More money than ever is being pumped into firms through angel investing - putting money into new firms.
Young Company Finance Index figures released on Monday show $53.2 million was put into burgeoning companies last year, up 80 percent from the year before.
The index reveals more than half of those investments (55%) were in Auckland.
Investors put $29.6 million into start-ups, $13.8 million went towards seed investment and $9.2 million to expansion.
The New Zealand Venture Investment Fund puts money into projects alongside angel investors. Chief executive Franceska Banga said the amount being invested is a boon for the country, in particular the $25 million going into software and services-related companies.
"Some of that's related to generally very strong performance on some of the NZX listed companies like Xero, SLI Systems and Pacific Edge ... but this is also about the pipeline of new technology companies and angel investor confidence."
Ms Banga said technology is becoming a more credible part of investment portfolios in this country and will keep growing.
Since the index started in 2006, almost $300 million has been invested.
