Product information
Matū is the bridge between scientific discovery and successful start-ups
Matū Group operates venture capital funds focused on unleashing Aotearoa New Zealand’s best science and deep technology start-up opportunities to deliver global impact. Matū Iramoe Limited is an investment company and part of the Matū Group.
Click here to read our latest Investment Update / Information Memorandum
Our deep tech portfolio
Aotearoa New Zealand has a highly productive and creative scientific, engineering, and technology community, which produces a plethora of deep tech ideas that can quickly turn into successful start-ups. Deep tech is typified by clever people doing clever things, making it difficult for others to copy them. We have strong relationships with the sources of science across the country, including universities, research institutes, and the private sector. Our team works hard to find great ideas, help shape the business case, and support founders through the investment and commercialisation process.
Read our blog posts for more information about the deep tech sector:
We have built a robust and diverse portfolio of companies that seek to address some of society’s most significant issues, like climate change, chronic disease, food production, public health and wellbeing, and safe and sustainable infrastructure. Investing in deep tech can produce both financial returns and positive impact for society and the world.
Matū focuses on investments at the earlier stages of a company’s life (pre-seed and seed) and reviews over 250 investment opportunities a year. A strong investment mandate guides Matū’s investment and portfolio strategy:
● Verified science and technology with defendable intellectual property
● Global commercial potential to produce above average returns
● Clear go-to-market pathway towards paying customers
● Passionate inventors and founders
● Opportunities for Matū to add value and support the company
● Co-investment with known syndicate partners to reduce risk and extend networks
● Connection to the Aotearoa New Zealand scientific and innovation ecosystem.
Portfolio companies include Mekonos, Alimetry, PowerON, Opo Bio, and Liquium. Our role in supporting these companies is to provide both financial investment and commercial guidance to ensure they have the highest likelihood of success.
"Matū’s founder-focused investment approach has been a big help to us. They have been a part of our team since day one when we founded our company, and they continue to provide prompt and strong support when needed." - Dr Katie Wilson, CTO, PowerON
“We feel privileged and proud to have worked with Matū translating an academic research outcome to a business opportunity and ultimately to an invested company.” - Dr Paul Geraghty, CEO & A/Prof Franck Natali, CTO, Liquium
The Matū team and our early success
Matū Group’s management and research team have extensive knowledge and experience as successful entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers from various disciplines, including biochemistry, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, agri-tech, industrial microbiology, biotechnology, and aquaculture.
This rich diversity enables Matū to genuinely understand an investment opportunity’s underlying science and business attributes. We help validate the technology, applications, and industry landscape, and introduce broader cross-disciplinary opportunities to help grow these companies.
“Matū has been an ideal early-stage investor in Alimetry. They committed early and deeply to our vision and have backed our team completely. The Matū team are passionate about early stage hi-tech companies and are highly responsive and capable.” - Dr. Greg O’Grady, CEO, Alimetry
Our portfolio companies have already filed 65 patents, created over 170 new jobs, secured $20M NZD in non-dilutive grants, and raised more than $116m NZD in new investment capital from all sources. As our portfolio companies grow, we are collecting more data on how they are making the world a better place.
The opportunity
Matū Iramoe Limited is an investment company that raises funds primarily by issuing ordinary shares and, subject to any costs and retentions, uses those funds to make investments. Each new investment joins our already diverse portfolio of early-stage science and deep-tech companies via one or more funds managed by the Matū Group. Investing in ordinary shares will give you an ownership stake in Matū Iramoe Limited. We can pay out returns to our investors when portfolio companies achieve liquidity events, such as listing on a stock exchange or being acquired.
Investing with Matū Group is a long-term investment opportunity, giving retail investors rare access to New Zealand's venture capital ecosystem and the opportunity to support homegrown science and technology innovation.
Please read the Matū Iramoe Information Memorandum and latest updates, available under the “Key documents” tab, for complete information about this investment. Updated information on Matū Iramoe, and the Matū investment portfolio of deep-tech companies will be provided prior to each periodic auction of the shares.
Expected auction schedule and information updates
Matū Iramoe trading events will only be open to existing investors and wholesale investors. Two secondary market trading auctions are intended to be held per year, shortly after valuation of the portfolio investments to inform an indicative price range (likely June and December). Matū will keep investors informed of any changes to the expected auction schedule.
Matû intends to provide all material information to investors prior to each auction, which will be presented in a clear, concise and effective manner. This information will be available in the ‘Key documents’ section above and available to all current investors and new wholesale investors prior to every auction.
Investors should not expect to receive audited financial statements for FY 2024 but should expect to receive unaudited financial statements before August 2024.
For more information, please see the Information Memorandum Update in the ‘Key documents’ section above for further information.
