At the helm of Bridgewest Ventures, Saum Vahdat is leading the charge to transform deep tech ideas into globally impactful businesses.

With a career that bridges finance, strategy, and innovation, Saum brings a rare combination of analytical precision and entrepreneurial vision to the venture ecosystem.

Before taking the reins at Bridgewest Ventures, Saum led financial analysis and business development for a global real estate investment firm, then joined Johnson & Johnson’s venture capital platform, shaping commercialisation strategies for emerging biotech innovations. After earning his MBA from Cornell University, he joined Bridgewest Group, where he helped operate portfolio companies and refine investment models across sectors ranging from semiconductors to cancer therapeutics.

Today, as CEO of Bridgewest Ventures, Saum oversees investment strategy and incubation programmes, including the Bridgewest Ventures New Zealand initiative, a public–private partnership advancing deep tech commercialisation on a national scale. His focus remains clear: build ventures that push the boundaries of science and technology, while driving lasting economic impact.