Impact Snapshot
May 2024
In this Impact Snapshot, read about EHF Fellows in action creating economic, environmental and social impact, plus recent recognitions and awards they’ve received during May 2024.
Fellows in action 🎬
Sahar Izadi, Farmehr Farhour, and Arash Tayebi, and the Kara Technologies team won the Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
Boyd Multerer, Lovina McMurchy and the Kry10 team were a finalist for Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year.
The NZ Hi-Tech Awards highlight the breadth and depth of both emerging and established innovation talent and technologies within Aotearoa NZ.
Many EHF Fellows attended the awards, to support and celebrate the sector - tech champions such as Kaye Maree Dunn, Jade Tang-Taylor, Lani Evans and Deborah Crowe. Fellows leading tech ventures such as James Mielke, Paul Salisbury and Angela Lim. Fellows supporting founders’ wellbeing, such as Justin Milano. And Fellows enabling ventures through investment, such as Mark Bregman of Quidnet Ventures, which has invested in Kara Technologies; Mark Pavlyukovskyy of NZVC, which has invested in Easy Crypto (finalist); Rob Reid who made a multi-million investment into Mint Innovation (finalist); and Anthony Lee of Altos Ventures, which helped raise $21.6m NZD ($13.5m USD) in Series A funding for Tracksuit, who won Emerging Company of the Year.
Veronica Harwood-Stevenson, founder of Humble Bee Bio, was a key speaker at the launch the NZ Cleantech Report. She spoke about the critical role of commercialising scientific discoveries for economic and environmental sustainability in Aotearoa NZ.
Addressing the audience, which included science educators, research entrepreneurs, commercial innovators, company leaders, manufacturers, and investors, she encouraged their participation in celebrating Aotearoa NZ's deep tech sector.
She also delivered a candid critique, highlighting that New Zealand's cleantech sector is lagging behind globally and suffering from a brain drain. She urged investors to reflect on their role in these challenges, aiming to provoke introspection among the stakeholders to drive progress in the sector.
Nikora Ngaropo spoke at the Waikato Māori Digitech Networking event, where discussions focused on increasing Māori participation in the tech industry, currently at only 4%. He also provided workshops at the Woven Cultures in Digitech event in Ōtautahi / Christchurch, which engaged 180 school children in interactive sessions covering game development, animation, prototyping, software development, DJ-ing, and podcasting.
These events aim to break down barriers and create pathways for Māori and Pasifika youth into tech careers. Nikora's efforts are helping to inspire and equip the next generation of tech leaders from these communities, fostering creativity and learning through hands-on experiences.
Lisa Nelson has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for Spark New Zealand. She aims to leverage her expertise in strategic leadership, corporate governance, and fostering innovation to contribute to New Zealand's continued growth and innovation in the telecommunications and technology sectors.
As a board member, she has the opportunity to influence strategic decisions that can shape Aotearoa NZ’s economy and sustainable technological advancements. Lisa’s appointment signifies her commitment to driving positive impact and contributing to Aotearoa NZ's future success.
Scott Kabat, founder of 621 Consulting, which specialises in facilitating company and market growth, hosted an online session tailored for NZ entrepreneurs and startups. Presented in collaboration with the University of Canterbury’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, Scott’s session focused on defining and aligning a company's mission and values.
Drawing on his extensive experience and expertise, Scott is helping to empower NZ entrepreneurs and startups to pinpoint their potential for business transformation and market impact. His advice covered essential strategies for attracting customers, securing investments, and building high-performing teams, ensuring clarity and consistency across all business functions, from marketing and sales to product development and customer success.
Through this session, Scott is equipping NZ founders with the requisite tools and insights to communicate effectively, maintain focus on their objectives, and chart a course to sustainable success within a competitive landscape.
Max Hodak's company, Science, has acquired Pixium Vision's innovative Prima technology, preventing the company's dissolution.
Prima, a retinal implant system designed to help those with age-related macular degeneration, showed promising results in early studies but lacked funds to complete pivotal trials. Science's acquisition ensures continued support for the 47 existing users and aims to advance the technology's development and approval in Europe and the US. This move potentially revolutionises vision restoration, offering hope to patients and sustaining future bioelectronic advancements.
Lovina McMurchy is contributing to the New Zealand innovation and startup ecosystem through her multifaceted advocacy, investment and thought leadership.
In a recent NZ Herald article, she highlighted the importance of tax and immigration policies in driving economic growth, emphasising the need for a new approach to attract skilled immigrants.
Her recent investment with Maker also demonstrates her commitment to supporting local startups, leveraging her VC background and expertise to capitalise on the exponential growth potential of the premium pet food market.
Lovina also shared thought leadership in this article on critical issues such as defence technology, bridging insights from her experiences in both America and New Zealand.
Andrew Hewitt gave an interview with Matthew Monahan (EHF Co-Founder) of Ma Earth, sharing his latest insights on how Web3 can transcend the limitations of purpose-driven corporations, ushering in a new era of coordination.
Andrew discusses how Web3 technology could potentially move beyond the traditional three-sector economy of for-profit, non-profit, and government, offering a glimpse into future innovations and their funding mechanisms. His thought leadership in this area is paving the way for more integrated and efficient economic models.
Matthew Jackson and Tim Hawkey were included in the delegation that went to South Korea to represent Aotearoa NZ’s ESG and clean technology initiatives.
The delegation, organised by the Asia New Zealand Foundation and NZTE, aims to explore South Korea's burgeoning sustainable solutions market, and serves as a platform for showcasing NZ's innovative approaches to environmental challenges.
Matthew - alongside Fellow Harmaan Madon - is co-founder of Alimentary Systems, dedicated to revolutionising water treatment methods. Tim is the founder of EnergyBank, pioneering advanced energy storage technologies to enhance the reliability and accessibility of renewable energy sources.
Their participation highlights EHF Fellows’ impact in the area of sustainability and helps promote Aotearoa NZ on the world stage.
Ed Baker, Chief Growth Officer of Whoop, celebrated Cristiano Ronaldo's investment and partnership with the wearable technology company. Ronaldo's investment, alongside becoming an official global ambassador, validates Whoops’ transformative impact on athletes' lives and aligns with Whoop's commitment to revolutionising wearable technology and optimising athlete performance worldwide.
Under Ed’s leadership, this endorsement brings unparalleled influence to Whoop's vision, and the partnership coincides with Whoop's expansion into new markets like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, showcasing the company's commitment to global growth and innovation.
Matt Cheng has been recognised by Tatler Asia as one of Asia’s leading venture capitalists, propelling innovation in the region.
Matt is the founder of Cherubic Ventures, which has backed over 200 startups in industries such as enterprise solutions, blockchain, and healthcare, with over USD $400 million in committed capital. Matt’s approach extends beyond funding, providing crucial mentorship and emotional support to founders.
By investing early, often as the first investor, Matt is helping innovative ideas to thrive and driving transformative advancements across multiple sectors.
Aaron McDonald, co-founder of Futureverse, is continuing to revolutionise digital experiences by integrating advanced AI and Web3 technology.
Futureverse’s recent collaboration with Reebok has resulted in the Reebok Impact experience, which allows users to design, share, and purchase custom, AI-infused digital sneakers that are game-ready for platforms like Fortnite and Roblox.
This initiative bridges the virtual and physical worlds, creating a seamless integration that revolutionises user engagement and sets new standards for digital experiences. By making complex technology feel effortless, Futureverse enhances personal expression and drives innovation in digital and physical integrations.
Angela Lim was recently interviewed by NBR, where she highlighted the need for a nuanced approach to mental health in organisations, moving beyond ‘superficial solutions’ like fruit boxes or yoga classes.
She emphasised the importance of understanding psychosocial risks and their impact on employee wellbeing, advocating for a more systemic approach that addresses issues such as decision-making autonomy, alignment with company purpose, and work-life balance.
Lani Evans, Alanna Irving, and former Hillary Institute Chair Anake Goodall’s philanthropic venture Share Collective has completed its first full lifecycle of converting share donations into generating proceeds, charitable grants, and community impact.
Through the donation of shares, Share Collective provides companies, founders, and investors with a strategic avenue to make a positive impact in Aotearoa. The initiative facilitates unconditional grants to local charities, empowering them to pursue their kaupapa and mahi without the burden of reporting requirements.
The recent grants to organisations The D*List, Mates4Life Hawke's Bay, and Korehāhā Whakahau exemplify Share Collective's commitment to supporting social and environmental causes across Aotearoa.
By bridging the gap between business success and community benefit, Share Collective is fostering a culture of giving back and collective responsibility, ensuring that everyone wins when charities can amplify their impact.
Steven Moe and Simone Kidner spoke at a recent Impact Lunch about the Takaka cohousing project. This initiative aligns with Steven's article, ‘Is community-led home ownership the way of the future’, showcasing innovative approaches to housing.
This event highlights EHF Fellows' roles as thought leaders, demonstrating alternative paths to traditional housing and fostering community engagement, and to inspire and mobilise attendees toward collaborative and sustainable housing solutions.
Steven also featured on Māori TV as part of an episode on papakāinga housing and the opportunities it presents for the future. Steven helped design the legal structure and is one of the Trustees of the charitable Trust which is talked about in the episode.
Steven has also been nominated for Best Media Reporting on Ethical Investment at the Mindful Money Awards, for his work on the Seeds Podcast.
Savannah Petersen interviewed Michael Dell at Dell Technologies World 2024 in Las Vegas, showcasing her role in bringing critical tech discussions to the public.
She co-facilitated an insightful conversation where Michael Dell reflected on the company's 40th anniversary and its advancements in AI, emphasising AI’s transformative impact on various tech sectors.
Through her interviews, Savannah is raising public awareness about key technological innovations and industry trends. Her work underscores the broader implications of technology for a healthier, safer, and more productive future.
Jeff Wetzler has published a book, ‘Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life’.
Released in May, the book delves into the issue of overlooking valuable insights from those around us. Jeff offers a 5-step strategy to unlock hidden wisdom, promoting smarter decisions, enhanced solutions, and stronger connections.
This inquiry-based leadership approach addresses the pressing challenges of our time, offering a blueprint for more effective and empathetic leadership in an increasingly complex world.
*Images have been provided by Fellows or sourced from the Internet. EHF does not claim to own the images.