Press Release No. : 11/2026
Date : 01 May 2026
Fiji Innovation Hub Launches Inaugural Activator 2026 Programme
New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, His Excellency Greg Andrews, Australian High Commission First Secretary Ms Emily Wilson, Deputy Governor Reserve Bank of Fiji Esala Masitabua with participants of the Fiji Innovation Hub Activator 2026
The Fiji Innovation Hub on 30 April officially launched its inaugural Activator 2026, a nine week, action driven programme designed to support local founders to turn ideas into tested, market ready solutions aligned with Fiji’s economic and development priorities.
The launch event was held in Suva, bringing together innovators, development partners, ecosystem collaborators and representatives from government and the private sector. It followed an intensive two-day Activator Bootcamp on 28 – 29 April 2026, where teams engaged in workshops on problem definition, customer discovery, solution validation and early business modelling.
The Activator is aimed at supporting teams to build, test and refine solutions through structured coaching, mentorship and customer validation. Delivered through a flexible hybrid format and supported by AI‑powered tools from day one, the programme aimed to produce tested ventures with clear pathways for further development, partnerships, regulatory engagement or investment readiness by the end of nine weeks.
Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Mr Esala Masitabua in his opening remarks emphasised that the Activator is not only about individual startups, but about strengthening Fiji’s broader innovation ecosystem through the four pillars of innovation: capability, connectivity, culture and capital. He added “Fiji’s inaugural national Hackathon earlier this year showcased strong collaboration and the depth of local talent but also underscored that ideas alone are not enough. Sustainable, scalable solutions require structure, discipline and ongoing support, which is precisely what the Activator is designed to provide.”
The Deputy Governor encouraged participants to focus on progress rather than perfection, describing the Activator as an investment in Fiji’s future and a signal of confidence in local innovators to help shape the next chapter of the economy.
The Reserve Bank wishes to acknowledge the support of its key partners in the Fiji Innovation Hub, including the United Nations Pacific Digital Economy Programme, the European Union and Governments of Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Mastercard, the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development, Creative HQ, HFC Bank and Fiji Airways.
RESERVE BANK OF FIJI
For further details, please visit: Fiji Innovation Hub website