WNT Ventures

Deep-tech takes time. Over a decade and four funds later, our investors keep returning because they know we're built for the long game. WNT Ventures is New Zealand’s longest-running technology incubator and deep-tech fund. As the birthplace of Kiwi deep-tech since 2014, the momentum keeps growing quickly as we continue to welcome investments for Fund 4. Fund 4 is our most ambitious vehicle yet as we target transformative deep-tech companies from Seed through to Series A. Bringing science of this scale to market requires more than just capital; we believe the greatest returns come from deep alignment and genuine partnerships. We have a proud history of backing the founders building some of New Zealand’s most ambitious companies, with a strong reputation not just for identifying exceptional companies early, but for staying with them throughout their growth journey. We have already deployed capital into three pioneering companies solving complex, real-world problems and driving significant impact across climate and medtech transformation, Xplora Ventures, Captivate Technology and RapiDose. We remain focused on bringing new opportunities into the portfolio across physics, materials, and advanced manufacturing. The next generation of deep-tech innovation is happening right now. It’s time to get involved. See the comments to get in touch. #WNTVentures #DeepTech #VentureCapital #Investment #NZInnovation

What happens when a 'city kid' from Singapore attends the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event? Our Senior Investment Associate Pang Xue Bin (XB) recently spent a day out at Fieldays®, diving head first into the world-class sector that is Kiwi agritech. Fieldays is a showcase of the exact kind of frontier deep-tech we love to back. The sector is ripe for disruption and with Fund 4 actively deploying capital, we are looking for the next wave of science-led innovators ready to scale globally from Aotearoa. See XB’s reflections below. ⤵️ A day out at Fieldays is a useful reminder of why we back Deep-Tech in New Zealand, and why we are optimistic about innovation within the Agritech sector here in Aotearoa. As a city kid hailing from Singapore where agriculture has never come into focus (given the land-locked nature of the country), being here and witnessing the scale of the event blew me away, and made me reflect about the vast amount of opportunities here in New Zealand for Agritech. A sold-out Mystery Creek (I’ve never seen so many cars parked in one space before!), 1,100+ exhibitors, and not one but multiple Innovation Hubs featuring 50+ teams working on everything from AI and automation to on-farm diagnostics and methane reduction, the breadth of science-led problem-solving was on full display. Halter has shown us the disruption potential of technology in this space, and we are bullish that there will be a next wave of Agri-preneurs that would further transform the sector using Aotearoa as a testbed for cutting-edge science/ tech. The Global Agritech Connector event, co-organised by AgriTech New Zealand and UK Agri-Tech Centre, reinforced the need for partnerships with global ecosystems, trust between farmers and innovators, and patient capital to validate and scale a technology. Bringing together the ecosystem, investors and startups was a great way to forge relationships and align everyone on the best path to success for New Zealand's agritech sector. As much of a glimpse of innovation as I had during the day, I also managed to sneak in a quick moment to witness a tractor-pulling race, which was equal parts fascinating and entertaining, as I didn't know such races exist at all. Overall, it was a very productive first Fieldays, and I’m looking forward to witnessing more ingenious innovations in this space to come. Were you also at Fieldays this year? What was the most exciting piece of tech or innovation that caught your eye? Let us know in the comments. #WNTVentures #Fieldays2026 #Agritech #DeepTech #NZInnovation

Our Senior Investment Manager Niamh Given is on the ground at Electrify Aotearoa this week, immersed in the high-impact, two-day event designed to supercharge the growth of women-led ventures. We're proud that over 60% of WNT's portfolio companies are female-founded or led. We’re passionate about supporting these underrepresented leaders as they pioneer some of the best tech in the industry, putting Kiwi innovation on the map globally. This remains a key focus as we invest capital from Fund 4. See Niamh’s reflections below. ⤵️ Day one of the Electrify Female Founder Conference is wrapped, and my brain is fried - but in the best possible way. The afternoon and evening were packed with great conversations, networking, and an incredible amount of content. There was genuinely so much on offer that I found myself wishing I could split into five different people just to attend all the sessions. The standout for me was the Deep Tech workshop track - one of the strongest founder-focused sessions I’ve attended. Some highlights include: ▪️ Christina Houlihan, Co-Founder and CEO of Bspkl (WNT Portfolio Fund 3) shared practical insights on spinning IP out of research institutions, including why the process can be challenging, and how investors assess early-stage technologies. ▪️Opo Bio's Olivia Ogilvie (also WNT Portfolio Fund 3) spoke about deep tech productisation and why the journey looks fundamentally different from a traditional software startup. Her openness in sharing real-world experiences sparked some fantastic discussion. ▪️Karyna Young from EnPot closed the session with a refreshingly honest account of Enpot’s growth journey, and the critical role that strategic and corporate partnerships have played along the way. My biggest takeaway from the day? Partnerships matter - but ultimately, it’s all about people. It sounds so simple but we so easily forget it. Whether it’s corporate partnerships, strategic relationships, investors, or stakeholders, success comes from finding the right champions, building trust, and working with people who share your values. That’s what helps you go further, faster. A huge shout-out to the team at Ministry of Awesome for delivering such an impressive event and creating an environment where founders can learn, connect, and challenge their thinking. If you’re enjoying Day Two today, come say hello! I’d love to connect. #WNTVentures #ElectrifyAotearoa #DeepTech #FemaleFounders

We’re back with the next installment of our Ask the WNT team series! This time, sharing insights from Senior Investment Manager Niamh Given, who has deep experience with identifying and supporting hardware and advanced manufacturing innovation in NZ. ➡️ What excites you most about the deeptech sector in New Zealand? The people. I see companies from every industry on a weekly basis. Whether exceptional or still finding their way, what matters is who's building them. We now have more people in the ecosystem with real experience: Kiwi founders returning after scaling ventures offshore, and international founders making New Zealand home. This depth of experience didn't exist a decade ago and will fast-track the development of New Zealand’s next generation of hardware and deeptech companies in ways the rest of the world isn't paying attention to yet. The complexity of hardware is also very exciting. In deeptech, many of the materials, systems and mechanical components startups are building have never existed before; there’s no established playbook to follow. This complexity can actually level the playing field. Breakthrough hardware is much harder to copy than software, creating opportunities for smaller ecosystems, like ours, to compete globally through deep expertise and ingenuity. There's a hidden momentum building here - and I don't think it'll stay hidden for long. ➡️ Having spent a decade in China and Hong Kong, what is one ‘global-first’ mindset you think Kiwi founders should adopt early on in their journey? The best founders I've seen are relentless about showing up. Kiwi founders are incredibly resourceful and creative builders, but sometimes we underestimate how early we should think globally. NZ's founders should see themselves as peers to founders anywhere in the world - not as outsiders operating from a small market. International relationships and learnings can compress years of development into months. For deeptech companies, that speed is a true competitive advantage. ➡️ How has your background in manufacturing and hardware technology shaped the way you evaluate startups at WNT? It taught me that building great products and companies takes time. I’ve seen the consequences of rushing hardware to market before it's ready. In this sector, there is always a trade-off between quality, cost, and speed. Understanding how teams navigate those trade-offs is just as important as the technology itself. That’s shaped the way I work with founders today. ➡️ What inspires you? Honestly, my kids. They look at the world with curiosity and absolutely no assumption that things have to stay the way they are. They ask simple but profound questions like: Why isn’t there enough food for everyone? Why do so many products harm the planet? Children haven’t yet learned to accept inefficiency or "that’s just how things are done." That mindset is a constant reminder to stay optimistic and open-minded about what innovation can change.

We recently had the pleasure of bringing the WNT community together in both Auckland and Tauranga to connect, share, and look toward what’s ahead. We find immense value in these moments, where founders and investors have the opportunity to experience the collaborative spirit that defines the Kiwi innovation ecosystem. It’s evenings like these that remind us of the power of connection. We’ve seen time and time again that strong networks drive tangible momentum. Even better when people come together over a shared vision. Throughout both events, one core belief stood out: That as a nation, we have a significant opportunity to scale our most promising ventures and deliver real-world impact on the global stage. At WNT Ventures, we are deeply invested in supporting founders from the very start of their journey, ensuring they have the networks and mentorship needed to scale. Likewise, we welcome the opportunity to showcase the best of our portfolio to current and potential investors looking to support our mission. A big thank you to everyone who joined us. Bring on the next one! #WNTVentures #DeepTech #VentureCapital #NZStartUps

Back from two jam-packed days in Christchurch — and the place is buzzing. So many interesting projects and ambitious founders coming through the ecosystem right now. Great to spend time with the teams at KiwiNet and Ministry of Awesome and to see the energy building across the city. ⚡️ A packed schedule of office hours means I’ll have to wait until the Electrify conference to catch up properly with the MoA crew, but did manage a power dealflow catch-up with Camille Hunt from Mainland Angels and Emily Van der Meulen from Snowball Effect. Now back in Auckland for a few board meetings before putting the glad rags on for the NZ Hi-Tech Awards tomorrow night 🥳💃. WNT Ventures ChristchurchNZ #startups #deeptech

China is not a market you approach with ideology. It rewards preparation, patience, and genuine localisation. Our Managing Partner Carl Jones recently returned from an insightful trip to Shenzhen and Shanghai. From visiting the Huawei EV centre to touring the ATLATL Innovation Center, Carl observed firsthand a deeptech ecosystem moving at an unprecedented pace and scale. In his latest article, Carl breaks down exactly what Kiwi founders need to know about navigating, adapting, and scaling within one of the world's most dynamic markets. Read his full reflections below.

Nine Kiwi cleantech companies alone have the potential to cut global emissions by 19.2 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030. That’s the scale of the opportunity highlighted in the newly released New Zealand Cleantech Impact report. Commissioned by The MacDiarmid Institute, the report validates a trend we’ve been backing for over a decade: New Zealand cleantech startups are solving global-scale problems with locally developed science. At WNT Ventures, we champion climate and cleantech innovation as one of our core investing pillars. This is why we’re particularly proud to see the work of our portfolio company Captivate Technology highlighted in the report. Captivate is delivering carbon capture that makes economic sense. Their launch demonstration project in Canada is on track for 2027 deployment, set to achieve 1,400 tonnes of CO2 removal per year, with a target to scale to 100,000 tonnes per year by 2030. Three findings from the report particularly stand out: ▪️ Cleantech has been the top-performing sector in capital raising for 2025 compared to other technology sectors in New Zealand ▪️ Cleantech innovators are solving global challenges that promise to produce substantial reductions in international GHG emissions ▪️ While New Zealand ranks highly for human capital and research, the report notes a clear opportunity to further enhance commercial expertise This is exactly where we lean in. We partner with founders at the earliest stages to provide the hands-on support and commercial grit required to turn groundbreaking research into globally relevant companies. The momentum in our cleantech ecosystem is undeniable, and we’re excited to continue backing the science-based innovations - including those being led by Captivate, Xplora Ventures and Bspkl - that will drive New Zealand’s future in the sector. Read the full report in the comments. #WNTVentures #ClimateTech #DeepTech #InnovationNZ #CarbonCapture #Sustainability

The Government’s recent announcement about a shift in science spending marks a significant turning point for the Kiwi innovation ecosystem - and validates our mission at WNT Ventures. With a clearer focus on "technology for prosperity" and a proposed $122 million annual boost for advanced technologies, we’re pleased to see a stronger focus on backing the science that drives transformative national impact. Shane Reti MP said: “Investment in advanced technology is already delivering real results – boosting farm productivity, reducing environmental impacts, and enabling smarter, data-driven decisions that improve health, resilience and sustainability across New Zealand.” “This shift will boost productivity across all sectors. It will also help build a future‑ready science workforce and strengthen our international competitiveness.” We have always believed that Aotearoa’s future lies in science-anchored, research-based innovations. From artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing to aerospace and climate tech, we invest in the defensible IP and breakthrough research that solves global pain points. The focus on advanced technologies like synthetic biology, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing aligns perfectly with our portfolio of companies that are already: ◾ Improving human and animal health through medtech advancements ◾ Leveraging climate tech to drive sustainable outcomes ◾ Advancing global productivity through automation and sensing The Government is setting the stage, and we are here to support the journey from lab to commercialisation. We engage at the earliest stages to ensure that New Zealand’s brightest ideas have the capital, expertise, and networks needed to scale globally. We are excited to see this announcement and feel fortunate to play a central part backing the founders building the highest-value sectors in Aotearoa. If you’re interested in investing in the future of deeptech, or are working on a science-based technology that might change the world, we want to hear from you. Read the announcement in the comments. #DeepTech #InnovationNZ #VentureCapital #AdvancedTechnology