Cultivate Ventures
VC Fund Manager based in Auckland, New Zealand
Key Facts
- Provider type
- VC Fund Manager
- Headquarters
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Established
- 2020 (3 yrs)
- AIP status
- Approved
- Open offers
- 0 open / 1 total
- Funds listed
- 1
- Website
- www.cultivateventures.co.nz
About Cultivate Ventures
Cultivate Ventures is an industry-backed agri-tech and agri-food investment fund specialising in high-growth New Zealand companies at the intersection of agriculture and technology. Launched in 2023 and managed by Northington Partners, the fund has raised approximately NZ$20 million across multiple rounds. Cultivate Ventures backs innovative companies developing scalable solutions for global agriculture — from precision farming and food science to rural connectivity and sustainability. Portfolio companies include Hectre (apple industry automation) and Aimer Farming. The fund is structured as a limited partnership, combining Northington Partners' deep capital markets expertise with a specialist advisory network spanning agribusiness, technology commercialisation, and global market access.
Location
Auckland, New Zealand
Established
2020
3 years track record
AIP Approved
Eligible for Active Investor Plus visa
Funds Managed (1)
Investment Opportunities(1)
Key People (3)
Greg Main
Director
Leadership
Director at Northington Partners for over 20 years, leading advisory and M&A activities across wide range of sectors.
Marcus Henderson
Director
Leadership
Investment Director at Cultivate Ventures and Director of Northington Partners. Has a family background in NZ farming and agriculture. Prior to joining Cultivate Ventures, established a successful track record investing in disruptive and scalable tech businesses operating in the UK, European, North American, and APAC markets. Passionate about working with high-growth NZ agri-tech and agri-foods companies.
15 years of experience
Anthony Edmonds
Founder
Leadership
Founder of Cultivate Ventures and Managing Director of Northington Partners, a specialist NZ investment bank. Has extensive experience in capital raising, M&A advisory, and fund management for New Zealand growth companies. Led the establishment of Cultivate Ventures to bridge the gap between agri-tech innovation and institutional capital.
20 years of experience
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a provider is legitimate and trustworthy?
Conduct thorough due diligence before investing with any provider: (1) Check FMA Register - Verify the provider is licensed or registered with the Financial Markets Authority (www.fma.govt.nz/compliance/entities), (2) Review track record - Research past fund performance, years in operation, total funds under management, (3) Check key personnel - Research investment team backgrounds, LinkedIn profiles, previous roles and experience, (4) Request references - Ask to speak with existing investors or portfolio companies, (5) Review documentation - Read Information Memoranda, trust deeds, audited financial statements thoroughly, (6) Understand fee structures - Ensure fees are clear, reasonable, and aligned with industry norms, (7) Check for red flags - Promises of guaranteed returns, pressure to invest quickly, unlicensed operators, lack of transparency. All providers on Wholesale Investor NZ are pre-screened for legitimacy, but always conduct your own due diligence.
What questions should I ask a fund manager before investing?
Ask fund managers these critical questions: Investment Strategy - What is your investment thesis? How do you source deals? What's your competitive advantage? Track Record - What returns have you achieved historically (gross and net)? What percentage of investments succeeded vs failed? Can I speak with investors in prior funds? Team - Who makes investment decisions? What's their background? Have there been recent departures? How is the team compensated? Risk Management - What was your worst investment and what did you learn? How do you handle conflicts of interest? What's your downside protection? Fees - Explain management fees, performance fees, and all other costs? What's the hurdle rate? Process - What's the investment committee process? How often do you report? What voting rights do I have? Exit - What's the expected timeline to liquidity? Have you returned capital to investors before? Get answers in writing and verify claims independently.
What is the difference between a fund manager and a platform?
Fund Managers directly manage pooled investment capital, making investment decisions, conducting due diligence, managing portfolio companies/assets, charging management and performance fees, and carrying fiduciary duty to investors. Examples include private equity firms, credit fund managers, property developers. Platforms provide infrastructure for accessing multiple investment opportunities, do not make direct investment decisions (investors choose from offerings), may conduct initial due diligence on providers, charge platform fees or take commissions from providers, and offer comparison and research tools. Examples include investment platforms, crowdfunding sites, syndication platforms. Some hybrid models exist - platforms with house funds. When investing via platforms, you still need to evaluate the underlying fund manager's capabilities, track record, and terms as if investing directly.