What's coming up on Caffeine
Plus: Some long weekend watching which feels almost too real for our current moment.
Good morning Caffeinators,
Read on to take a sneak peek at what’s coming from Caffeine in the next week for our subscribers, your usual Weekend Fuel recommendation and a parting shot.
And if you’ve got a story, press release, interview to pitch or just want to tell me I’m wrong about something - send it over to finn@caffeinedaily.co
If you’re interested in working with Caffeine as a partner, flick Georgia an email on: georgia@caffeinedaily.co
Have a great long weekend, look after each other and we’ll see you next week.
Finn and the CAFFEINE team
Coming up on Caffeine:
Carl Jones, Managing partner at WNT, on their largest deeptech fund to date: There’s been some pretty spectacular deep tech news lately and I had a conversation recently which got me even more excited about it. WNT Ventures is New Zealand’s longest-running deep tech incubator and venture capital firm focused on early-stage, science-backed companies and recently announced the launch of its latest and largest fund, Fund 4, targeting $35-40 million to expand its investment pool. I caught up Managing Partner Carl Jones to hear all about it.
Interview with Electrify Aotearoa Chair Marian Johnson: Electrify Aotearoa is back and this year it is a two day event for founders, ambitious startup leaders, supporters and investors to fuel the growth of women-led high-growth ventures in New Zealand. I had the pleasure of catching up with Electrify Aotearoa Chair and all around legend Marian Johnson to hear more about why this will be the most exciting event to date. Check that out on Tuesday.
Here’s what’s on our radar. Hit us with your own recommendations.
Mountainhead: This is actually a preview for a film dropping on Sunday which I am absolutely positive will resonate with the Caffeine audience. From Jesse Armstrong, the genius behind Succession, comes a follow up which hits many of the same notes but with searing relevance to our current moment. Four tech billionaire founders are on a retreat in an isolated mountain mansion when one of the generative AI tools they invented begins to do catastrophic global damage. World leaders start calling, crisis meetings begin and we see how these billionaire man babies react to the things they invented literally setting the world on fire. Spoiler alert: not well.
The very healthy trendline for international VC investment in NZ startups: Always good to end on a positive note so sharing a great infographic from Robbie Paul over at Icehouse showcasing the very positive pattern of international VCs investing in New Zealand startups.
As Robbie says, “Right Hemisphere's raise from Seqouia was almost folklore by the time the next international VC (Khosla) backed Rocket Lab. Fast forward to today. Of the 25 IV portfolio companies that are closing rounds in June, 13(!) of them have international VCs committed.”
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Want to get in touch with a news tip, bit of feedback or just to chat? Email hello@caffeinedaily.co. Look after yourselves this weekend and we’ll see you Monday.