Theresa Gattung Venture Capital fund

ArcAngels and Angel Association fully support
Theresa Gattung VC fund

Auckland, Monday 14 November, 2016 - ArcAngels and Angel Association New Zealand today welcomed the launch of Theresa Gattung’s new Venture Capital fund which aims to raise capital from women, for women entrepreneurs.

“Boosting the pool of capital for entrepreneurs is vital for New Zealand’s ecosystem of start ups to grow,” said Cecilia Tarrant, Chair of ArcAngels, a New Zealand based angel organisation focused on funding women entrepreneurs.

“As an organisation, focused on women-founders, we are delighted to hear Theresa Gattung, one of New Zealand’s preeminent business leaders has launched an initiative to fund women entrepreneurs, supported by women. Having a Venture Capital fund will help expand the capital and mentorship female entrepreneurs need to develop their businesses,” Tarrant said.

A member of the Angel Association, ArcAngels was established to invest in early stage businesses led by women and is dedicated to building the capability of investors in New Zealand.

“It is important that there is a sustained effort to increase the investment pool in New Zealand, focused on women. There are fewer women investors in New Zealand’s angel networks, as low as 10% of members. Research tells us there is a direct correlation to the low investment in women founders because women are more likely than men to invest in women-led companies,” Tarrant said.

“Early stage, high growth companies are always looking for capital. Without capital the growth path is exponentially slower,” said Suse Reynolds, AANZ Executive Director. “The Angel Association welcomes initiatives like Theresa Gattung’s fund, to help broaden and deepen the pool of capital available.”

Early stage, high growth companies are highly risky investment prospects but they are absolutely vital for NZ’s future economic and social wellbeing. The companies Angel members are backing are the Xero’s, F&P Healthcare companies of the future.

In order to give these companies the best chance of success what they need, along with the capital, is the exposure and support to the expertise and connections the capital can help deliver.

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Angel Association New Zealand (AANZ)
The Angel Association is an organisation that aims to increase the quantity, quality and success of angel investments in New Zealand and in doing so create a greater pool of capital for innovative start-up companies. AANZ currently has  27 members representing more than 550 individual angels associated with New Zealand’s key angel networks and funds. Recent NZ Venture Investment Fund data revealed angels have invested more than $NZ438 million in over 680 deals in the last 9 years. For more, please visit: www.angelassociation.co.nz

ArcAngels
ArcAngels is a member-based angel investment organisation focused on building investor knowledge and dedicated to investing in early stage businesses that are led or managed by women across New Zealand. ArcAngels aims to empower women entrepreneurs, strengthen their competitiveness and maximise the success of New Zealand’s small business engine for greater economic growth in the long term. For more information please visit www.arcangels.co.nz

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