Hi all,
It’s been a busy few weeks at NZVC where we’ve travelled across several continents and timezones to connect with LPs, founders and investors.
Mark has been in the US meeting investors in Silicon Valley and traveling with immigration minister Erica Stanford to promote New Zealand as an investment destination. Hendrik has been in Singapore and Hong Kong catching up with LPs and partners across Asia.
Meanwhile, our portfolio continues to accelerate. Here are some of the most exciting developments:
🚀 Esper Satellites
Esper successfully launched its first hyperspectral sensor to orbit, a major technical and commercial milestone. Hyperspectral imaging enables satellites to capture data across hundreds of spectral bands—unlocking insights around vegetation health, mineral deposits, water quality, and more—that traditional imaging can’t provide. With $31M in binding contracts already signed and strong global interest, Esper is solidifying its position in sovereign and commercial space infrastructure.
Read more and follow the Over the Rainbow mission below:
🤖 Puralink
Puralink announced a $2.3M seed round covered in Forbes Australia. We had the pleasure to invest alongside Peak XV and others. Puralink is deploying autonomous robots to inspect and repair underground pipelines – a high-impact, high-leverage problem space. By preventing leaks and infrastructure failures, their tech promises to save costs, reduce environmental damage, and increase safety. With this funding round, Puralink is gearing up for commercial pilots with utilities and expanding their development team.
Read more
🌊 Vessev & Finn Lough – Electric Hydrofoiling Vessel
In a compelling intersection of marine tech and luxury experience, our portfolio company Vessev has partnered with Finn Lough, a lakeside resort in Northern Ireland, to introduce Europe’s first electric hydrofoiling vessel for guest transport. Read more here.
The vessel, the VS–9, is a nine-metre, battery-electric catamaran that lifts above the water using carbon-fibre hydrofoils—gliding with minimal wake, low noise, and high energy efficiency (reducing energy use by up to 90 %). It’s designed to retrofit into existing infrastructure (berthing at conventional docks, retractable foils) and is slated to arrive at Finn Lough in 2026.
This marks not just a transportation novelty but a cross-sector signal: New Zealand-born marine innovation being adopted internationally in hospitality and sustainable travel.
We’re counting down to NZVC Portfolio Day — our biggest event of the year. There are only a few seats left, so if you haven’t signed up yet, grab your spot here.
More soon,
The NZVC Team