INVESTING IN A BRIGHTER FUTURE
An actively managed venture fund investing in ~30 early-stage technology companies, led by Kiwi founders under 30.
Look across many of New Zealand’s most successful startups and a pattern emerges. Halter, Tracksuit, Partly, Crimson Education: many were founded by world-class founders under the age of 30. That's not a coincidence. It's an advantage.
Younger founders bring productive naivety and the confidence to build at global scale from day one. Today, the barriers to entry have collapsed. Students and young operators are shipping real products from dorm rooms and accessing the same tools as the best teams in the world.
First Cut IV backs this momentum early, giving the next wave of breakout Kiwi founders the capital, network, and conviction to turn talent into global outcomes.
The best time to back a breakout founder is before they break out. First Cut IV is built to do exactly that, with nearly a decade of proof behind it.
Our First Cut funds are some of New Zealand’s longest-running early stage venture funds, with top-decile results across three previous funds. The investment thesis has been tested, validated, and refined over almost a decade of backing young Kiwi founders.
A community operating alongside the fund, First Cut is New Zealand’s largest network of ambitious entrepreneurs under 30. Future founders are identified long before they start their companies, relationships are built early, and funding rounds are arrived at as the natural first choice partner.
At $5M+ invested across ~30 companies, First Cut IV is intentionally kept small. A fund this size ensures every founder receives hands-on support, every dollar is deployed with conviction, and the portfolio remains concentrated enough to create meaningful upside potential.
Mason has been backing young Kiwi founders since joining Icehouse Ventures in 2017, starting his venture capital career at 19. He led the raise and deployment of First Cut III, sourcing and leading investments across a 25-company portfolio of early-stage Kiwi founders under 30.
As lead for First Cut IV, Mason brings nearly a decade of relationship-building within Aotearoa's young founder community, and a deep conviction that the next generation of breakout Kiwi companies is already forming.
Icehouse Ventures is led by a partnership built across venture, law, global networks, and the founder seat itself. With over two decades backing New Zealand's most exceptional entrepreneurs, and more than $800m invested across 380+ companies. The team brings a rare combination of commercial rigour, operational depth, and genuine founder empathy.
If you are considering allocating capital to venture as part of your portfolio, please share your details and one of our team will be in touch.
