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About
Derek Handley is a New Zealand entrepreneur and investor whose career began in New York's media and technology scene, where he co-founded The Hyperfactory, an early mobile marketing agency that was sold to Time Inc/Meredith in 2010. In 2013 he co-founded The B Team, a not-for-profit network of business leaders, alongside Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz, serving as its founding CEO. He and his wife Maya created the Aera Foundation in 2015, and he is now founding general partner at Aera VC, a climate-focused venture fund investing in companies tackling the UN's sustainable development goals. Handley also founded Wiser, a platform and podcast series focused on self-knowledge and purpose, and is an adjunct professor at AUT University while studying toward a master's degree in religion at Harvard.
Invests in
AgTechClimate TechDeep TechEnergyFoodTechHardwareSpace Tech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded Wiser, a platform and podcast series helping people develop self-knowledge and purpose. Co-founded and ran The Hyperfactory, a digital technology agency, with his brothers. Co-founded The B Team with Sir Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz. Co-founded the Aera Foundation with his wife Maya in 2015.
- Education
- Studying toward a master's degree in religion at Harvard University. Previously studied at MIT, Victoria University in Wellington, and Singularity University.
- Boards
- Was a long-standing board member of SKY Network Television, New Zealand's largest media company.
- Charities
- Through the Aera Foundation supports impact ventures including Eat My Lunch and WeAreTENZING.
- Communities
- Member of New Zealand Asian Leaders.
- Awards
- Former Ernst & Young 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year'. Named an AACSB International Influential Leader. Recognized as a Sir Peter Blake Trust Leader. Named to the 'Silicon Alley 100' list of most influential technology professionals in greater New York.
- Hobbies
- Hopes to travel to space as a civilian astronaut with Virgin Galactic.
- Family
- Married to Maya, with whom he founded the Aera Foundation.
- More
- Authored the 2013 memoir 'Heart to Start', published by Random House.
From Derek's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Founder at Aera
Intro paths
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Investments
Investor
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Colleagues at Aera VC
Network2
Investors connected to Derek in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Derek Handley?
- Derek Handley is a New Zealand entrepreneur and investor whose career began in New York's media and technology scene, where he co-founded The Hyperfactory, an early mobile marketing agency that was sold to Time Inc/Meredith in 2010. In 2013 he co-founded The B Team, a not-for-profit network of business leaders, alongside Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz, serving as its founding CEO. He and his wife Maya created the Aera Foundation in 2015, and he is now founding general partner at Aera VC, a climate-focused venture fund investing in companies tackling the UN's sustainable development goals. Handley also founded Wiser, a platform and podcast series focused on self-knowledge and purpose, and is an adjunct professor at AUT University while studying toward a master's degree in religion at Harvard.
- Where does Derek Handley work?
- Derek Handley is Founder of Aera and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Aera VC.
- What does Derek Handley invest in?
- Derek Handley invests in AgTech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Energy, FoodTech, Hardware, Space Tech.
- What check size does Derek Handley write?
- Derek Handley typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- What companies did Derek Handley found?
- Derek Handley founded Aera.
- What companies has Derek Handley invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Icehouse Ventures.
- What awards has Derek Handley received?
- Former Ernst & Young 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year'. Named an AACSB International Influential Leader. Recognized as a Sir Peter Blake Trust Leader. Named to the 'Silicon Alley 100' list of most influential technology professionals in greater New York.
Founder mafias
MIT Sloan School of Management mafia449
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Victoria University of Wellington mafia39
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa mafia27
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Auckland University of Technology mafia21
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Andela mafia15
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — Aera VC's own website and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights