Venture Investment Policy
AUT Ventures manages the AUT Innovation Fund, which invests in ventures connected to AUT people and research. Our approach helps transform good ideas into impactful ventures that benefit communities, support economic development, and create opportunities for AUT staff and students. But how are those decisions made?
The AUT Ventures IC invests in early-stage ventures that are:
- AUT-born: founded by AUT staff, students, or researchers, or based on AUT research.
- High potential: a clear plan to grow, attract investment, and deliver commercial returns.
- Ethical and aligned: contributing positively to society, the environment, and AUT’s mission.
The AUT Ventures Investment Committee (IC)
The AUT Ventures IC makes decisions based on rigorous due diligence and a strong understanding of AUT’s innovation pipeline. We typically invest in three ways:
The AUT Ventures IC may also consider Impact Investments that deliver strong social, environmental, or strategic benefits aligned with AUT priorities.
What the AUT Ventures IC Looks For
The IC will only invest if the opportunity:
- Accelerates the venture’s path to success
- Has a realistic chance of providing a return (financial or impact-driven)
- Demonstrates market or investor interest
- Has a committed founding team and a clear pathway to market
- Uses funding responsibly and aligns with our investment capacity
By supporting early ventures and co-investing with others, the AUT Ventures IC aims to bring more AUT-born innovations to live; faster, smarter, and with lasting impact.
Investments to Date
To celebrate and commemorate the AUT Innovation Fund, the AUT Ventures IC have confirmed investments in:
DOT INGREDIENTSTM
Motion Capital is the lead investor in the $350k early funding round in Dot IngredientsTM, alongside Climate Venture Capital Fund and the AUT Innovation Fund.
Formerly known as Spherelose®, Dot is the brainchild of Associate Professor Jack Chen, who developed a new way to make critical ingredients for everyday products like soaps, detergents and cosmetics, but using wood pulp instead of petrochemicals or palm oil. Based in laboratories at AUT, the company is also participating in the Aurora Climate Lab run by Creative HQ, New Zealand’s leading climate-tech accelerator backed by Motion Capital. The programme supports high-potential start-up companies solving global decarbonisation challenges, while scaling production and developing new applications.
CONICAL
$110,000 will be invested into CONICAL to support the upcoming launch of its indie role-playing game, Faeborne.
Launched out of AUT in 2016 by alumnus Alejandro Davila and entirely staffed by AUT graduates, CONICAL quickly gained headlines through the success of its Green Fairy TV series. After earning a reputation for developing cutting edge virtual reality exhibits and activations for businesses across New Zealand and worldwide, Faeborne marks a return to the company’s fairy fantasy origins. Faeborne is a fast-paced, story-driven co-op game centred around the conflict between two fairy sisters in the fantasy realm of Lamparis, and is slated for a multi-platform launch in late 2025.