/ Kōrerorero blog / 29 Apr 2021 / Katie Hickmer
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Dr Andrew West is a jack of all trades when it comes to our tech start-up ecosystem; from scientist, founder to investor and more!
Bench scientist in microbial ecology, turned Chief Executive of GNS Science and later CEO of AgResearch, Executive Chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission and Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University. Now a co-founding General Partner in Matū Fund (hi-tech investment), co-founder and Managing Director of Synthase Biotech and Chief Technology Officer for Te Awanui Huka Pak, a Māori-owned and led commercial company in horticulture.
Andrew has seen science and technology from just about every aspect; producing it, commercialising it, managing it, governing it and funding it.
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A growing volume of exciting science and technology is being produced by New Zealand universities, Crown Research Institutes and private inventors. Predictably, we’re good in the biological/medical and earth sciences, but perhaps more surprisingly, across many fields where New Zealand has no obvious competitive or comparative advantage. I’m also seeing a fast-growing number of green technologies pitching for funds, which is the space for our country.
What I love about Aotearoa’s national culture is that we ask for forgiveness, not permission. That’s just brilliant for the hi-tech start-up ecosystem.
Personal view:
Personal view:
Matū is a Kiwi-owned evergreen Fund that invests in New Zealand-produced globally relevant science and technology at a very early stage (pre-seed and seed).
We often seek to the be first cash investor, yet we always syndicate with other cash investors. We also follow on our investments when it makes sense to do so. These follow-ons are also syndicated.
We are not passive investors. Very early-stage investing is high risk and commensurately can be high reward. However, to help manage that risk and drive towards reward, we are hands on – we either govern, manage or advise every investee company we are associated with.
The GPs have great experience in these aspects across hi-techs and our venture associates, executives in residence and other employees have rapidly developed considerable experience too. I think we’re a great team with a great leader, the legendary Greg Sitters.
Now that’s something of a specialist skill for Matū so I’ll be brief; We have great relationships with Universities and most CRIs, and are increasingly known within the private sector of inventors and innovators.
We therefore get to see a huge deal flow, and without deals, there’s nothing to invest in.
.. And so on and so on.
Matū is highly competent at due diligences and thorough with it. We strive to remain objective.
Do it.
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This is our 6th Kōrerorero of the series.
/ General publications
2 May 2022
In collaboration with PWC and AANZ, we share insights on growing a sustainable ecosystem
/ News
26 Apr 2022
Elevate NZ Venture Fund is conditionally committing $15 million into Hillfarrance, a recently…
/ events
12 Apr 2022
Join NZGCP and AANZ for a series of Early Stage Investment workshops. 'Building for growth' on 5…