Our Investors

Simon McDonald

Dr Simon McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Katikati based company Rhondium who have created a revolutionary dentistry product; The One Visit Crown (OVC) – a new hybrid ceramic dental crown.  By applying lateral thinking to product design, Simon McDonald’s goal has been to dramatically improve ordinary dental products making the life of a dentist much easier alongside the affordability of treatment for the patient.   Rhondium uses the latest high-tech methods such as 3D CAD design software, full five-axis, high precision CNC milling machines and 3D printing to bring high quality products to market quickly.  He is also the founder of Triodent; launched in 2003 and producer of the globally successful V3 dental kit, Triodent was sold to multinational Dentsply in 2013.

Peter Wren-Hilton

Peter Wren-Hilton founded Wharf42 in February 2012 as a vehicle to assist New Zealand start-up and early stage ICT businesses connect with Silicon Valley.  This was a result from spending three years at the Plug and Play Tech Centre in Sunnyvale, CA.

Peter set up his first Internet business in 1995 in London, UK.  HB internet was to become BT e-Business Solution Provider of the Year (1999 – 2000).  Clients included BT, Canon Europe and the United Nations who saw their global Intranet redesigned by HB Internet in 2001 – 2002. Peter established HBI Software Pvt Ltd in Bangalore in September 2001, his first offshore research and development centre.

Peter’s most recent software venture saw him establish Pingar in New Zealand in 2007.  Peter stood down as CEO in July 2013 and in March 2014 formally announced the launch of the Wharf42 Plug and Play Technology Incubator. It has offices in both Tauranga and Sunnyvale, CA and is designed to execute the Wharf42 mission first outlined in 2012.

Ian Macrae

Ian is the Managing Director of Page Macrae Engineering which was founded in 1955 by Ian’s father George Macrae and Robert Page. Ian is an experienced mechanical engineer and worked overseas extensively before taking over Page Macrae and developing it to the successful multi-division export business that it is today. 

Ian has a passion for the development of a high-value advanced manufacturing sector in New Zealand and is a shareholding director of a number of companies. He was pivotal in the establishment of TiDA (the Titanium Industry Development Association) which he chairs and in the establishment of Titanox Development Ltd which is developing new production methods to manufacture titanium alloy powders and of which he is also Managing Director.

Steve Saunders

The Plus Group of Companies offers a unique range of specialised integrated horticultural solutions both domestically and internationally.

Its core passion is the long-term sustainability of horticulture, delivered through service excellence, experience and innovation. Based in Newnham Park Innovation Centre, the Plus Group of Companies specialises in horticultural management consultancy, global pollen production, robotics development, soil consultancy, international joint ventures, applied technology, research and development/innovation and science.

Beppie Holm

Beppie Holm is a founding shareholder and Chair of R.A.M. (Rapid Advanced Manufacturing Ltd), a Tauranga based company which provides a commercial 3D printing bureau service using a range of metal alloy powders for the production of complex parts for customers from inside and outside New Zealand.

EA Fund 1 Limited Partnership

Enterprise Angels is New Zealand’s largest angel investor group with 160 members. With its primary objective to facilitate investments by its members in innovative companies with high growth potential; to date Enterprise Angels and EA Fund 1 have invested $12 million in 37 start-up and early stage companies.

Enterprise Angels WNT Ventures representative is Founder and Executive Director Bill Murphy who has over 30 years commercial business experience, is an active Angel Investor and serves on the Angel Association of New Zealand Council.

Quayside Holdings Limited

Based in Tauranga, Quayside Holdings Ltd is the investment arm of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, holding their commercial investments with assets of over one billion dollars.  Quayside investments include 54% of the Port of Tauranga, equity share investments and industrial land holdings in addition to its interest in WNT Ventures.  Quayside Holdings Limited is also an issuer on the New Zealand Exchange with a $200million perpetual issue to the market.

Priority One

Established in 2001 by the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty business community in partnership with the sub-region’s local authorities, Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty region’s economic development organisation.  Priority One works with local authorities to ensure local government and business needs and aspirations are aligned to result in growing the economy of the region. 

Angel HQ

Angel HQ is the Wellington Region's business angel investment network.  Members are high net-worth individuals who provide seed capital for start-up businesses.  Members also bring business skills, connections and other forms of assistance and have business and personal networks spanning New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Singapore and Trinidad.

Angel HQ help young companies with aspirations for high growth, get the investment they need to achieve their goals.  Although technology is one of our preferred areas of investment, our members have invested in a broad portfolio of companies in a range of industries.  We naturally try to support companies in the Wellington region but also syndicate with other angel groups to help develop and mentor the next generation of Kiwi entrepreneurs with hard-won skills and experience, and get exposure to the best innovative high-growth companies throughout New Zealand.