Funding

Eight companies pitched to a group of 900 investors in order to turn their dreams into reality.

Mushroom Material’s Shaun Seaman on disrupting the global plastics industry with the power of fungi.

At the start of 2024 investors were generally positive about what the year would offer in terms of startup opportunities, though remained cautious about capital availability. Midway through the year, we look at how their predictions stand, and what lies ahead.

Electrify chairwoman Marian Johnson on shattering the glass ceiling and getting Kiwi women on the global stage.

In a tough environment for finding impact venture funding, social enterprise app developer Volition has turned to crowdfunding.

ESG values fuel interest in employee healthcare platform

Caffeine founder James Hurman talks to Compostic founder Jon Reed about how he’s launched and grown his New Zealand-founded startup in the United States.

A new Technology Investment Network report finds the Kiwi fintech sector going from strength to strength despite a 2022 investment peak.

Investors and founders discuss the challenges and opportunities present within the country’s cleantech sector.

With $22 million in the bag, co-founder Connor Archbold shares Tracksuit’s scaling plans and advice for securing US investors. 

KiwiFibre founders Ben Scales and Will Murrell have developed a natural harakeke fibre product for the global composites market.

Chair Catherine Drayton and CEO and founder Will Barker discuss how governance changes from startup to scaling a global company. 

Insurtech startup co-founder Shaun Quincey and GD1 co-managing partner John Kells discuss finding capital, doing due diligence, aligning values and collaboration.

Founders Vaughan Fergusson and Lauren Peate and ecosystem players Bridget Unsworth and Nawaz Ahmed discuss the role investors should play in building a thriving startup ecosystem.

Serial entrepreneur Cecilia Robinson discusses her two exits – Au Pair Link and My Food Bag – and why she has a different plan for Tend Health.

Online training provider RedSeed expanded its board after going offshore.

What kiwi founders could learn from the turnaround at Auckland biotech company Pictor under new CEO Jamie Platt.

SquareOne has changed its name to Emerge and is expanding from teaching kids about money to offering services to SMEs on its way to becoming a neobank.

The investment, led by European agritech investor The Yield Lab, will position the startup for hardware manufacturing scale-up and entry into the life-sciences market.

Tech entrepreneur Selwyn Pellett has exited five companies and wants to use that “scar tissue” to help other startup founders release their capital, resolve issues or raise new funds.

Former Infratil CEO Marko Bogoievski’s new investment vehicle is backing medtech companies globally.

The days of easy VC money have fallen by the wayside, but what opportunities do Kiwi investment commentators think the market holds in 2024?

Re-Leased chair Serge van Dam and CEO Tom Wallace discuss governance and growing a really big company from New Zealand.

Caffeine talks with B.spkl co-founder Christina Houlihan and WNT Ventures partner MJ Alvarez about joining forces.

All Good launched New Zealand’s first Fairtrade bananas in 2010 and then added oat milk in 2019. It’s now raised money for the first time through a crowdfunding campaign to accelerate its international expansion.

The Australian-owned bank says it will lend up to $5 million to New Zealand startups with ‘runs on the board’.

Supie went into voluntary administration on Monday, owing around $3 million to creditors including 120 staff who lost their jobs. Startups have accountability but in a different way to more mature companies. 

The founder of Icebreaker reveals what he learnt from his first global venture that he’s applying to his new one, Animals Like Us.

The failure of grocery startup Supie has highlighted the tight funding in our startup ecosystem, particularly for ambitious founders hellbent on disrupting incumbents.‍

Matū’s Ken Erskine and RosterLab’s three co-founders discuss what makes a good investor/founder relationship. 

Caffeine talks to three founders on why they have opted for bootstrapping over angel or venture backing.

Venture capital firm Icehouse Ventures has raised $10 million in equity on a boosted valuation, with backing from founders of businesses its funds have invested in.

NZGIF’s new initiative promises to accelerate growth amongst SMEs focused on decarbonisation.

As a company matures and grows globally, what role does the chair play? Tradify's new chair Tony Ward and CEO Michael Steckler discuss how they work together.

The annual TIN report shows revenue for the top 200 tech export companies hit $17.1 billion while startups saw capital deals drop by nearly a third. 

The judges provide six tips for a successful pitch.

Bovonic founder Liam Kampshof didn’t initially think he’d need venture funding but wooing from Pacific Channel convinced him otherwise. He’s now in the midst of another fundraising round.

Catalist’s public market turned two this year. Has it achieved what it set out to do for Kiwi SMEs?

The fast-growing startup had no trouble securing capital, with healthtech a hot sector for investors.

There is a gender investment gap. What can female founders do about it?

Data also shows investors giving more priority than ever to portfolio companies over new startups.

Supie went into voluntary administration on Monday, owing around $3 million to creditors including 120 staff who lost their jobs. Startups have accountability but in a different way to more mature companies. 

New Australasian partnership says it will keep startups at home while supporting global ambitions.

Mish Guru co-founder Tom Harding talks about his exit to VMG Digital.

Multitudes founder Lauren Peate and Blackbird Ventures partner Sam Wong on plugging people together.

Mergers and acquisitions as a growth or exit strategy should be on your radar as your startup grows.

Junofem chair Simon Malpas and CEO Dr Jenny Kruger say having an independent chair is valuable for startups from the get-go. 

Ministry of Awesome and PledgeMe come together to close a funding gap.

The Kiwi startup has won the backing of Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy programme, after applying three times.

Outset Ventures partner Angus Blair and Dennisson Technologies founder Anvil Bañez discuss their startup journey together.

Caffeine catches up with Sir Neville Jordan about his journey from startup to public listed company.

Following CarbonCrop’s latest funding round, co-founder Nick Butcher shares what he’s learnt about gaining investor backing.

The agritech startup will use the funds to further extend into the Latin American and European markets.

Since equity crowdfunding began in New Zealand almost 10 years ago, two main platforms have helped local businesses raise hundreds of millions in funding. But when should you add crowdfunding to your funding mix?

Wellumio CEO Dr Shieak Tzeng and Movac partner David Beard talk about how they work successfully together.

Quantifi Photonics co-founder Dr Andy Stevens and chair Caroline Williams talk about right-sizing governance.

The founder of Icebreaker reveals what he learnt from his first global venture that he’s applying to his new one, Animals Like Us.

Existing and new investors keen to support the raise.

Co-founder and CEO Sam Kidd gives his insights on the capital-raising journey.

The government’s venture capital agency is adding three new directors to the mix.

Floating Rock co-founder Lukas Niklaus and Hillfarrance managing partner Rob Vickery on what it takes to make seed investment work.

The co-founders of innovative concrete startup Neocrete have extended their seed fundraising round to $5 million after being oversubscribed.

The firm has led a $2.7 million round into DataMasque.

Kiki co-founder Toby Thomas-Smith says he learnt a thing or two raising US$6 million – double what was sought. 

A guide for founders to make the most of grant funding in the ecosystem. 

Good startups will always raise capital, but VCs have tightened their belts.

A pilot is underway of a common standard in use globally.

Preparing for your first investment pitch? An investor and a founder share their tips. 

Spalk founder Ben Reynolds and Icehouse Ventures CEO Robbie Paul on keeping a healthy founder-funder relationship.