The Rise of NZ Venture Capital: How it’s evolving in the 2020’s

• What are investors looking for in founders in 2022?

• What should founders be looking for in investors in 2022?

• Have investors become more values-driven?

• How has the ecosystem changed from a founder's perspective?

Saara Tawha
Manager, New Ventures at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Saara is a Programme Developer and delivery specialist, currently programme manager for the indigenous business accelerator Kōkiri, and Manager - New Ventures for Te Ahikōmako within Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Saara is also an experienced Process, People and Operational Manager with demonstrated history of working in the Dairy Industry, as well as Economic Development. Skilled in Problem Solving, Business Planning, Coaching, Presentation delivery, Occupational Health and Safety, Project Management and developing Management Systems.

Ben O’Brien
CEO, StretchSense

Ben is the co-founder and CEO of StretchSense – StretchSense motion capture gloves are used to create amazing content and immersive experiences for games, movies, and the metaverse. Ben holds a PhD in Bioengineering, a Black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and won The Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize in 2013.

Shayne Shepherd
Investment Director, Pioneer Capital

Shayne has extensive experience in planning and executing strategy, acquisitions and financings of Australian and New Zealand growth businesses. He joined Pioneer Capital in 2017 and sources and manages private equity investments and leads their Private Debt programme.  He is currently a director of Optimal Workshop and Tally Group and oversees Pioneer Capital’s Parkable private debt investment. 

John Kells
Co-Managing Partner, Global From Day One (GD1)

John has 20+ years investment experience, including 14 years in the UK. He spent 3 years as a front office equity analyst for London based hedge fund GLG Partners (previously one of the largest hedge funds globally before being acquired by Man Group) and was selected in the Financial News Top 40 Under 40 Rising Stars of European Hedge Funds list in 2012.

John worked for eight years at Tesco Pension Investment, a £14B UK pension scheme – allocating and managing £1.5B in alternative investments globally (mainly in top tier venture capital and private equity funds and co-investments).

John has also been an active angel investor for a number of years. Upon returning to New Zealand in 2015, John co-founded a startup before joining GD1. John is a Co-Managing Partner for GD1 Fund 3 and holds a BSc (Mathematics), 3x Diplomas in Finance, Financial Planning and Statistics, and is a CFA Charterholder. 

Phil Taylor
Partner, Tompkins Wake

Phil is a corporate and commercial lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience. Phil provides clear, knowledgeable, and strategic advice to clients, specialising in mergers and acquisitions and complex corporate transactions. He has a high level of commercial and strategic acumen and constantly seeks innovative ways to deliver value to his clients. Phil’s experience gives him an international perspective and he works with start-ups and growing businesses to get them investment ready and take New Zealand innovation to the world.

Phil joined Tompkins Wake as a partner in 2006, he has international experience working for Australian law firm Gilbert + Tobin, and with Fonterra where he participated in international dealings on a daily basis including the establishment of a $250m joint venture in China.

Phil has been noted as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 for Asia Pacific.

Schedule

7:00am - 7:30am - Registration Opens

7:30am - 7.55am - Breakfast

7:55am - 8:00am - Welcome: Chairperson

8:00am - 8:10am - Speaker 1

8:10am - 8:20am - Speaker 2

8:20am - 8:30am - Networking break, coffee, refreshments

8:30am - 8:40am - Speaker 3

8:40am - 8:50am - Speaker 4

8:50am - 9:20am - Panel Discussion

9:20am - Closing by Chairman

9:25am - Event over / networking

Venue (Hilton Auckland):