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Icehouse Ventures

About us

Icehouse Ventures exists to back the bravest Kiwi founders, launching global companies from New Zealand. One start-up can define a generation. Our mission is to back them.
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Meet the team
Meet the team
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 firm with $380m invested.

We still have a highly active co-investor network of more than 2000 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.
Who we are

Our Team

CEO
Robbie Paul
Joined IV: 2008
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Background: Joined in 2008, raised first fund in 2013, capitalised IV in 2019.
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PARTNER
Jack McQuire
Joined IV: 2013
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Background: Joined as an intern and stuck around.
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partner
Barnaby Marshall
Joined IV: 2017
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Background: Co-founder of mens fashion brand I Love Ugly. Studied sound engineering.

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PARTNER
Jason Wang
Joined IV: 2015
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Background: Raised first fund in 2016 and established a vibrant Chinese investor community. EHF fellow.
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Principal
Stephanie Benseman
Joined IV: 2021

Background: Designed and delivered accelerators for startups and corporate innovation. Passionate about supporting young entrepreneurs to access equitable opportunities. Studied information systems and commercial law.
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PRINCIPAL
Mason Bleakley
Joined IV: 2017
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Background: First joined the team while studying finance and marketing as a student. Passionate about supporting startups at the early stage.
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partner
Jo Wickham
Joined IV: 2021
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Background: Senior exec for a global listed NZ tech company and a data driven marketing startup. Private equity/corporate lawyer for a London Magic Circle law firm, and top tier boutique Auckland law firm. Passionate about taking New Zealand tech to the world.
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COO
Matt Gunn
Joined IV: 2020
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Background: Studied law (specialising in Māori freshwater property rights). Head of Growth at Wellington open data startup Common Ledger.

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associate & Arc lead
Bex Gidall
Joined IV: 2021
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Background: Worked on her own and others’ startups since the age of 16. Studied Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam. Returned to NZ in 2021 with a love of VC and a passion for supporting diversity and inclusion in the ecosystem.
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CFO
Scott Turner
Joined IV: 2016
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Background: Previously worked for Deloitte NZ and an investment broking firm in London. Joined Icehouse after exiting his own privately backed start-up. Works across Icehouse Ventures and The Icehouse running shared services operations. Favourite pastime, tracking the progress of Icehouse Ventures portfolio companies.
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venture partner
Tom Furlong
Joined IV: 2017
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Background: 15 years of corporate law in Silicon Valley and 15 years as venture capitalist at Granite Ventures, $1b FUM and a number of unicorns to its credit.
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Head of Marketing
Michaela Egbers
Joined IV: 2022
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Background: Joined a notable Kiwi startup in 2015 while completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Auckland University. Has been a marketer in the NZ startup space ever since.
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Analyst
Laila Grace
Joined IV: 2022
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Background: Has a love for learning and a passion for supporting entrepreneurs in their journey. Studied Information Systems, Economics and Politics at Auckland University.
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Financial Controller
Seb McLarin
Joined IV: 2015

Background: NZ National Powerlifting Champion. A.K.A New Zealand's Strongest Finance Controller
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CTO
Peter Thomson
Joined IV: 2019
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Background: Built product and ran marketing for startups in New York and London. Previously private equity and VC lawyer. Passionate about fintech.

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Software Developer
Harry Fakir
Joined IV: 2022
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Background: Pharmacist turned Software Developer, driven by a passion for better accessibility and use-ability of technology. The most likely to have paracetamol on hand.
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Analyst
Nikita Deva
Joined IV: 2022
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Background: Studied a Bachelor of Commerce and Arts at The University of Auckland, majoring in Economics, Information Systems and Marketing. Drawn to venture capital and the positive impact that backing bold, innovative ideas can have.
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Product Designer
Logan Gubb
Joined IV: 2022
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Background: A strategy-first digital creative inspired by the can-do Kiwi startup mentality. In love with all things design, coffee, and food. Here to help make human-focused design decisions at every touchpoint.
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Business support manager
Felicity Richards
Joined IV: 2023
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Background: From driving ships as a Naval Officer to working in finance at some of London's top PE and asset management firms, her unconventional career has (literally) taken her around the world. Thankfully for us, she has landed at IV.
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Software Developer
JP Guiang
Joined IV: 2022

Background: Engineer turned Software Developer. Passionate about building things that improve the quality of human life, whether it be machines, websites, programs, or spreadsheets. Also builds keyboards "for fun".
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Senior LEGAL COUNSEL
Elise O'Halloran
Joined IV: 2023

Background: Originally a private practice lawyer whose love for startups led her to launch 'The Young Woman' podcast, interviewing Australasia's most inspiring women leaders. Lucky for us, that same passion led her to join IV as our resident senior legal counsel.
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We exist to back kiwi founders from day one. We've been investing in NZ tech since 2003 and have backed over 280 companies including PowerbyProxi, First AML, Narrative, Halter, Sharesies.

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125 St Georges Bay Rd,
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