IV Athletes Fund 1

The team you never retire from

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Athletes Fund 1 is a unique opportunity, bringing together elite athletes and ambitious founders, two groups that understand what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

Managed by Icehouse Ventures, the fund provides access to some of New Zealand’s most promising startup investment opportunities.

While founders build the next generation of Kiwi companies, athletes bring experience, perspective, and networks earned through years of competing on the world stage. Together, they create value that extends far beyond capital alone.

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YOUR ADVANTAGE

Why Athletes Fund 1?

This fund is built for current and former New Zealand athletes who are ready to back the next wave of generation-defining companies. If sport has shaped how you think and compete, you will fit right in.

Investment Opportunities

Access high-growth startup investments alongside Icehouse Ventures - the same team that has backed Halter, Sharesies, and Hnry.

Community & Events

Join fellow elite athletes at exclusive founder events, investment showcases and community gatherings.

Business & Career Pathways

Opening doors to advisory roles, governance positions, mentoring, and connections across New Zealand's startup ecosystem.

Build your network

Connect with founders, investors, and business leaders shaping New Zealand's future.

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WHO is on your side

The AF1 Backroom

Venture expertise, founder tenacity, and Olympic pedigree in the same corner.

Tim Brown

Venture Partner

Co-founder of Allbirds, Venture Partner, lecturer at the Stanford D-school, ex-All White and part owner of Auckland FC.

Barnaby Marshall

Partner

Partner and serial entrepreneur with firsthand experience building and scaling companies as the co-founder of Deloitte Fast 50 businesses I Love Ugly and New Ground.

Jackie Gowler OLY

Portfolio Community Manager

Double Olympic medallist and former high-performance althete now supporting 390+ Kiwi-founded startups.

Hugo Inglis OLY

Limited Partner

Co-founder of High Impact Athletes, a four-time Olympian, former Black Stick, and investor in two Icehouse Ventures funds.

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Companies

Target companies have matured beyond the “startup” stage and are now scaling – typically 5+ years old with teams of 50+, unique competitive advantages, and millions in revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wholesale investors typically qualify under one (or more) of four different options, which can be broadly described in two categories:

‍(1) Investors have appropriate experience to understand and accept the risks involved in the investment they are making, or;(2) Investors have sufficient wealth to either afford appropriate professional advice or to withstand the losses they could incur.

‍The four qualifications our investors typically rely on are:
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‍a) Being a "Large Investor", where that investor (and the entities they control) owns net assets or has consolidated turnover of $5m or more in each of the last two financial years.
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b) Being an "Investment Business", where that investor's principal business (especially where the investor is a company) is one or more of a few categories including investing in financial products (i.e. fund managers), providing financial advice, or trading in financial products on behalf of others (i.e. brokers or wealth managers).
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c) Meeting "Investment Activity" criteria, where an individual is either;(1) An investor that owns or has owned in the last 2n years a portfolio of specified financial products (i.e. shares, bonds, derivatives etc) in excess of $1m in value, or(2) An individual that works in an investment business and materially participates in that business' investment decisions and has done so for at least 2 years within the last 10 years.
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d) Being an "Eligible Investor" where an investor has previous experience investing in financial products that is relevant to the investment they are making such that they can assess the merits and the information they need to make decisions, provide a declaration that they understand the consequences of being an eligible investor, and have that declaration confirmed by either a lawyer, accountant or financial advisor.These descriptions are intentionally in layman's terms and should not be interpreted as advice regarding whether or not you are a wholesale investor or not. If you are unsure whether you may qualify, we recommend discussing this with your accountant, lawyer, or financial adviser.

View all investor FAQs

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