Angel Association of New Zealand (AANZ) is pleased to announce the appointment of David Flacks as the new non-executive Chair of the Executive Committee, effective 1 April 2024. David brings a wealth of experience and leadership to AANZ. As an angel investor for a number of years with Flying Kiwi Angels, and with a portfolio of startup investments through IceHouse Ventures and others, David has a deep understanding of angel investing. With David’s three years on the board of NZ Venture Investment Fund, the predecessor to the NZ Growth Capital Fund, he also has a valuable ecosystem perspective ..read more

We are delighted to be able to bring the Abroad Wellbeing programme back to New Zealand for the 4th year in a row with the support of Callaghan Innovation, New Zealand Growth Capital Partners and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, kicking off on May 2nd at 11am. This 3 month programme is for both founders and investors, designed to help you enhance your leadership and improve your wellbeing. Over the last three years we have had over 150 founders and investors take part in the programme focusing on the growth mindset, the signs and symptoms of burnout, intrinsic motivation and team al ..read more

Susan Iorns has been awarded Angel Association New Zealand’s 2024 Arch Angel Award today at the 16th New Zealand Angel Summit in Auckland.   The Arch Angel Award is the highest honour in New Zealand’s angel investment community, given to those who exemplify the quintessential angel and who advocate for the endeavour and make a significant difference to New Zealand’s start-up ecosystem. As well as their personal capital, Arch Angel recipients share their time, insights, deeply relevant skills, and their networks with high growth startup companies.  S ..read more

At its 2024 summit in Auckland today, Angel Association New Zealand announced the winners of the Puawaitanga Award – recognising founders and investor directors who exemplify what can be achieved when committed people draw on their collective skills and experience – and the Kotahaitanga Award – recognising people in the angel community who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry.   The Puawaitanga Award has been presented to Kara Technologies CEO Arash Tayebi and his team and well-known, Auckland-based, angel investor Ken Erskine, who has been the lead investor and a fo ..read more

The latest Young Company Finance deal data shows impressive resilience in the New Zealand startup landscape, with 67 deals funded in the first half of 2023, compared to 66 in the same period last year. The deal data, insights and commentary are included in the Startup Investment report, published today by PwC New Zealand, Angel Association New Zealand and NZ Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP). Early stage investors provided $71.6m of funding for New Zealand startups, down just 4% year on year, with new deals making up 25%. The level of investment is in contrast to global trends, where funding was ..read more

After two years of record deal activity, Aotearoa New Zealand’s startup investment market is resetting to pre-pandemic levels, according to Young Company Finance deal data. The data, which is analysed in more depth in the latest Startup Investment report – produced by PwC New Zealand, Angel Association New Zealand and New Zealand Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP) – shows that in the second half of 2022: • 76 deals were funded by Early Stage Investors with over $112m of capital • An additional $117m of funding was provided by Venture Capital • Total transaction value was just under $230m • Softwa ..read more

ngel Association New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s announcement establishing a Startup Advisory Council and $250m of new grant funding for startups. Acknowledging the establishment of the Startup Advisory Council, AANZ Executive Chair, Suse Reynolds said Aotearoa New Zealand is producing a cohort of startups capable of leading the world when it comes to solving some of its big problems. “The Government has clearly articulated a vision for a more productive, sustainable, equitable economy; one which will socially and environmentally transform Aotearoa. The Startup Advisory Council will ..read more

Auckland, 11 May 2023 – After two years of record deal activity, Aotearoa New Zealand’s startup investment market is resetting to pre-pandemic levels, according to Young Company Finance deal data. The data, which is analysed in more depth in the latest Startup Investment report – produced by PwC New Zealand, Angel Association New Zealand and New Zealand Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP) – shows that in the second half of 2022: • 76 deals were funded by Early Stage Investors with over $112m of capital • An additional $117m of funding was provided by Venture Capital • Total transaction value was j ..read more

We are delighted to announce that registrations are now open for the AANZ Summit to be held on Thursday 27 October and Friday 28 October in Queenstown. Register here ..read more

Angel investing makes sense in good times and bad times for different reasons. Investing in startups is not for the faint hearted even in the best of times. But in fact it makes financial sense in the best and worst of economic times. Being an angel or early stage venture investor also makes sense on a raft of other fronts too. New companies produce almost all our net new job growth. Startups are building businesses to solve some of the world’s big problems like climate change, feeding the world, curing disease and social equity. And kiwi startups in particular are showcasing Aotearoa’s a ..read more