2025 looks bright for venture

31 January 2025·NZVC

Introducing the Techmates Podcast
Discover the Untold Stories of Global Tech Pioneers from Australasia

When Mark moved to New Zealand just before the 2020 lockdowns, he was captivated by the exceptional founders building global companies right here in the ANZ region. Similarly, Hendrik found himself inspired by the innovative minds driving Australia’s tech ecosystem. Yet, so many of these remarkable stories remain untold.

That’s why we created TechMates—a podcast dedicated to spotlighting ANZ’s extraordinary founders and their journeys to global impact.

🎧 Listen now:

📀 Episode 1: Translating the world's content into SIGN LANGUAGE with AI

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Our first episode features Arash Tayebi, co-founder and CEO of Kara Technologies, an NZVC portfolio company. Arash shares his inspiring journey from Iran to New Zealand and how Kara is leveraging AI to revolutionize accessibility for the Deaf community.

📀 Episode 2: FLYING boats: the FUTURE of moving on water

Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

In our second episode, we speak with Eric Laakmann, CEO of Vessev. Eric’s story is one of adventure, resilience, and groundbreaking innovation. He dives into the future of green technology and the fascinating world of electric hydrofoiling vessels.

🌟 New episodes drop weekly—don’t miss out on the stories shaping the future of tech in ANZ!

📱 Follow us on:

Instagram - @techmatespodcast

TikTok - @techmatespodcast

LinkedIn - @techmatespodcast

Twitter - @techmates_pod

📅 Save the Date: Portfolio Day – October 21, 2025

Auckland’s tech scene is buzzing, and we’re hosting our Portfolio Day as part of a week-long series of events. Expect a jam-packed week of innovation, networking, and collaboration. If you’ve been planning a trip to New Zealand, this is the time to be in Auckland.

💬 Mark Meets with Judith Collins

After his meeting with the PM last month, Mark had an inspiring conversation with Judith Collins, Minister for Digitising NZ. We’re discussing exciting ways to support the country’s tech talent. What’s next? Stay tuned!

In 2022, Judith Collins attended the Portfolio Day and actively participated in the event. Her contributions to the discussions and engagement with attendees emphasized the importance of supporting New Zealand's tech talent and fostering innovation through collaboration.

📰 In the News

We were featured in The Post!

Check out the latest article from The Post about NZVC’s $100M fund to back groundbreaking global startups. It highlights our commitment to empowering visionary founders worldwide, our roots in New Zealand’s early-stage ecosystem, and the incredible companies we’ve already partnered with, like Pyper Vision and Vessev.

Why We’re Excited About Venture in 2025

✅ Optimism is Back

The mood in venture has shifted. After the post-Covid challenges, the ecosystem is filled with renewed energy and optimism. Startups that raised during the tough years of 2021–2024 are proving to be some of the most resilient we’ve seen, building stronger foundations and navigating uncertainty with agility.

Graduation rates are up, and we believe the hard lessons learned during this period will lead to breakout success stories. Our portfolio reflects this resilience, with several companies scaling faster than expected and entering new markets.

✅ Tech’s Next Frontier

We’re witnessing a paradigm shift in innovation. The pitches we’re seeing aren’t just about optimizing SaaS tools anymore. They’re about redefining industries.

AI is driving transformational change, pushing the boundaries in everything from healthcare diagnostics to predictive agriculture.
Deep tech and biotech are creating solutions for challenges once thought insurmountable. From quantum computing to cell-based meat production, ANZ startups are stepping onto the global stage.
Clean tech is at the forefront of tackling climate change, with founders focusing on renewable energy, sustainable materials, and carbon capture technologies.

This isn’t just evolution—it’s revolution. ANZ’s entrepreneurs are building the next wave of category-defining companies.

✅ A New Wave of Liquidity

The venture ecosystem is evolving, and the opportunities for investors and founders alike have never been more promising:

M&A activity is accelerating as larger players look to acquire innovative startups to remain competitive.
IPO windows are reopening, providing founders with the opportunity to go public and scale even further.
Secondary markets are maturing, unlocking new capital for early investors and fueling the next generation of startups.

These developments are creating a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem, paving the way for exponential growth across ANZ and beyond.

First published on nzvc.co.nz on 31 January 2025 and kept here as it ran. Fund sizes and portfolio counts were current at the time; for the fund we are raising now, read the investors page.

Newer: NZVC’s second fund targets up to $50m in early-stage investmentsOlder: Vessev