New research by LiveRem, in partnership with Oxygen Advisors, reveals detailed insights into how New Zealand founders are paying themselves, with 50 percent of founders now earning more than $195k.
The state of founder pay
The study benchmarks hundreds of founders across New Zealand’s startup and growth business community. It highlights how pay correlates with company revenue, funding stage, and industry sector.
Half of founders now earn over $195k. This signals how maturing startups are beginning to reward their leaders with sustainable, market-aligned pay.
Key insights from the report:
Pay growth reflects company maturity. Founders leading businesses with $10 million or more in revenue earn on average, more than 2x those under $1m in revenue.
Early-stage sacrifices are still common. The average time from company incorporation to when a founder starts paying themselves, is 29 months.
Gender pay gap persists. The gender pay gap for founders sits at 25% on the median, and 8% on average.
Regional pay differences remain. Founders in Auckland typically earn more than those in regional areas.
What this means for founders
As the New Zealand startup ecosystem matures, founder pay is shifting from survival mode to a more sustainable model. This reflects both growing business success and a cultural shift toward recognising founders' need for financial wellbeing.
However, many early-stage founders still balance minimal pay with the long-term promise of equity value. This highlights the ongoing challenge of building scalable ventures while maintaining personal financial stability.
Download the full report to access full insights
Curious how your pay compares? Download the full LiveRem Founders Pay Report 2025 to explore how founders at every stage are compensating themselves and why it matters for long-term success.
