Recent highlights of the Booster Innovation Fund (BIF) and Private Land and Property Fund (PLPF). BIF’s impact on New Zealand’s innovation landscape continues to grow, investing approximately $17 million to take an interest in 35 tech and innovation companies.
These leading-edge companies now employ over 400 staff, with over 300 of these jobs based right here in NZ. Alongside BIF’s investment those companies have leveraged another $260 million from other investors and the innovation companies now have a combined estimated value of $700 million.
This is why BIF exists: to provide a unique opportunity to invest in cutting edge research and innovation, with the added benefit of helping keep New Zealand intellectual capital and jobs here for longer.
BIF portfolio highlights - BIF welcomes Indus into portfolio:
The Booster Innovation Fund (BIF) is delighted to add a new fintech startup to its portfolio, that makes it easy for investors to access India’s financial markets.
Indus offers a fully digital, three-minute sign-up process for New Zealand investors to access over 500 Indian mutual funds, providing unparalleled exposure to India’s growth story. No paperwork - or India-based bank account – required!
NZX-listed BIF got to know the Indus team after partnering with CreativeHQ and NZFintech Fund for Fintech Lab 2025.
BIF Manager Melissa Yiannoutsos says Indus and its team stood out as a fantastic opportunity.
“The pathway Indus has created to allow investors to tap into one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the pace in which these customers are engaging with the Indus platform and ability to scale that access to investors globally, is extremely compelling.
“BIF is excited to have Indus on board, and we can’t wait to see it thrive,” says Melissa Yiannoutsos.
Five BIF-backed companies shine at Hi-Tech Awards - the Oscars of the NZ tech industry
Five BIF portfolio companies were finalists in the Hi-Tech Awards that celebrate New Zealand’s most innovative high-tech businesses:
- Cleanery took out the Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future Award for its plant-based, plastic-busting cleaning range;
- Calocurb was highly commended in the ASX Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year category for its all-natural, hops-based appetite management nutraceutical; and
- Biochemical-sensing tech company Scentian Bio, and Hot Lime Labs’ with its green CO2 capture tech for improving greenhouse crop yields, were finalists in the NZTE Most Innovative Hi-Tech Agritech Solution category; and
- Low-carbon zinc recovery company Zincovery was a finalist in both in the Aware Group (an HSO Company) Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution category and the Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Solution for a More Sustainable Future category.
BioOra
BioOra’s technology to help beat cancer with personalised treatments featured in a five-part Stuff investigation, which explores their bold ambition to become the ‘Rocket Lab of immunotherapy’
Zincovery co-founder makes Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list
Jonathan Ring has been named as one of the prestigious Forbes 30 (people) under 30 (years of age) Asia list. Zincovery has a lower-emissions way to recycle zinc from industrial waste. Congratulations Jonathan!
Booster’s Private Land and Property Fund (PLPF) highlights: Green to Gold at Woodland Road Orchard
With higher prices and yield for popular gold Kiwifruit, we have approved a further PLPF investment in the Woodland Road Orchard LP so it can convert five hectares of its Green Kiwifruit vines to the Zespri Gold Kiwifruit (SunGold) variety.
Waimea West Hops
Nelson-based Waimea West Hops Limited (WWH), of which PLPF is a shareholder, has partnered with Freestyle Hops, a distributor that connects brewers with specialist and single-location hop varieties.
WWH harvested approximately 76 tonnes of hops this season.
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Read more about the Booster Innovation Fund (BIF) and some of the exciting companies it has invested in to advance early stage innovation – and see how you can support these trailblazing companies breaking the mould right here in Aotearoa.
Booster Investment Management Limited is the issuer of the Booster Innovation Scheme, Booster Innovation Fund. Product Disclosure Statements are available at www.booster.co.nz.
Booster Investment Management Limited is the issuer of the Private Land and Property Fund (Fund). The Fund’s Product Disclosure Statement is available at www.booster.co.nz or by contacting your financial adviser.