Fundraising Fox
Auckland · Pre-Seed–Series B · 4 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Outset Ventures backs deep technology companies emerging from New Zealand, positioning itself as the country's deep tech engine. It pairs a venture fund with physical R&D and laboratory infrastructure and a curated founder community, aiming to help ambitious science- and engineering-driven founders turn early ideas into global companies. Its Momentum Fund is a high-conviction opportunity vehicle that backs New Zealand's breakout deep tech winners as they scale internationally, engaging institutional and family office investors. The firm points to its role as the birthplace of frontier companies such as Rocket Lab, LanzaTech, Mint Innovation, and Ternary.
Source: firm website, verified Sep 27, 2026.
Team · 4 people
from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Founder mafia
3 people who came through Outset Ventures went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 29 of 36 portfolio companiesCleantech ×11Deep Tech ×11Climate Tech ×9Hardware ×8Healthtech ×6Medical Devices ×6AI & Machine Learning ×5Energy ×5
HQs:New Zealand×10United States×4Australia×1Mexico×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 19 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×82 founders×63 founders×34+ founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 17 founders with education data
University of Auckland ×4Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa ×2Victoria University of Wellington ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 20 founders with field-of-study data
Engineering ×5Life Sciences ×4Mathematics & Statistics ×3Chemistry ×2Economics ×2Physics ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 19 founders with career history
Return On Science ×2Robinson Research Institute - Victoria University of Wellington ×2Victoria University of Wellington ×2
8 founders hold a PhD (of 21 with degree data)
Investments · 36 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 22023 · 12022 · 12021 · 32017 · 18 dated
Rocket Lab develops launch vehicles and space systems for commercial space access and satellite deployment.
Deep TechHardwareSpace TechLong Beach, US
Peter Beck(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersDCVC (Data Collective)Draft Ventures LlcErgo CapitalGen CapitalIn-Q-Tel+9 more
Aplenty converts wood waste biomass into clean CO2 and heat for commercial greenhouses using its patented Hot Lime technology, helping growers raise crop yields, control heating costs, and reduce fossil fuel use.
AgTechCleantechClimate Tech
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBooster Innovation FundClimate Venture Capital Fund
Aspiring Materials develops sustainable materials technology with environmental impact focus.
CleantechClimate TechNew Materials
Christopher Oze(Founder)inMark Chadderton(Founder)Matthew Watson(Founder)
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsBetter Bite VenturesCreative HQ — The IncubatorIcehouse VenturesImpact Ventures Management Pty LtdMotion Capital
Astrix builds inflatable deployable components for spacecraft, including solar arrays, radiators, antennas, drag sails, and heat shields.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersIcehouse VenturesMenlo VenturesCRV (Charles River Ventures)F2 Venture CapitalWorkday Ventures
Astrix develops inflatable, deployable systems for spacecraft that provide expanded surface area for solar arrays, radiators, antennas, and other components.
HardwareSpace Tech
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsStartmate Launch Club
Atomic Tessellator combines computational physics with machine learning and enterprise software architecture, though the page does not specify its product offering or customer market.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechNew Materials
Alain Richardt(Founder)
BoardDr. Priyank KumarProf. Simon Ringer
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsCrane Venture PartnersIn-Q-TelSalus VenturesConfluentGD1Icehouse Ventures+1 more
Basis builds autonomous AI agents that perform accounting work end-to-end, collaborating with accountants at key decision points to deliver finished accounting deliverables.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintech
Mitchell Troyanovsky(Founder)inMatt Harpe(Founder)inOleg Deripaska(Founder)
Co-investorsAccelAvid VenturesavraBetter Tomorrow VenturesBoxGroupKhosla Ventures+5 more
Basis manufactures a smart switchboard (electrical panel) for residential homes that provides energy monitoring, cost savings, and electrical safety features including shock and fire protection.
CleantechHardwareIoTAuckland, NZ
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsGV (Google Ventures)Icehouse VenturesAccelBessemer Venture PartnersCostanoa VenturesKhosla Ventures+3 more
Ceryx Medical develops medical device technology, presenting a leadership and research team alongside its publications.
BiotechHealthtechMedical Devices
Julian Paton(Founder)inStuart Plant(CEO)inMalcolm Hamer(CTO)inBrenig Preest(CFO)in
BoardChas Taylor(Chairman)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsParkwalk Advisors
Wireless power transmission via light-based beaming to remote locations.
Billy Jeremijenko(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsAera VCBlackbird VenturesDefence TrailblazerPacific ChannelTORUS
E-Leviate is a New Zealand medical device company developing a long-acting silicone vaginal ring pessary that contains estriol released locally over the wear period, designed to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
FemTechHealthtechMedical Devices
Prathima Chowdary(Founder)
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsIcehouse VenturesNuance Capital
EnergyBank develops a system to firm floating offshore wind at the turbine, enabling co-location of compute modules with power generation and avoiding grid connections through high-seas siting and direct ocean cooling.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
Tim Hawkey(Founder)inAaron Johnson(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesNuance Capital
Kwetta develops grid-smart EV charging technology with modular hardware that draws more power from a single grid connection, enabling high-powered electric vehicle charging without grid upgrades or delays.
CleantechEnergyHardwareMobility & TransportationNapier, NZ
Dustin Murdock(Founder)inRob(Co-founder & CTO)Mike(Co-founder & CGO)Mike Lazelle(Founder)Robert Turner(Founder)
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesVirescent Ventures
Cullbeck develops a hydrogen-based reactor that converts titanomagnetite (TTM) ironsand or crushed rock ore into Direct Reduced Iron in about 150 seconds, targeting the decarbonisation of steel production.
CleantechClimate TechNew MaterialsAuckland, NZ
Martin Hacon(CEO)
Co-investorsCreative HQ — The IncubatorClimate Venture Capital FundIcehouse VenturesMotion CapitalPunakaiki Fund
Daisy Lab is a New Zealand company using precision fermentation to produce dairy products without cows, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of traditional dairy farming.
BiotechClimate TechDeep TechFoodTech
Irina MillerinNikki FreedinEmily McIsaacin
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsEven CapitalSustainable Food VenturesIcehouse Ventures
Dennisson Technologies develops AURAFLEX, an advanced actuation technology that combines material science and photon physics for compact motion control applications.
Deep TechHardwareNew MaterialsRobotics
Anvil Serg Bañez(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsEven CapitalStartmate Launch Club
Rhys Foster(Founder)Tim Hawkey(Founder)
Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesVersion One Ventures
FoundryLab produces metal casting parts for defense, aerospace, and automotive industries using 3D-printed ceramic molds and automated processes, delivering production-grade parts from CAD to finished product in 72 hours without tooling delays.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechDefense TechHardwarePetone, Wellington, US
David Moodie(Founder)inPeter Beck(Director)Mike Collett(Director)
BoardVignesh Kumar(Director)inSamantha Wong(Director)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsBlackbird VenturesEnterprise AngelsGD1Icehouse VenturesNZVC+4 more
HeartLab provides a cloud-based platform that improves cardiology imaging workflows for medical teams.
Cloud ComputingDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
Will Hewitt(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsIcehouse VenturesFounders Fund
LanzaTech converts carbon-rich gases from industrial sources like steel mills and landfills into fuels and chemicals using synthetic biology.
Circular EconomyCleantechClimate Tech
Dr. Jennifer Holmgren(CEO)Richard Forster(Founder)Sean Simpson(Founder)
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsNovo HoldingsActivant CapitalKhosla VenturesQiming Venture PartnersSaints CapitalXeraya Capital+1 more
Mint develops a chemistry-based process to recover critical minerals from electronic waste, avoiding high-temperature smelting.
Circular EconomyCleantechNew MaterialsAuckland, NZ
Will Barker(Founder)inOllie Crush(Founder)inMatt Bedingfield(Global President)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsBlackbird VenturesEnterprise AngelsIcehouse VenturesMovacWNT Ventures+1 more
A nutrition technology company that uses wild-type unicellular aquatic organisms to produce protein- and fiber-rich, non-GMO ingredients (marketed as Marine Whey) for food applications.
BiotechFoodTechImpact & Social Good
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsAugust OneBooster Innovation FundSavia VenturesSOSV
OpenStar develops compact fusion energy technology using a levitated dipole approach and high-temperature superconducting systems, working toward commercial fusion.
CleantechDeep TechEnergyWellington, NZ
Ratu Mataira(Founder)inThomas Berry(Co-founder & Chief Product Officer)inDarren Garnier(Chief Science Officer)inRod Badcock(Chief Technology Officer)inNicole Ferguson(VP - Finance)inBen Taylor-Bryant(VP - Investor Relations)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesIcehouse VenturesNZ Growth Capital PartnersRadar VenturesThe Engine Ventures
Pyper Vision develops fog-casting technology that forecasts fog over airports, aimed at reducing fog-related flight delays and disruptions in the aviation sector.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechDeep TechSaaS
Emily Blythe(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsAngel HQArc AngelsIcehouse VenturesNZVCMainland Angel Investors
Reactory develops patented maturation technology that accelerates spirit aging from decades to days while reducing production costs and environmental impact.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechFoodTech
Mark Eltom(Chief Executive Officer)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsStartmate Launch Club
RespirAq develops the RespirAq Active Humidifier System, a compact, battery-powered device that provides active heated humidification for mechanically ventilated patients without an external water supply, using a thermo-responsive smart material to capture and release moisture from the patient's breath.
HardwareHealthtechMedical Devices
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsEven CapitalMovacCure Kids VenturesIcehouse Ventures
Ternary Energy develops electrochemistry-based solutions to provide secure, affordable, emissions-free energy to industrial and urban customers.
CleantechClimate TechDeep TechEnergy
Sean Molloy(Founder)inDr Sean Simpson(Executive Chairman & Co-founder)inProfessor Aaron Marshall(CSO & Co-founder)inAaron T. Marshall(Founder)Sean Simpson(Founder)
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsBlackbird VenturesIcehouse Ventures
Toku provides software for Latin American businesses to manage accounts receivable operations, including payment processing, retry logic for failed transactions, and customer notifications, allowing companies to improve cash collection efficiency.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSMexico City, MX
Francisca Noguera(Founder)inCristina Etcheberry(Founder)inEnzo Tamburini(Founder)inDominika Stobiecka(Founder)Enzo Tamburini Heinz(Founder)Francisca Noguera Astaburuaga(Founder)
Co-investorsF-Prime CapitalFundersClubGradient VenturesHoney Island CapitalOak HC/FTRegion Cuatro+13 more
Toku Eyes develops AI-driven solutions for eye health diagnostics and monitoring, bringing together medical expertise in endocrinology and ophthalmology with artificial intelligence capabilities.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechMedical Devices
Michael V. McConnell(Chief Health Officer and Interim CEO)inFrancesca Logan(Chief Commercial Officer)inYariv Levin(Chief Compliance, Ethics and Clinical Affairs Officer)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsArc AngelsIcehouse VenturesBlockchain CapitalF-Prime CapitalFunders Club Managementgmjp+7 more
Vertus Energy develops waste-to-energy technologies for anaerobic digestion plants, including BRIO, a unit that increases waste processing capacity and biogas energy potential, and BODA, a carbon sequestration and conversion technology that upgrades biogas to bio-methane or converts captured CO₂ and H₂ into Renewable Natural Gas.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyImpact & Social Good
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsAmadeus Capital PartnersAPEX VenturesEnergy Capital VenturesIcehouse VenturesStartmate
Wellumio develops axana®, a portable, energy-efficient MRI system based on its Pulsed Gradient Free Mapping (PGFM) technology, designed to detect acute stroke quickly in front-line care settings.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Shieak Tzeng(Co-founder & Co-CEO)inSergei Obruchkov(Co-founder & Co-CEO)inGyan Barik(Executive Director, Business Operations & Australia)inZiad Rouag(General Manager USA)Harry Marfatia(Head of Finance)in
BoardSia Moussavi(Board Chairman)
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBooster Innovation FundCure Kids VenturesEnterprise AngelsNuance CapitalNZ Growth Capital PartnersPacific Channel+1 more
Zenno Astronautics builds superconducting electromagnet systems that let satellites point and manoeuvre without fuel.
Max Arshavsky(Founder)inSebastian Wieczorek(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsAlt VenturesEnterprise AngelsGD1Global BrainNZ Growth Capital PartnersNZVC+1 more
San Francisco, US
Ryan Sandler(President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, and Director)Ethan Winchell(Director)Aaron T. Marshall(Founder)Jonathan Ring(Founder)in
PartnerMat Rowe· solo GP
Co-investorsBooster Innovation FundClimate Venture Capital FundTransUnion
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Applied
Exits · 1
1 IPOsRocket LabNASDAQ: RKLB
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesOpenStar Technologies · leadsontrees.com · Sep 24, 2025
Ceryx Medical · ceryxmedical.com · Jun 20, 2025
Aspiring Materials · prnewswire.com · May 6, 2025
Toku · finsmes.com · Apr 17, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Outset Ventures made?
- Outset Ventures has 36 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 2 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Outset Ventures invest at?
- Outset Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B stages.
- What is Outset Ventures's typical check size?
- Outset Ventures typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- What sectors does Outset Ventures focus on?
- Outset Ventures focuses on Biotech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Energy, FoodTech, Hardware, Medical Devices, New Materials, Space Tech.
- Where is Outset Ventures located?
- Outset Ventures is headquartered in Auckland, NZ.
- Does Outset Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Outset Ventures leads investment rounds.
- Who does Outset Ventures co-invest with?
- Outset Ventures most often shares deals with Icehouse Ventures, Arc Angels, Blackbird Ventures, among 57 tracked co-investors.
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