
Icehouse Ventures
Description
Icehouse Ventures stands as a prominent venture capital firm headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, with a core mission to empower brave Kiwi founders building companies with global aspirations. Recognized as one of New Zealand's most active and impactful VC investors, the firm has cultivated a robust portfolio, having backed over 300 companies since its inception. This extensive reach underscores its deep commitment to fostering the local startup ecosystem and propelling innovative New Zealand businesses onto the international stage.
The firm employs a comprehensive investment strategy that spans the entire startup lifecycle, from nascent pre-seed stages through to Series A and beyond. This broad mandate is supported by a diverse suite of 10 active funds, including a dedicated pre-seed fund for early-stage ventures and a flagship fund for more mature opportunities. Icehouse Ventures also manages specialized vehicles, such as those focused on high-growth sectors like climate technology, demonstrating its adaptability and strategic focus on emerging trends.
Beyond capital deployment, Icehouse Ventures distinguishes itself through its hands-on approach and extensive network. Leveraging the broader Icehouse business growth ecosystem, the firm provides portfolio companies with invaluable strategic guidance, mentorship, and operational support. This ecosystem approach aims to equip founders with the resources necessary to navigate the complexities of scaling a global business, often facilitating co-investments with international venture capital firms to unlock larger funding rounds and accelerate global expansion.
Financially, Icehouse Ventures has demonstrated significant capacity, having successfully raised over NZD $200 million (approximately $122 million USD) across its various funds. Their typical first check sizes reflect their multi-stage investment approach, ranging from initial pre-seed commitments as small as $15,000 USD for nascent ideas to substantial Series A investments that can reach up to $1,800,000 USD for companies poised for significant growth. This flexible investment range allows them to be a consistent partner for founders from their earliest days through to significant growth milestones.
Investor Profile
Icehouse Ventures has backed more than 60 startups, with 14 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 9 rounds, about 15% of its total and boasts 15 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, SaaS, Agriculture.
- Led 3 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $15K – $1.8M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (38%)
- Series A (25%)
- Series Unknown (12%)
- Series B (8%)
- Series C (5%)
- Convertible Note (3%)
- Pre Seed (3%)
- Undisclosed (2%)
- Angel (2%)
- Series D (2%)
Country Focus
- New Zealand (80%)
- United States (8%)
- United Kingdom (5%)
- Australia (3%)
- Singapore (2%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Saas
- Agriculture
- Biotechnology
- Financial Services
- Brand Marketing
- Sustainability
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Edtech
- Education
Frequently Asked Questions
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