Tech executive Mark Bregman launches Quidnet Ventures, a venture capital fund based in New Zealand

Mark Bregman, a successful tech executive and entrepreneur, has launched Quidnet Ventures, a venture capital fund based in New Zealand and operated out of New Zealand, San Francisco and New York City. It focuses on intellectual-capital-driven companies founded by bold and courageous Kiwi entrepreneurs that want to take their innovations to the world.

Quidnet Ventures is looking to fund companies in a broad range of sectors, including fintech, agriech, manufacturing-and-engineering, deeptech, infrastructure-and-security, AI-ML, devices-electronics-robotics, health care, and the energy-resources-waste industries sectors.

Prior to founding Quidnet Ventures, Mark led innovation consulting at Vista Equity Partners; helping portfolio companies leverage innovation for growth. He also led corporate venture programs at three enterprise software companies (Symantec, Neustar, and NetApp), and co-founded an AI/ML startup, helping the publishing industry match readers to content.

"It is very exciting to be launching Quidnet Ventures, which is named for a town in Nantucket, Massachusett that was the home of the U.S. whaling industry in the early 1800s, and developed close ties to New Zealand while launching the venture capital industry.  The fund's focus on New Zealand startups brings together my 30+ years of experience in the global technology industry and my 20+ years of involvement in New Zealand. Quidnet Ventures will work with extraordinary Kiwi founders to help them bring their innovations to the world and accelerate New Zealand's emergence as a global innovation powerhouse," said Mark.

Quidnet Ventures currently has a portfolio of 4 companies: Aider, a digital assistant for small businesses; Dawn Aerospace, a sustainable space transportation company; Winely, a real-time fermentation analysis company; and Marama Labs, a deep-tech sensor and data analytics company that develops advanced spectroscopy sensors for analysing the chemical composition of liquids.

Jim McLean, Managing Director, SVD Capital: "I've seen an increase in interesting startups coming from New Zealand and many of them need help navigating the U.S. market.  It is good to see an early stage fund like Quidnet Ventures engaging with these entrepreneurs and helping them understand and adapt as they expand globally."

Marcus Henderson, Investment Director, NZ Growth Capital Partners (NZGCP): "We are proud to be co-investing via our Aspire fund alongside the likes of Quidnet Ventures; their venture capital fund and resources allows for global experience and connection opportunities that help foster Kiwi innovation."

Venture activity in New Zealand has increased significantly in recent years, with more than five funds emerging in the last three years. Quidnet Ventures emerged as the first with a long-term connection to New Zealand, deep networks in the U.S., and experience as an operator in both large enterprises and startups.

"The New Zealand startup ecosystem is maturing quickly and new exciting companies are being formed every week. I'm really excited to be part of this and to help the Kiwi founders change the global landscape and build Aotearoa into an innovation nation," said Mark.

www.quidnetventures.com