About
Jon Sandbrook is a founder, investor, and advisor with 20 years of experience building companies and supporting innovation across technology, agriculture, food, biotechnology, and materials sectors. He currently serves as Director at StaplesVR and works across new product development, venture capital investing, technology commercialization, and strategic planning. His background includes leadership roles at startups, established corporations, and nonprofit organizations.
Experience
- StaplesVRDirectorcurrent2025 — presentAuckland, New Zealand
- Soul CapitalVenture Principalcurrent2025 — presentAuckland, New Zealand
- Bain & CompanyExpert Consultantcurrent2022 — presentAuckland, New Zealand
- TDRI LimitedCo-Founder / Directorcurrent2018 — presentTauranga, New Zealand
- Joiner Sandbrook LLCPrincipal Consultantcurrent2009 — present
- Ki Tua FundVenture Lead2023 — 2025Auckland, New Zealand
- New Zealand Trade and EnterpriseInvestment Manager2021 — 2022Auckland, New Zealand
- Marama Labs LimitedDirector2019 — 2021Wellington, New Zealand
- Mastaplex LimitedDirector2017 — 2021Dunedin, New Zealand
- WNT VenturesInvestment Manager2017 — 2021Tauranga, New Zealand
- Babylon BioConsulting LLCIndependent Advisor2015 — 2020
- Sprout AgriTechAdvisor2015 — 2017
- Pan Genome SystemsCo-Founder / President2013 — 2016
- WWBICDirector - South Central Region2012 — 2013Greater Madison Area
- AsureQuality LimitedVP, Corporate Strategy & Company Secretary2007 — 2009Auckland, New Zealand
- AsureQuality LimitedDirector, Corporate Strategy2006 — 2007Auckland, New Zealand
- AsureQuality LimitedAnalyst2004 — 2006Auckland, New Zealand
- Palmerston North City CouncilEconomic Policy Analyst2003 — 2004Palmerston North, New Zealand
Education
- Massey UniversityBachelor of Applied Economics, Economics
- Victoria University of WellingtonBachelor of Commerce and Administration (Honors), Business Administration
Skills & more
Start-up Ventures3Strategic Planning30Strategy28Leadership24Leadership Development13Management14Program Management8Business Development8International Business6Food Industry7Agriculture6Start-ups6
+12 more
EntrepreneurshipBusiness StrategyMergers & AcquisitionsNonprofitsPolicy AnalysisSmall BusinessMergersNon-profitsBiotechnologyRestructuringEconomicsMarketing Strategy- Certified NxLevel Instructor — NxLevel Training Network
From Jon's professional profile.
Colleagues at Soul Capital
Anastasia Shakhanova
Investment Manager at Soul Capital
Anna Wu
Senior Investment Analyst at Soul Capital
Dave Curtis
Executive Director at Soul Capital
Dr. Deb Shepherd
Non-Executive Director at Soul Capital
Dr. Jamie Newth
Founder & CEO at Soul Capital
Erin Kuo
Investment Committee at Soul Capital
Jodi Hayward
Investment Committee at Soul Capital
Judith Marecek
Operations at Soul Capital
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Jon Sandbrook work?
- Jon Sandbrook is Venture Principal at Soul Capital.
Founder mafias
Techstars mafia223
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
David CummingsTechstars Boulder Accelerator 2012Founded Undaunted +4Jeremy AchinCloud Class 2013Founded Neo Cybernetica +2Spencer RascoffMentorFounded HeyLibby +2Sanjiv SanghaviTechstars New York City Accelerator 2012Founded Texture +2Brandon PatonMentorFounded Glider +2Weiting LiuMentorFounded Everyday.me +2
+ 216 more
Victoria University of Wellington mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Nina Le LievreDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Founded Inhibit CoatingsMike CaseyBITFounded FishburnersMaxence DrummondFIlm Studies - ManagementFounded malibouNadia FadhilaMasters in Public PolicyFounded FinteliteStefan KrawczykBachelor of ScienceFounded DAGWorks Inc.Luke CullenStudy abroad yearFounded Material Difference
Same school
Also attended Victoria University of Wellington52
Helen SounessVenture Partner at RampersandDerek HandleyFounder, Insight Partner at Aera VCIsabel VerheggenGlobal Head of Marketing, CV Labs at CV LabsRachel HindPrivate Client Adviser at Aura GroupRyanInvestor at Matchstick VenturesMoritz ReckPrincipal at Engelhardt Kaupp Kiefer & Co. Management GmbH
+ 46 more
Shared employers
Also worked at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise17
Shama Amalean SkinnerFormer COO of Thinx Inc., Obama USA Leader for the Obama Foundation at XRCJeffrey LambBoard Director at Nexus for DevelopmentNick FogartyOperating Partner at Altered CapitalBen AndersonOperating Partner (Leadership); Venture Partner at MovacPeter ThomsonCTO at Icehouse VenturesFelicity RichardsBusiness Operations Manager at Icehouse Ventures
+ 11 more
