About Matū
Matū (noun): material, matter (science), substance
We are privileged to have a Te Reo Māori name endorsed by Eru George, a highly respected kaumātua of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara. We wanted a name that embodied and respected the mātauranga of young hi-tech companies. A literal translation is never entirely satisfactory, but we feel “of scientific matter and substance” describes our essence.
New Zealand has a highly productive and creative scientific community which produces a plethora of innovative ideas and projects. With the combination of energetic engineers, passionate entrepreneurs, and capital investment, these scientific concepts can quickly turn into successful start-ups. To grow successfully, these young companies require both financial and intellectual capital in the form of strong, strategic, commercial governance, guidance, and operational management.
Matū addresses the growing need for intelligent capital investment in IP-rich science and technology start-ups.
Matū’s team has a historical track record in successfully investing in, and growing, science and technology companies in complex and international markets. We do this through actively managing investments in a hands-on manner.
Our vision and purpose is to connect Aotearoa New Zealand’s science and investment ecosystems, enabling them to create positive impact and improve the world we live in. We approach fund management with an intergenerational view, building a community that delivers long-term benefits.
We are embedded in the labs and offices where new ideas are discovered, and have trusted relationships with the innovation and commercialisation ecosystem in Aotearoa. We see a diverse range of investment opportunities at a very early stage.
We know what’s needed to support value creation, and have the process and discipline to apply it. We combine technical expertise with a deep understanding of various industries, helping to create opportunity for science and get ideas investment-ready.
Fund Values
We have developed our Matū Values to guide our decision making. These values help guide our policies, including our Ethical Investment Policy and Whakatipu Tāngata (Capability Development) Policy.
Guardianship // Kaitiaki
We make decisions that leave the world in a better place than before. We act in the long-term, intergenerationally building a fund that our grandchildren will be proud of.
Integrity // Pono
We act with professionalism and do the right thing. We show respect to everyone that we deal with.
Bravery // Māia
We demonstrate resilience and persistence through the though times. We lead the way in building confidence towards science and deep tech as an asset class in the long-term.
Passion // Aroha
We are personally invested, not just for financial gain. We make decisions on more than just money alone.
Matū Group
As we grow, we are establishing a number of entities that sit within the wider group, each focusing on a particular part of the puzzle:
Matū Iramoe
Iramoe (neutron) provides a mechanism for retail investors to invest in the Matū whānau of funds, creating an opportunity for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand to support Matū.
Matū Karihi
Karihi (nucleus) is our original pre-seed and seed-focused fund, working with start-ups at the earliest stages of their journey. As an open fund it raises capital over time and holds investments through to exit where possible, and therefore invests on a long timeframe.
Matū Ngota
Ngota (atom) is a Series A and Series B-focused fund, supporting start-ups from both the Matū portfolio and the rest of the science and deep tech ecosystem as they scale and target overseas markets. This is a series of closed funds that will provide financial and human capital to the best performers in this sector.
Matū Honohono
Honohono (chemical bond) provides advisory services for a variety of clients in the investment ecosystem. From conducting due diligence on scientific entities for investors to building business cases and pitch decks for start-ups, our team shares our expertise widely.
Our Partners
Our network of top business, science, and commercialisation experts across Aotearoa and the world work hard to give our science and deep-tech start-ups the best start to life. We work closely with the sources of science and innovation to help evaluate opportunities credibly, from the public and private sectors. With our formal partnerships, we align on values and have a shared vision to build strong NZ-originated companies, retaining employment and economic benefit locally for as long as possible.
Federation of Māori Authorities Innovation
FOMA is a key leader in Māori economic development, representing 150 member organisations across eleven regions. We work with FOMA Innovation to address barriers to hi-tech participation by Māori, and to support exposure of Māori organisations to science and technology investment.
Booster Investment Management
With over 170,000 members, Booster is an ethical KiwiSaver provider that has established Innovation funds to support NZ science and innovation. We share pipeline and relationships for research commercialisation, and co-invests to help translate NZ innovations into globally competing businesses.
University of Auckland Inventors’ Fund
Operated by Auckland UniServices Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Auckland, the UoA Inventors’ Fund has helped launch over 40 companies led by the students and staff of the university since its inception in 2016. We have co-invested on a number of opportunities with the Inventors’ Fund.
We are also strong supporters of the Return on Science and Momentum programs. Alongside KiwiNet, they form the national Commercialisation Partner Network, which provides a pipeline of upcoming opportunities. In exchange, we sit on multiple Investment Committees that give feedback to project teams and help make funding decisions.
Hello Tomorrow
A global science and innovation entrepreneurship network, Hello Tomorrow connects founders, industry, and investors through competitions, mentorship programs, and events around the world. The organisation focuses on deep tech, with an ambition to solve our toughest global challenges.