Kia Ora!

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We back the bravest Kiwi founders, launching global companies from New Zealand. One startup can define a generation. Our mission is to back them.
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ABOUT US

Our Story

Icehouse Ventures’ began with the formation of Ice Angels, NZ’s first angel network, in 2003. A small group of passionate investors saw the opportunity to band together to support Kiwi innovators to take on the world. Over the next decade this grew into NZ’s most active angel network. In 2013, we raised our first fund. Subsequently we’ve scaled to an early stage venture capital firm with over $400m invested.

We still have a highly active co-investor network of more than 2,000 investors and operate a suite of funds with different portfolio strategies. We believe New Zealand founders build world-class companies and create significant value as an asset class. In 2019 we attracted Simplicity Kiwisaver, Jarden, and Sir Stephen Tindall's K1W1 to join us as shareholders. They invested in our growth to transform New Zealand’s future by backing the bravest founders for decades to come.
ABOUT US

Meet the team

Robbie Paul

CEO

Has been with Icehouse Ventures from its angel network, to its first fund, to over $500m in FUM and the largest portfolio of NZ's most promising tech companies.

Joined:

2008

Jack McQuire

Partner

Drawn to the optimism of founders tackling seemingly insurmountable global problems, a three-month internship has become a career spanning over a decade.

Joined:

2013

Barnaby Marshall

Partner

Involved in the NZ startup ecosystem for over a decade as both a founder and investor. Discovers and supports New Zealand’s most ambitious early-stage entrepreneurs to achieve global scale.

Joined:

2017

Jo Wickham

Partner

Passionate about taking NZ tech to the world. Was a private equity/corporate lawyer at London Magic Circle and top-tier Auckland firms, before a becoming a senior exec for a globally listed NZ tech company and a data driven marketing startup.

Joined:

2021

Jason Wang

Partner

An EHF fellow. Raised his first fund in 2016, has established a vibrant Chinese investor community. Positioning Icehouse Ventures to build the most diverse and impactful investor network in the country.

Joined:

2015

Tim Brown

Venture Partner

Allbirds co-founder and former All Whites captain. Bringing his wealth of experience to Kiwi founders looking to transform our future.

Joined:

2024

Tom Furlong

Venture Partner

Spent 15 years in corporate law in Silicon Valley and 15 years as a venture capitalist at Granite Ventures, with $1b FUM and a number of unicorns to its credit.

Joined:

2017

Peter Thomson

CTO

Built product and ran marketing for startups in New York and London. Previously a private equity and venture capital lawyer. Passionate about fintech.

Joined:

2019

Scott Turner

CFO

Previously worked for Deloitte NZ and an investment broking firm in London. Joined Icehouse after exiting his own privately backed startup. Works across Icehouse Ventures and The Icehouse running shared services operations.

Joined:

2016

Matt Gunn

COO

Former COO and Head of Growth at a scaling Kiwi retail company and an open data startup. Operationalised IV to support thousands of investors and hundreds of portfolio companies. Has raised over $30m for IV funds.

Joined:

2020

Felicity Richards

Business Support Manager

Had an extensive Navy career, worked in finance at some of London's top PE and asset management firms, and since returning to NZ has been involved in businesses supporting Kiwi tech companies to grow internationally.

Joined:

2023

Michaela Egbers

Head of Marketing

Joined a notable Kiwi startup in 2015 and has been a marketer in the startup space ever since. Shapes how IV amplifies the stories of NZ's most promising companies—to attract more investment, more talent, more entrepreneurs, and more support for Team NZ.

Joined:

2022

Mason Bleakley

Principal

Joined IV when he was 19, driven by a passion for partnering with founders to build global businesses. Has raised over $30m in venture funds and helped launch First Cut, a $5.2m fund dedicated to supporting young founders under 30.

Joined:

2017

Steph Benseman

Principal and Head of Portfolio Services

Designed and delivered accelerators for startups and corporate innovation before joining IV. Invests in brave Kiwi founders and shapes how IV helps them succeed in their mission.

Joined:

2021

Bex Gidall

Associate

Worked on her own and others’ startups since the age of 16. Finds and supports exceptional Kiwi founders building world-changing companies, and leads IV’s Arc Fund & Communityfr women and non-binary founders.

Joined:

2021

Logan Gubb

Head of Design

A strategy first creative with years of startup experience. Leads all things design at IV. Championing UX/UI, creative direction and developing & enabling IV's brand platform.

Joined:

2022

Seb McLarin

Financial Controller

Has been applying his expertise in accounting and finance to power Icehouse Ventures and The Icehouse in backing New Zealand's exceptional entrepreneurs for nearly a decade.

Joined:

2015

Henry Wang

Investment Analyst

A qualified doctor. Passionate about finding ways to have impact at scale. Finding and supporting NZ’s next-gen of exceptional tech companies.

Joined:

2024

Laila Grace

Portfolio Operations Associate

Joined IV while finishing university. Drawn to the excitement and ambition of startups setting out to solve global issues. Supports IV founders and operators in their missions.

Joined:

2022

Nikita Deva

Product Analyst

A champion of IV's investor experience and how Kiwi startups build in ESG and sustainability into their way of being. Drawn to venture capital and the positive impact that backing bold, innovative ideas can have.

Joined:

2022

Becca Gaunt

Senior Legal Counsel

Returned to NZ bringing her international VC experience from working both in private practice at a top tier VC law firm in the UK, and as in-house counsel at a VC investing across Europe and the US.

Joined:

2024

Harry Fakir

Software Developer

Pharmacist turned Software Developer. Driven by a passion for better accessibility and use-ability of technology.

Joined:

2022

Maggie Peacock

Marketing Executive

Founded a startup in the sustainable packaging space while still at high school. Applies her passion and insights to elevate the people, missions, and impact of NZ's exceptional founders and tech companies.

Joined:

2024

Ian Patel

Principal Engineer

Over a decade of experience in software development, specialising in cloud security, software engineering, and UX. Developed a web app at the age of 13, a code base to process 40m payments annually, and now applies his expertise to IV's portal.

Joined:

2023

Coco Low

Investor Compliance Specialist

A specialist in all things compliance and AML. Supporting New Zealand’s most promising startups and IV's investor base of over 2000.

Joined:

2023

Bridgette Abernethy

Investment Intern

Drawn to VC and the startup ecosystem after studying microbiology and working in government IP, recognising the need to better bridge science and technology with commercialisation and finance.

Joined:

2024

Get started with Icehouse Ventures

Backing NZ’s bravest founders building global companies.