$500k fund raised by millennials for millennial start-ups

A $500,000 investment has been raised by a group of youth to be invested in start-ups founded by those under the age of 30. First Cut Ventures (FCV), made up of mostly students, has 12 members including four University of Auckland students, a University of Waikato student, three recent graduates working in the venture capital […]

Upside Biotechnologies raises $2.3 m in funding round

Upside Biotechnologies, a regenerative medicine start-up, said it has successfully raised $2.3 million in its Series A funding round. The Auckland-based company is developing an advanced, world-class skin replacement treatment for patients suffering major burns. The capital raised will be used to complete development of the product, demonstrate proof of concept, ready the product for […]

$24.9M New Zealand Start-up fund recipients announced

Start-up fund recipients announced Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced the successful recipients of the 2016 PreSeed Accelerator Fund. “This fund supports the commercialisation of publicly funded research technologies to the point where new companies can be formed or the technology licensed or sold to existing businesses,” Mr Joyce says. “The successful applicants […]

Govt earmarks $15m towards commercialising hi-tech developments

The Government’s $15 million investment into initiatives supporting Kiwi start-ups is a step in the right direction but there’s still more to be done, a Massey University economist says. The Pre-Seed Accelerator fund is aimed at developing “cutting-edge” research into viable start-up businesses. Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce said hundreds of savvy hi-tech Kiwi […]

AUT Venture Fund gives entrepreneurs a welcome kickstart

Four startup projects led by entrepreneurial AUT University alumni and students got a boost last week thanks to the AUT Venture Fund. AUT Business School alumnus Helgaard Theunissen and his teammate Ernst Jordaan won the alumni division with their business plan for Vermicast – a company that will sell compost produced by earthworms.  Vermicast will […]

Waikato University Announces Agri-Tech Seed Fund

Waikato University launched three new agricultural innovation initiatives at Fieldays, which included a dedicated agri-tech innovation manager, who will work with the university’s commercial unit, WaikatoLink, an agri-tech seed fund and an agri-tech entrepreneurial fellowship.

AUT venture fund supports three student entrepreneurs

Now in its fourth year, the AUT Venture Fund attracts the creative minds of students from across every faculty at AUT University. Students are required to come up with a venture that is product, service or technology focussed, with a domestic and/or international orientation. The funding committee then grants start-up funds, mentoring and professional development […]