WNT Ventures

WNT Ventures is Hiring! Are you passionate about deep tech and innovation? WNT Ventures is looking for an Investment Associate to join our dynamic team. This role will lead investments into cutting-edge technologies and support high-growth startups. We’re particularly keen to hear from those with engineering backgrounds and start-up experience —your technical expertise combined with business acumen could help shape the next generation of groundbreaking companies in New Zealand and beyond. Join us and be a part of driving the global scale-up of deep tech innovation! 🌍 #Hiring #InvestmentAssociate #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Engineering #Innovation #WNTVentures #TechStartups #InvestmentJobs

Celebrating a Decade of Deep Tech Success. As WNT Ventures marks 10 years of strategic investments in New Zealand's innovation ecosystem, we take pride in our investment portfolio and our partnership with Callaghan Innovation as the longest-running Deep Tech Incubator in New Zealand. Together, we've nurtured groundbreaking deep tech startups that are transforming industries and driving economic growth and invested alongside some iconic New Zealand and overseas Venture Capital Funds. Our journey has been about more than just funding—it's been about fostering innovation, supporting diverse founders, and creating sustainable pathways for growth in Aotearoa. With three funds in deployment and multiple realised returns, we are excited about what the next 10 years will bring. See below some of our reflections and what we've achieved over the last decade. #deeptech #wntventures #callaghaninnovation #venturecapital Carl, Maria Jose, Niamh, TJ, Anna. Foundry Lab, Mastaplex, Avertana, Mint Innovation, TDRI, Marama Labs, Insite AI, Arcanum AI, Sortify.tm, Periomedic, SoundSwitch, CarbonCrop, Hairspace, Iaso Automated Medical Systems Limited, PhaseFoam Limited, Bspkl, Goodair Nosebuds, Hale Animal Health, Opo Bio, EatKinda, Apercure. https://lnkd.in/gntXXB8G

We are ending the week with some good news from our Portfolio companies! Big congratulations to TDRI for being named a finalist in the International Road Federation (IRF) 2024 #IRFStartupLabel and wishing the best of luck to Damian who will represent the company in Istanbul in October. We’re also thrilled to share that Iaso Automated Medical Systems Limited has been accepted into the Creative Destruction Lab in Melbourne! Tyler, LaDahvia, Theodore, and Andrew will embark on the program which will springboard the company into international markets. This is an incredible opportunity to accelerate your impact in the deep tech space and we are proud to support you on the next steps of your growth. Maria Jose, Carl, TJ, Niamh, Grace, Anna #Innovation #DeepTech #WNTVentures #CreativeDestructionLab #Entrepreneurship

Starting the week on a high note! We’re thrilled to share that WNT Ventures has led the investment round for Opo Bio, with strong backing from existing shareholders such as The Inventors Fund from UniServices, Booster NZ, and new investors. Founded and led by Olivia Ogilvie, Laura Domigan, and Vaughan Feisst, Opo Bio has made impressive strides in cell-based ingredients, and we’re eager to support their growth into new product categories. This investment marks the 11th addition to our Fund 3 portfolio, and we’re excited to be part of Opo Bio’s journey as they push the boundaries of innovation in cellular agriculture. Read our investment notes on the link below. #DeepTech #WNTVentures #syntheticbiology #biotech Maria Jose, Carl, Grace, TJ, Niamh, Anna

Awesome to see Goodair Nosebuds being profiled in the TIN 2024 Healthtech Insights report. It's been an exciting journey and we are looking forward to further announcements over coming months. It takes good people and trusted relationships/ partnerships to bring an idea to life. So much gratitude and thanks to the Goodair team and our extended partnerships who have helped to get us this far. WNT Ventures Booster NZ Alt Ventures deweydecimal Bianca Cornford David White Chris Thomson Daniel To Arron Judson @joshua Lindsay Grant Bai Lisa South Danielle Kooge Justin Rolfe-Vyson Melissa Yiannoutsos Chris Jagger Ali Al-anbuky Leonard Cousins Callaghan Innovation NZTE Follow Goodair Nosebuds and visit our website to register your interest.

We start the week with a team announcement. Congratulations to TJ Laurino on her well-deserved promotion to Investment Principal at WNT Ventures! Since joining WNT Ventures, TJ has consistently demonstrated her deep expertise and curiosity in supporting early-stage companies, making a significant impact on our team and portfolio. Her promotion is a testament to her hard work, insightful leadership, and the impact she's had on our success. Based in Auckland, we're excited to see TJ continue to drive innovation and excellence in her new role. Join us in congratulating TJ, and reach out to her if you are working on a breakthrough innovation and want to hear more about WNT and how we can support your journey. Maria Jose (MJ), Carl, Niamh, Grace, Anna #DeepTech #Investment #VentureCapital #Auckland #WNTVentures

I’m often asked, "I have an idea for a startup, where should I start?" My number one answer is always market validation—understanding what problem you’re trying to solve and for whom. That’s why I love working alongside Niamh Given and TJ Laurino to run WNT Ventures' Market Validation workshops for KiwiNet emerging innovators! These one-day intensive sessions equip researchers with essential tools to better understand their market and refine their ideas. So far this year, we've successfully hosted three workshops, supporting over 17 innovators. What's more, since I joined WNT, we’ve empowered 79 researchers through 14 workshops all throughout Aotearoa! It’s inspiring to see the passion and innovation coming from Kiwi researchers, and I can't wait to see what’s to come. 🌟 Maria Jose (MJ) Alvarez Carl Jones Anna Watson #MarketValidation #Innovation #Startups #Entrepreneurship #NZInnovators #ProfessionalDevelopment #Aotearoa

We are starting the week showcasing one of our portfolio companies. Tyler, from Iaso Automated Medical Systems Limited, had an insightful conversation with The Inside Adviser about turning his groundbreaking idea into a potential lifesaving product with the help of WNT Ventures and the Callaghan Innovation Deep Tech Incubator Program. IASO’s AI-based software aims to provide predictive analytics for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a condition that affects millions annually. Their journey from self-funding to partnering with experts in their field showcases the power of strategic public/private partnerships we proudly support. 👉 Read the full article: 'From tinkering to a real venture’: VC pioneers bringing lifesaving medtech to fruition. Link below Theodore, LaDahvia, Andrew, Maria Jose (MJ), Carl, TJ, Grace, Niamh, Anna #VentureCapital #MedTech #Innovation #Healthcare #DeepTech #Startups #WNTVentures #CallaghanInnovation #Entrepreneurship

Last week was a whirlwind of inspiring connections and impactful advocacy for WNT Ventures! We had the pleasure of engaging deeply with the core of what we do: *Supporting New Zealand's Reputation: We participated in a panel at the E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit, alongside Tori McNoe (UniServices), Byron van Vugt (NZ Growth Capital Partners), and Dean Tilyard (Finistere Ventures). Thank you Kaila Colbin for inviting us to celebrate our innovative Kiwi ingenuity spirit and explore future-shaping ideas. We also joined virtually the Migrant Investor & Entrepreneur Association (MIEA)'s first overseas event in Shanghai, where speakers from NZ and Asia shared their expertise in education, investment, and life in New Zealand. *Championing Female Founders: At #ElectrifyAotearoa by the Ministry of Awesome, we supported female entrepreneurs and caught up with several of our portfolio companies, reinforcing our commitment to diversity with 60% of our Fund 3 companies being female-led. *Connecting with Cleantech Startups: The #ClimatechSummit by Creative HQ and WellingtonNZ was a fantastic platform to engage with startups driving sustainable solutions, aligning with our mission to foster clean technologies. We had the pleasure of sharing some insights in the morning breakfast and at the evening session alongside Phil Morle (Main Sequence), Albert Bielinko (Titanium Ventures former Telstra Ventures), James Palmer (Blackbird), Sean Simpson (LanzaTech) and Doug Parker (Wavemaker Impact). Thank you, Dascha Cooper and team for a productive couple of days. *Advocating for Our Ecosystem: At the New Zealand Parliament and with the Science Advisory Group, we pushed for policies and support that nurture our vibrant startup ecosystem alongside fellow investors in Wellington and Auckland (In the second picture at the Beehive alongside Phil Anderson, Rob Everett, James Hutchinson, Kevin Sheehy, Mick Liubinskas, Jez Weston, Matthew Watson, Christina Houlihan, and others previously mentioned). It was an intense week connecting with our ecosystem partners but, our main takeaway is that we are proud to be a crucial part of a community that’s making a difference, and are excited about the present and the future of NZ deep tech. Carl Jones Niamh Given Anna Watson Grace Holland TJ Laurino #Deeptech #Cleantech #FemaleFounders #NZStartups #WNTVentures #Innovation

Congratulations are in order for our portfolio companies Bspkl and Mint Innovation! Both companies have been named among the Top 100 Indo-Pacific Climatech Companies of 2024 by HolonIQ and the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Prosperity. Mint Innovation, a Fund 1 investment from 2015, and Bspkl, a Fund 3 investment from 2023, exemplify the cutting-edge innovation and commitment to sustainability that we strive to support. WNT Ventures' track record of supporting breakthrough innovations over the last decade demonstrates our commitment to partnering with ambitious founders to tackle the biggest issues. Our success is built on the foundation of collaboration and support from our partners and we are looking forward to continuing this work with our Fund 4. Congratulations to the other ambitious Kiwi companies that made the list, and a special thanks to Invest New Zealand, part of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade for their ongoing support and dedication to fostering innovation and sustainability. Read more about HolonIQ and the 2024 companies here - https://lnkd.in/gkT5cKNT #ClimateTech #DeepTech #CleanEnergy #Innovation #IndoPacific #NewZealand #HolonIQ #IPEF