product. It also thanked GridAKL for early backing; Startup Daily said the support came through GridAKL's Propel scholarship.
The push into Australia
According to Startup Daily, SupaHuman held a soft launch in Melbourne in March and has since signed Canberra Institute of Technology and Hader Institute of Education as customers. It also has a 12-month partnership with the Skills Accelerator run by Future Skills Organisation, which aims to support the use of AI across Australia's vocational education and training sector.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise is supporting the move into Australia, the company said. The SaaS News reported that the company plans to expand its operations in Australia while strengthening its position at home.
What the money is for
SupaHuman said the funding will go into growing VETos, Nova 5 and its AI Studio services across New Zealand, Australia and other markets. It did not give a breakdown of spending, and it has not disclosed revenue, customer numbers or any earlier funding.
"Our belief is simple: free smart minds from tedious work, and build them for what's next," Howden said. He added that the company is building the capacity to do that for workforce education.
Company website: supahuman.ai