// Sydney-based VC Airtree Ventures are launching an ‘Explorer’ program, to help budding angel investors get started …
Angel investors are the lifeblood of any healthy startup ecosystem. They’re often the first port of call for new ideas, and they play a critical role in supporting founders.
But while most parts of the Australian tech ecosystem are growing in leaps and bounds, the seed and angel investment ecosystem is at risk of sliding backwards.
Angel and seed-stage investing have dropped off a cliff over the past three years, and despite a few notable exceptions, the level of diversity amongst angel investors is still very low.
Sydney-based venture capital firm Airtree Ventures are looking to change this, with their AirTree Explorer Program.
The pilot program is open for applications (closing at the end of the month) and is aimed at supporting the “next generation of diverse technology investors” in Australia and NZ.
Airtree wants to find, fund and support great Aussie and Kiwi founders, and along the way give potential investors real skin in the game to help them build an investment track record of their own.
Why now?
It’s hard to become a tech investor.
Existing Aussie VC funds are still small (at least compared to overseas), and while jobs do come up from time to time, there’s only ever going to be a small number of roles available.
But if you want to go out and start a new fund, investors will usually want to see that you have some sort of investing track record. And that often means making investments with your own money.
Few people have the sort of cash lying around to invest in tech startups, especially early in their career.
Catch 22.
Who’s this program for?
Airtree are looking for people who are “curious and hungry”, who spend time with great founders and have a unique lens into the highs and lows of startup life.
They might be a founder themselves. Or they might just be smart, “curious people” who are already in the ecosystem but want to start investing.
Does that sound like you?
The Explorer Program
Airtee will initially pilot the program with 20 ‘explorers’ from across NZ and Australia.
Here’s what it would involve:
- Open source investor education program — Airtree will host a series of private angel investing seminars and events. These will include fireside chats with some of Australia and NZ’s best angel investors and deep dive sessions focused on startup trends and markets, from agtech to AI, from cybersecurity to fintech and everything in between.
- Funding to invest — many won’t have their own capital to invest, but Airtree wants to help them build a track record of their own. So for any explorer that introduces Airtree to a company that they invest in, they’ll bring them in on the investment alongside AirTree by giving the explorer a small cheque to invest.
- Open source IC meetings — From time to time Airtree will invite members from the ‘explorer network’ to join weekly investment committee (IC) meetings. For most VCs, what goes on in those meetings is a closely-guarded secret .
- Network — As part of the program explorers get to meet the other explorers, as well as the extended AirTree team and some of Australia and NZ’s best early-stage investors.
Diversity pledge
Airtree believes it is important to drive diversity on every level. This includes within their own team, the investments they make and the people they invest with.
For every investment they lead, they will bring at least one investor from an underrepresented group on to the cap table, provided the founder is OK with it.
How to apply
If you’d like to get involved in the AirTree Explorer Program , apply now, and before 30 September.
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