Masood Tayebi: "We Came for Stability, We Stayed for the People"
Why our founders chose New Zealand as the launchpad for global innovation.
We recently sat down with our founder and Bridgewest Group CEO, Masood Tayebi, to ask him a simple question: Why New Zealand?
It is a question we get asked often. Why did a major US investment firm choose Aotearoa as a primary hub for deep tech innovation?
Masood’s answer highlights the unique journey that brought Bridgewest to these shores, a journey that started with a search for safety but ended with a commitment to community.
The Search for a Safe Haven
As Masood explains in the clip, when he and his brother Massih first began looking to expand their footprint outside of the United States, they approached it with the same rigor and process they apply to any major investment: starting with deep analysis.
They were looking for a location that offered resilience, a jurisdiction defined by reliable laws, a robust banking system, and deep-rooted democratic values. After ranking countries globally on political stability, legal frameworks, and diversity, one nation consistently came out on top: New Zealand.
But numbers on a spreadsheet only tell half the story. When our founders arrived here, focusing on their checklist of criteria, they realized very quickly that they had missed the most important variable of all.
The "X" Factor: The People
The initial draw to New Zealand was the stability. The reason Masood and Massih stayed, and ultimately decided to invest over $150 million into the ecosystem, was the people.
"We realized actually, people were the best part of New Zealand. New Zealanders are the most amazing people. They're very open, transparent, honest, and that made the biggest difference to us."
- Masood Tayebi
Coming from a background where they had to navigate significant geopolitical instability, this culture of transparency and "fairness" resonated deeply. They didn't just find a strategic outpost, they found a home.
From Residents to Active Investors
Masood tells us that for him, simply holding residency wasn't enough. He didn't want to be a passive observer, he wanted to be "part of the fabric of the community”.
The brothers saw incredible innovation happening in New Zealand, from biotech pioneers like BioOra to software leaders like Projectworks, but they also recognized a familiar gap. New Zealand entrepreneurs have world-class ideas, but they often need support to bridge the divide between a local startup and a global enterprise.
This is where Bridgewest Ventures found its purpose.
"We wanted to be able to participate in the growth of the country... whether it is capital raising that we bring to the table or experience and knowledge on a global scale."
- Masood Tayebi
Building Bridges to the World
Fast forward to today, and we can proudly say we are one of New Zealand's most active deep tech investors.
Our goal isn't just to provide capital. It is to wrap Kiwi entrepreneurs in the knowledge and connections they need to scale. By leveraging our global network, we help founders navigate the journey from a research lab in Wellington or a startup hub in Auckland to international markets.
What started as a search for stability has evolved into a long-term commitment to the country's future. We are here to ensure that New Zealand is not just a place where great ideas are born, but where global companies are built.