CONNECTING Global Markets
with WORLD CLASS RESEARCH
The Bridgewest Advantage
Established in 2020, we are the innovation engine of the Bridgewest Group, turning complex research into global commercial reality. Drawing on a portfolio of mature international companies built over two decades, we apply this institutional depth to de-risk the journey from lab bench to global scale.
The Global Edge
We open doors others can't. Leveraging the Group’s established international network, we connect you directly to the markets, regulatory guidance, and infrastructure needed to scale at speed.
Active Partnership
We don't sit on the sidelines. We embed executive-level advisors from our network to help shape strategy, recruit talent, and secure IP, removing the barriers that stall deep tech growth.
Impact-Focused
We invest where we can add the most value. We are selective, targeting specific verticals where our deep domain expertise and operational experience allow us to accelerate commercial success.
NZ’s Deep Tech Edge
Great innovation requires fertile ground. New Zealand is a nation of natural innovators. We punch well above our weight in scientific output. But beyond the raw science, it is our culture of agility, resilience, and collaboration that makes this ecosystem world-class.
Bridgewest Ventures was established to champion this innovation. Our goal is to ensure that Kiwi ingenuity doesn't just stay in the lab, but has the global infrastructure and capital support it needs to scale. We provide the bridge that allows local founders to take their technology to the world stage.
Meet the TEAM Building ideas with impact
Based across the motu, we combine deep local roots with the global reach of the Bridgewest Group.
Saum Vahdat
CEO
LinkedIn
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Saum Vahdat led financial analysis and business development for a global real estate investment firm before joining Johnson & Johnson's venture capital platform, assisting with commercialization strategy formation and market research. After graduating from Cornell University with an MBA Saum joined Bridgewest, helping operate portfolio companies before becoming CEO of Bridgewest Ventures (BV) where he leads investment strategies and incubation programs, including BVNZ's partnership initiative with the Government of New Zealand.
Kathryn de Ridder
Investment Director
LinkedIn
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Kate de Ridder trained and worked as an Aerospace Engineer, leading large teams to support airborne defence force missions across the globe for 17 years. On the back of studying finance and strategy she transitioned to the world of Venture Capital in 2019 where she has helped Bridgewest Ventures build the investment team and a portfolio of deep tech investments.
John Robson
General Manager New Zealand
LinkedIn
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JR is a finance and investment professional with significant board governance and management experience. He has been working with the Bridgewest Group since 2017 and was part of a founder team that moved to Bridgewest as part of an acquisition in 2019. Prior to that, he led the investment team for a large New Zealand Private Banking Group, which was a role he took up when migrating to New Zealand with his family in 2002. Before his move, JR was a Senior Portfolio Manager for Merrill Lynch for over 11 years where he directly managed a number of publicly traded investment funds. He is founder focussed and obsessed with data.
Darja Nelson
Operating Partner
LinkedIn
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Darja Nelson began her career as a Neuroscience research and quickly moved into the world of commercialisation of deep tech IP from NZ research institutes & universities. An experienced commercialisation manager she was bitten by the start-up bug as she lead the spin out of a revolutionary sensing technology from Plant & Food Research. This fuelled a passion for helping to create and grow early-stage start-ups and their leaders and drove her into the world of early stage investment. Darja clearly has the sharpest wit in the office.
AKANSHA Gill
Legal & Governance Manager
LinkedIn
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Originally from New Delhi in India, Akansha moved to New Zealand in 2020. She is a law graduate, qualified Company secretary from ICSI, a Chartered Governance professional from The Governance Institute NZ, and has over eight years of experience working as legal associate and a Company Secretary.
Alexander Rivers
Investment Analyst
LinkedIn
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Alex’s role as community manager will be supporting BVNZ’s portfolio of companies and engage with the innovation ecosystem. He’ll also support investment decision-making by leveraging his background in commercial analysis and understanding of the startup ecosystem. Alex became fascinated by venture capital during his undergraduate studies of biomedical science, leading him to study a postgraduate degree around science commercialisation. Since then, he has gained experience working in the medical device and science consulting industries. Alex loves building new connections and is always keen for a chat!
Xavier Taucher
Fund Associate
LinkedIn
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Xavier is a Fund Associate at Bridgewest Ventures, where he plays a hands-on role in fund operations, investor communications, and portfolio management. From drafting investor reports and analysing new opportunities, to managing capital calls and keeping everything in line with legal and financial frameworks, he helps keep the wheels turning behind the scenes.
Before joining Bridgewest Ventures, Xavier worked in a similar role at Enterprise Angels, a Tauranga-based early-stage VC fund.
Xavier also brings a strong entrepreneurial edge. He founded and led Psyphys Limited, a health and fitness tech startup, where he drove product development, fundraising, and day-to-day operations. He’s also co-founded a youth fitness education business and has a solid background in sales and coaching.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition and Sport Science from the University of Otago. With a rare blend of analytical insight, operational know-how, and clear communication, Xavier is a valuable partner in supporting early-stage founders and investor relationships alike.
TAMSIN BATEMAN
Investment Manager
LinkedIn
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As Investment Manager, Tamsin focuses on uncovering breakthrough science and innovation and supporting our portfolio companies as they scale. She brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the role, having led go-to-market strategy, commercial operations, and governance within a high-growth New Zealand medical device company. Her background spans investment and advisory roles in both public and private sectors, giving her a deep understanding of what it takes to translate complex research into commercial reality. Tamsin holds a Master of Bioscience Enterprise and is passionate about helping Kiwi deep tech take on the world.
Rayan Coates
Investment Analyst Intern
LinkedIn
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Rayan supports BVNZ’s investment decision-making and actively assists with portfolio management. Originally from the UK, he holds a BSc in International Business from the University of Sussex.
Rayan combines strong financial discipline with genuine founder empathy, bringing previous experience as an entrepreneur to the role. He transitioned to the New Zealand team from the wider Bridgewest Group, where he previously served as a Finance Analyst. Now, he leverages his background in commercial operations to support the next generation of deep tech founders.
Executive Committee
Dr Masood Tayebi
Chief Executive
Bridgewest Group
Dr Massih Tayebi
Chairman
Bridgewest Group
Jennifer Henry Brown
General Counsel
Bridgewest Group
Adam Gickling
Executive Vice President
Bridgewest Group
Tommy Broudy
Operating Partner Bridgewest Group
Saeed Khorami
Executive Vice President
Bridgewest Group
Advisors
David Hewit Operating Partner Bridgewest Group
Brendon Ford Senior Vice President Provoke Solutions
Samar Alrayyes Snr. Client Executive at Microsoft
Stephen Chang Mirimus-Board Member at Mirimus
Cyrus K. Mirsaidi Chairman & Managing Partner BioSelective Capital Investments
Farzad Ghassemi Practice Lead, Telecom Technology
Behrooz Abdi Chairman and CEO at ACE Convergence Acquisition
Dan Diefendorf President, Dataweavers
Kathryn Murphy General Manager, Twilio Engage
Joseph Monforte Precision Medicine & Genomics Advisor, Wild Type Advisors
Peter Crabtree Partner and Co-Founder Idé Partners
Backed by Bridgewest Group
As the venture arm of the Bridgewest Group, we leverage the infrastructure and financial strength of a global investment firm with a 25-year track record.
With investments spanning software, AI, and life sciences, including the world’s third-largest CRDMO (BioDuro-Sundia), the Group brings deep operational expertise to every partnership. Crucially, as private investors, they are not beholden to external fund timelines, empowering us to provide patient capital to founders ready to change the world.
Ecosystem Partners
Building a global company requires more than just science. We have curated a network of vetted specialists to support our founders with the critical services needed to scale with confidence, from brand and culture to finance and compliance.
Brink
As a specialist digital design agency, Brink pairs exceptional creativity with a deep understanding of business, science, and technology to help companies take the leap into effective digital experiences.
Humankind
HumanKind turns HR into a competitive advantage. Using proven frameworks and a unique Performance Partnership model, they enable deep tech ventures to build culture, unlock high performance, and scale their teams with confidence.
Acclime
Acclime provides the advisory, accounting, and corporate services needed to navigate regulatory complexity in New Zealand and Asia. Combining big firm capability with hands-on attention, they ensure your corporate expansion is compliant and seamless.
Memberships & Associations
Angel Association NZ
The champion for early-stage investment in New Zealand. The AANZ aims to build a thriving startup ecosystem by promoting angel investment as a rewarding, well-defined asset class through data, advocacy, and case studies.
New Zealand Tech Alliance
A unified voice for technology across New Zealand. Comprising over 20 diverse associations and hundreds of organizations, the Alliance works collaboratively to advance the national tech ecosystem and drive digital growth.
BIOTECH New Zealand
A purpose-driven organization connecting innovators, investors, and researchers to maximize New Zealand’s bioscience capability. They are focused on growing a strong bioeconomy to address global agricultural, environmental, and health challenges.
NZ PRIVATE CAPITAL
The peak body for venture capital and private equity in New Zealand. They facilitate the free flow of capital by connecting investors with business owners, advocating for the industry, and fostering professional standards.