The Origin Story

Thank you to Steve, who unknowingly sparked this entire journey by suggesting that one of my failed 3D prints could help people with arthritis. That simple comment changed everything. He continues to be my biggest champion, and I’m incredibly grateful for his encouragement from day one.

I wouldn’t have started Keyzee without you. 

Paul Jessup, Director and CEO, and the Metco team

Thank you for welcoming me into the CNC department every Friday afternoon. Interning at Metco has been an incredible opportunity! I’ve expanded my CAD design skills by working on real projects you’ve given me, and learned so much from your team’s experience and support.

I’m grateful for your mentorship and belief in me. 

Nakita and the Young Enterprise Team
What a year it’s been! I couldn’t have asked for a better person to have in my corner than Nakita. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she’s incredibly knowledgeable and articulate. A true force of support.  Being part of YES has opened so many doors, introduced me to people I never would have found this early in my business journey, and pushed me and Keyzee further than I ever thought possible.

A massive thank you to Nakita and the whole YES team, you’ve been game changers.

Masters of User Experince Deisgn, Victoria University of Wellington

Hrushi developed Keyzee’s full visual identity, from the logo, fonts, and colour palette, to the brand voice and personality. His creative direction helped shape how people see and feel about Keyzee, and has been key to making the brand stand out.

Thank you, Hrushi, for bringing Keyzee to life. 

YES Alumni, Hutt City Councillor, Business Owner, and Mayoral Candidate

Brady reached out to me after I posted about Keyzee on a local community Facebook page, and has been incredibly generous with his time ever since. Despite being incredibly busy, he’s mentored me, shared valuable advice, and connected me with people who can help me grow Keyzee.

Thank you, Brady, for believing in me and backing the next generation. 

Chris and Melody – Cube Media
Chris was one of the first to see the wider potential of Keyzee, far beyond its value as an assistive tool. He’s generously shared his marketing expertise and is now working with me on a potential partnership that could take Keyzee in a bold new direction.
Melody has been incredibly patient and helpful, teaching me about design details like hex vs PMS colours and helping me purchase professional signage at a great price.

Thank you both for your guidance, generosity, and belief in what Keyzee can become.

Matt – Brewtown Market

A big thanks to Matt for giving me the opportunity to experience selling at one of Wellington’s best markets without the financial risk. By covering my stall fees and generously offering advice and encouragement, he helped make my early market experience both successful and confidence-building.

Thank you, Matt, for going out of your way to nurture the next generation of small business owners. I won’t forget it. 

Adi – Founder of Sendd E-Commerce Platform

Thank you to Adi for setting me up with an online store through Sendd and helping me take my first steps into e-commerce. He also commissioned me to create a branded prototype, which challenged me to explore new production methods and pushed my skills to the next level.

I’m incredibly grateful for your belief in Keyzee and the momentum you’ve given me. 

Lisa – Hutt City FM Host

Thank you to Lisa for making time to interview me and helping me feel comfortable and confident throughout. Her support gave me the opportunity to share the Keyzee story with our local community,  and made the experience a really positive one.

I’m so grateful for the encouragement and platform you gave me.

Nikki – Owner of SuperSeed Crackers

A huge thank you to my boss Nikki, who’s supported me for over 2.5 years, long before I dreamed of creating Keyzee. She’s always encouraged my entrepreneurial interests, generously sharing her wealth of experience as a small business owner. And she continues to back me with time off to attend workshops and events, and even turned up to my very first market to cheer me on. This job has been essential to funding the development of Keyzee so far.

Thank you, Nikki, for always being in my corner. 

Richard – Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu

Richard first saw my early Keyzee prototypes during a student–teacher drop-in session while I was working on NCEA English credits. He was so excited about what I was doing that he encouraged me to enrol in NCEA Technology.

Throughout the year, he acted as a mentor and helped smooth things over when my approach didn’t quite fit the traditional mould. Thanks to his support, I completed the course in my own way and I’m proud of what I achieved.

Thank you, Richard, for recognising the value of Keyzee and believing in my process. 

The Team at Beveridge Locksmiths

A big thank you to the staff at Bevegas for their patience, generosity, and willingness to answer all my questions throughout my design journey. Their donation of key blanks helped me ensure that Keyzee can help as many people as possible.

I really appreciate the interest they’ve shown since the beginning, and that they’re still supporting me a year later.

Thank you for sticking with me. 

Dong – Owner and 3D Printing Specialist

A heartfelt thank you to Dong for supporting me as a young entrepreneur creating tools to help people with disabilities. His generous one-off discount on a large order of filament helped me kickstart production and start selling my first Keyzee units.

Your belief in what I’m doing made a real difference - thank you!