Māori trades start-up raises $500k, sparks interest from venture capitalists
28 Feb, 2021 04:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Josh Faraimo and Jarome Cavubati, co-founders of Kwotimation. Photo / Supplied
Aimee Shaw is a business reporter focusing on retail, small businessaimee.shaw@nzherald.co.nz@AceeyShaw
The founders of an automated quotation platform designed for tradies are bucking the capital funding trend they say typically favours men and those from Pākehā backgrounds. Tiler Josh Faraimo, co-founder of Kwotimation, which he started with mate Jarome Cavubati, has successfully raised $500,000 in a pre-seed capital round and attracted the attention of multiple angel investors.
The Auckland pair s technology that addresses the most common bugbear for tradies - creating a quote and securing the job - was designed with tilers in mind, but will be expanded further to cater for other tradespeople.
The Waikato is in the sights of US venture capitalist
6 Jan, 2021 04:00 AM
3 minutes to read
Agile Software Development Specialists, Company-X co-founders and directors Jeremy Hughes, left, and David Hallett. Photo / Company-X
Agile Software Development Specialists, Company-X co-founders and directors Jeremy Hughes, left, and David Hallett. Photo / Company-X
Waikato News
The Waikato is in the sights of venture capitalists. New Zealand Agile software specialist Company-X has invested an undisclosed sum into a $40 million fund established by Hillfarrance Venture Capital founder and managing partner Rob Vickery.
Vickery, who named his venture capital fund after his home village in Somerset, UK, immigrated to New Zealand towards the end of last year after a decade in venture capital in Los Angeles, one of the most competitive markets in the world.
“Most of the investments I’ve made are in people overlooked by my industry,” Vickery said. “Half of my investments are in companies founded by women, people of colour, immigrants, gay and transgender entrepreneurs. I don’t choose people because of that, but I seem to be drawn to people who hustle in a different way.”
MARK TAYLOR/STUFF
Venture capitalist Rob Vickery immigrated to New Zealand after 10 years spent working in the United States. Vickery worked as a venture capitalist in Los Angeles for 10 years after immigrating to the US from the United Kingdom. His previous roles included acting as a business consultant to British music duo Eurythmics.