New Zealand’s venture capital ecosystem is compact but highly influential, and the women shaping it sit at the intersection of capital, governance, science, and company building. From deep tech and healthtech to climate, enterprise software, and impact investing, female VC partners in Aotearoa New Zealand play an outsized role in backing ambitious founders and scaling globally relevant companies. This list highlights a group of partners whose backgrounds span operating, investing, policy, and research commercialization, reflecting the breadth and maturity of the local ecosystem.
Anna Stuck
Anna Stuck is the founder of Clare Ventures, a growth-stage venture capital firm, and a social entrepreneur focused on impact investing and female-founded businesses. She also founded the Clare Foundation and AMCVT, and previously co-founded and served as general partner at Even Capital. Her academic background includes degrees in psychology and dental surgery, along with graduate diplomas in professional accounting and information systems.
Caroline Quay
Caroline Quay is co-founder and managing partner of MQB Partners, a global healthtech investment firm. She brings extensive experience across healthtech, biotech, medical devices, and digital health investing, with prior roles at CaraMed Capital and Cure Kids Ventures. She holds an LLB (Hons) and BCom in accounting and finance from the University of Auckland and has deep legal and governance expertise.
Cather Simpson
Cather Simpson is a partner at Pacific Channel and chief executive officer of Orbis Diagnostics. She is an experienced scientist and executive with a background spanning diagnostics, physics, and chemical sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia’s Echols Program, and serves as a non-executive director of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.
Fiona Foster
Fiona Foster is a partner at Movac, where she focuses on venture investment and growth capital supporting New Zealand technology companies scaling globally. She progressed through multiple investment roles at Movac prior to becoming partner. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in finance and economics from the University of Otago and is a Chartered Financial Analyst, with active board and industry involvement.
Jess Gilbert
Jess Gilbert is a partner at Outset Ventures and a private markets investor with experience across venture capital, real assets, forestry, infrastructure, and climate transition investing. She previously held senior investment roles at the New Zealand Super Fund and worked in investment banking and corporate finance. She holds a Bachelor with Honours from Auckland University of Technology and brings board-level experience in real assets.
Jo Wickham
Jo Wickham is a partner at Icehouse Ventures, bringing a background in law, corporate governance, and venture investing. She has extensive experience supporting early-stage technology companies through board and observer roles across data, AI, and healthtech startups. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury and is admitted to practice law in New Zealand and England and Wales.
Lane Litz
Lane Litz is the founder and managing partner of Founder VC, bringing deep experience as an operator, founder, and early-stage investor. She was an early executive at VIPKID, helping scale the company to a multibillion-dollar valuation, and later co-founded and led Speakia, which was acquired in 2022. She holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in international relations and foreign languages from West Virginia University.
Laura Manson
Laura Manson is a partner at Altered Capital, with a background spanning venture capital, private equity, investment banking, and corporate strategy. She previously served as investment director at Altered Capital and held senior roles at Jarden, Milford, PwC, and Fletcher Building. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in finance and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Otago and brings strong governance experience through board roles.
Maria Jose Alvarez
Maria Jose Alvarez is managing partner at WNT Ventures, a New Zealand–based deep-tech incubator and venture capital fund. She brings over a decade of experience across venture capital, government-backed funds, research commercialisation, and startup building. She holds a master’s degree in bioscience enterprise from the University of Auckland and a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology engineering from Universidad Andrés Bello.
Mitali Purohit
Mitali Purohit is a general partner at Nuance Connected Capital, a New Zealand–based deep-tech venture fund. She is an experienced investor and fund builder with a background spanning venture capital, technology commercialisation, and government-backed incubator programmes. Her work focuses on science-led ventures across biotech, medtech, engineering, and advanced technologies, with extensive board and governance experience.
Nadine Hill
Nadine Hill is a partner at 2040 Ventures and a senior venture capital investor with over two decades of experience across venture capital, banking, and structured finance. She previously held senior investment roles at Punakaiki Fund and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in finance from Massey University and brings extensive board and governance experience across high-growth technology companies.
Ngaio Merrick
Ngaio Merrick is managing partner at Nuance Connected Capital, a New Zealand–based deep tech venture capital firm. She is an experienced investor and board leader with a career spanning venture capital, investment management, governance, and business growth. Her background includes senior portfolio roles and multiple chair and director appointments, and she is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors.
Olivia Wensley
Olivia Wensley leads investor relations at Outset Ventures, working with institutional investors, family offices, and international capital partners to support capital formation across the deep-tech ecosystem. She brings experience across venture capital, law, finance, and ecosystem building, including legal roles in New Zealand, Sydney, and Singapore. She previously served as chief executive of Startup Queenstown Lakes, supporting founders and regional innovation initiatives.
Phoebe Harrop Meadows
Phoebe Harrop Meadows is a partner at Blackbird Ventures, investing in early-stage and growth companies across Australia and New Zealand. She brings experience from growth equity and impact-oriented investing, with prior roles at Generation Investment Management and Bain & Company. She holds an LLB (Hons) and BA in law and Spanish from the University of Otago, and studied Spanish at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Samantha Won
Samantha Wong is a partner at Blackbird Ventures and a Kauffman Fellow, investing in ambitious technology founders across Australia and New Zealand. She established and scaled Blackbird’s New Zealand presence and leads investments across enterprise software, AI, and digital health. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws from UNSW, and a Master of Laws from the University of Copenhagen.
Sarah Park
Sarah Park is co-founder and managing general partner of Even Capital, a venture capital firm focused on backing female founders in Aotearoa New Zealand. She brings deep experience across venture capital, investment banking, and governance, with a focus on healthcare, biotech, sustainability, and women-led innovation. She holds an MA in economics from the University of Edinburgh and has extensive board and audit committee leadership experience.
Tana van Loggerenberg
Tana van Loggerenberg is chief financial officer and chief operating officer at New Zealand Growth Capital Partners, a Crown entity operating in the venture capital ecosystem. A chartered accountant, she brings over two decades of experience across financial services, banking, technology, and venture-related organisations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from North-West University and leads financial strategy, governance, and operational excellence.
Tracey Holmes
Tracey Holmes is an experienced chief executive, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer with a strong track record across finance, operations, and governance. She is currently chief executive of AMCVT and head of investments at Clare Ventures. A chartered accountant, she has held senior leadership roles across technology, infrastructure, and professional services organisations in New Zealand.
Together, these women represent the depth of leadership behind New Zealand’s venture capital market. Their work goes beyond writing checks, encompassing board leadership, ecosystem building, and long-term institutional capital formation. As New Zealand startups continue to compete on a global stage, the influence of these partners will remain central to how capital is allocated, companies are governed, and innovation translates into lasting economic and societal impact.