Top 5 Cannabis VC Funds &amp; Investors in New Zealand (June 2026)

Rabobank emerged from several small agricultural cooperative banks, founded by Dutch farmers in the late nineteenth century. Food & Agriculture (F&A) is in our DNA, from which we built a unique position in the F&A sector as a key financier and international player, attributes which we leverage for the benefit of our stakeholders andportfolio companies. We recognise and understand the food security challenges lying ahead of us and how Innovation in F&A supply chains is key to the solution, which is why we are dedicated to committing capital to the space.

Investment focus

Industry: Agriculture, AgTech, Farming
Stage:Series A, Series B, Seed
Geography: United States, United Kingdom, The Netherlands

Investor stats

Total investments: 25
Round size: Series A $3.8M–$18M; Series B $5M–$28M
Lead/follow: 4% lead, 96% follow

Portfolio highlights

Vence — Vence makes a hardware solution for cattle which when combined with their application software allows farmers to remotely manage/control their livestock. Their solution increases the utilization of the available grasses (increased the number of animals on a farm), removes costs associated with fencing (hardware/ maintenance costs/labor) and eliminates labor associated with moving the animals.
Aromyx — Aromyx pioneers the creation of tastes and smells using a quantitative measurement system developed with biotechnology, data science, and AI.
Saga Robotics — Saga Robotics delivers UV-C mildew control, AI-driven data services, and robotic farm automation with the autonomous robot Thorvald. Our robots provide chemical-free vineyard and strawberry disease management to help growers increase yields and reduce reliance on fungicides.

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Finistere Ventures is an agricultural technology and life sciences venture capital investor. Founded in 2005, the company partners with other entrepreneurs and creative thinkers to build innovative companies that have the potential to transform modern agriculture, increase food security, improve nutrition, and enhance sustainability. Their appliedexperience as operators, and pioneering role in Ag Tech, is actively utilized to benefit its portfolio companies and Partners. Finistere has global access to the best new technologies from centers of Ag Tech excellence in the U.S., Australia, Israel, New Zealand, and Canada through its venture partner networks. Finistere’s locations in San Diego and Palo Alto, California keeps them connected to the centers of mainstream venture investment and the world’s leading innovation ecosystem.

Investment focus

Industry: Agriculture, Biotechnology, AgTech
Stage:Series B, Series C, Series A
Geography: United States, New Zealand, Israel

Investor stats

Total investments: 53
Round size: Series A $3.8M–$9M; Series B $7.5M–$40M; Series C $3.4M–$30M
Lead/follow: 36% lead, 64% follow
Last fund: May invest from a new fund soon — raised $28M in 2021

Portfolio highlights

Jooules — Jooules offers a sustainable food system to ensure a greener, healthier future by using fermentation technologies to create nutritious protein ingredients.
POP — POP offers a nutrient-packed supplement for pet dogs to reduce inflammation and support whole-body health.
Metrovate — Metrovate is a biotechnology company which enhance global health and sustainability via sophisticated research and development.

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New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, a New Zealand-based private equity fund, manages fund of funds investments and direct co-investments.

Investment focus

Industry: Software, Biotechnology, SaaS
Stage:Seed, Series A, Angel
Geography: New Zealand, United States, Japan

Investor stats

Total investments: 35
Round size: Seed $428k–$1.2M; Angel $400k–$4.3M; Series A $1.4M–$8.8M
Lead/follow: 6% lead, 94% follow

Portfolio highlights

Insite AI — The chosen partner by executives in RGM, insights, and I.T. to grow revenue and market share. Learn how CPGs win in pricing, assortment, trade and more.
Invert Robotics — Invert Robotics develops robotic NDT inspection technologies for the maintenance of industrial equipment in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas industries. Invert Robotics highly skilled team of engineers have developed a world leading modular inspection platform suitable for use across a range of industries and applications.
Surgical Design Studios — The Insides Company is the leading provider of chyme reinfusion solutions for intestinal failure

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K1W1 provides startups and businesses in New Zealand with early and later-stage venture investments.

Investment focus

Industry: Software, SaaS, Biotechnology
Stage:Seed, Series A
Geography: New Zealand, United States

Investor stats

Total investments: 79
Round size: Seed $437k–$3.5M; Series A $419k–$17M
Lead/follow: 4% lead, 96% follow

Portfolio highlights

Appetise — MenuAid is a cheaper, flexible and more sustainable alternative to meal-kit delivery providers. We provide Kiwis with a weekly meal plan, complete with recipes and a list of ingredients that can either be self-shopped or collected/delivered from your favourite supermarkets.
Factor — Plug and play forecasting and pricing tools for modern energy utilities.
Quantifi Photonics — Quantifi Photonics is a critical supplier of photonics test and measurement instruments to the world's leading photonics manufacturers, universities and research organizations.

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