Auckland, August 2026
Ankita Dhakar, CEO and co-founder of New Zealand cybersecurity company Capture The Bug, has been named one of 16 finalists for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New Zealand award.
The announcement was made by Ernst and Young New Zealand on August 3, with the finalists selected from businesses spanning software, biotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing and several other sectors. The full list was published by Idealog, which has covered the programme for a number of years.
Capture The Bug is described in the programme listing as a cybersecurity platform that helps organisations continuously identify, manage and remediate cyber risks, replacing static penetration testing reports with continuous penetration testing and ongoing security management. The company is based in New Zealand and has been operating for three years.
Award Details
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme judges finalists against four criteria: entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, impact and growth. Finalists will be assessed across multiple categories, with the overall winner going on to represent New Zealand at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in 2027. The judging panel is chaired by Phil Thomson, co-founder of retail crime intelligence platform Auror, who held the title himself in 2022.
Jason Macgregor, Director of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme at EY New Zealand, said the calibre of this year's finalists reflected what building a successful business genuinely requires. "Building a successful business is about much more than having a great idea. It requires resilience, adaptability and the confidence to keep backing your vision, even when the path forward isn't straightforward."
The programme was described by EY as celebrating entrepreneurs who are building businesses from Aotearoa with global ambition, and who have identified significant opportunities and backed bold visions with practical, long-term solutions.
Market Context & Platform Shift
For Capture The Bug, the recognition comes at a notable point in the company's development. The cybersecurity sector is one that has grown sharply in demand across Australia, New Zealand and globally, as organisations move away from once-a-year security assessments toward continuous testing models. Capture The Bug's platform sits directly in that shift, offering organisations a way to manage security as an ongoing process rather than a periodic report.
Dhakar's inclusion among 16 finalists drawn from across the New Zealand business community reflects a broader recognition of what the company has built since its founding. The other finalists represent businesses ranging from visual effects production and peanut butter to legal technology and maritime software, underlining the breadth of Kiwi entrepreneurship the programme seeks to highlight.
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award is one of the most recognised entrepreneurship programmes operating in New Zealand. Its emphasis on purpose and impact alongside financial growth reflects an approach to recognising founders who have built businesses that matter beyond their own sector.
For Capture The Bug, which is a CREST-certified penetration testing provider, the finalist recognition marks three years of building a technology company that is now considered alongside some of the most prominent entrepreneurial ventures operating out of Aotearoa. As detailed in our guide on penetration testing services in New Zealand, the regional demand for continuous compliance testing has accelerated significantly. The winner of the 2026 award will be announced later this year.
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FAQ
Who is Ankita Dhakar?
Ankita Dhakar is the CEO and co-founder of Capture The Bug, a New Zealand cybersecurity company. She has been named one of 16 finalists for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New Zealand award.
What does Capture The Bug do?
Capture The Bug is a cybersecurity platform that helps organisations continuously identify, manage and remediate cyber risks. It replaces static penetration testing reports with ongoing security management.
What is the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New Zealand programme?
It is an annual programme run by Ernst and Young New Zealand that recognises entrepreneurs building businesses with global ambition from Aotearoa. Finalists are assessed on entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, impact and growth. The overall New Zealand winner goes on to compete at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards.
How many finalists were named for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New Zealand 2026?
Sixteen finalists were named on August 3, 2026, representing businesses across sectors including software, biotechnology, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, maritime technology and food production.
Has Capture The Bug won the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year award?
No. Ankita Dhakar and Capture The Bug have been named as finalists. The 2026 winner will be announced later in the year, with the overall winner representing New Zealand at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in 2027.
