Manager of Punakaiki Fund and the Climate Venture Capital Fund Series, 2040 Ventures backs bold Kiwi founders building globally scalable technology and climate solutions. These companies are helping shape the country’s innovation economy. Founded by Lance Wiggs and Chris Humphreys, 2040 Ventures takes a long-term approach to venture capital. Our funds invest in companies with competitive advantages, strong leadership, and the potential to lead their global niche. These investments include leading New Zealand innovators such as Timely, Devoli, Cleanery, Quantifi Photonics, and Vend (now known as Lightspeed).
Founding Partner
Lance is a co-founder and Principal with 2040 Ventures. Lance combines a variety of global business experience with co-founding, investing and advising high-growth technology companies in New Zealand. Lance’s prior experience includes Trade Me, including advising on its sale to Fairfax Media, and McKinsey & Co. Lance has an MBA from Yale University (Strategy, Finance) and a Bachelor of Technology (Hons, Product Development) from Massey University. Lance is not an independent director.
Chris brings significant corporate finance experience and rigour, leading the valuation, due diligence and formal processes such as contract review for investments. Chris was formerly at PwC, where he was an Associate Director. Chris holds a BSc and PGDipCom (Finance) from the University of Otago and a BCom (Accounting, Finance and Information Systems) from the University of Canterbury. Chris is a CFA charterholder. Chris is based in Te Anau and oversees the 2040 Operations team.
Nadine Hill joined 2040 Ventures in October 2020, and was made a Principal in March of 2022. Nadine has a BCom from the Massey University and has 15 years of experience in international capital in Australasia and the United Kingdom. Nadine was previously an investment manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and a Director of Project and Acquisition Finance at Westpac.
Rohan has over 25 years experience as a management consultant, strategic planner, and corporate executive with deep expertise in the impact of changing technology on business. Rohan performed investment analysis and project investment viability for private investors and the Provincial Growth Fund, led commercial analysis and due diligence for major climate-oriented projects for well-known major New Zealand headquartered entities, and performed future strategy and analysis for a heavily climate-exposed Australian industrial company. Rohan has a BEcon and a LLB from Sydney University
Jez brings over 20 years of research investment, commercialisation and policy experience. He was manager of both the Commercialisation Partner Network and the PreSeed Accelerator Fund. Jez also designed and supporting MBIE’s COVID-19 Innovation Acceleration Fund, a rapid turn-around $25 million fund. Jez has provided policy and climate advice for the Royal Society, the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the Ministry for Business, Innovation & Employment. Jez has a Ph.D. in Engineering from Cambridge University, a BEng in Materials Science, and a GradDipComm in Economics.
Angela joined 2040 Ventures after moving with her family from the North Island to Te Anau, subsequently finding her place in our second office. Angela is creative, adventurous, and gregarious. She has a varying background in sales, operations, and project management from a diverse range of industry sectors, including hospitality, dairying, and construction. Angela is engaged in many community projects in Te Anau and brings positive energy, confidence, and pragmatism to her role and to the team as Punakaiki Fund’s Finance Analyst.
Tom joined 2040 Ventures in 2022 after returning from the U.K. where worked for NZ-founded startup, Publons, as their first UK hire and Head of Marketing. Tom helped rapidly grow Publons from 30K users to over 2 million, drawing the attention of eventual acquirers, Clarivate in 2017, a NYSE-listed data and analytics company. Prior to moving to the UK, Tom was a policy analyst in Building & Construction Market Economics at MBIE and an assistant private secretary for the Minister of Housing. Tom now leads investor relations at 2040 Ventures and has a BCom (Marketing) and a BA (Politics) from the University of Otago.
Cormac joined 2040 Ventures following three years with Snowball Effect where he raised growth capital for kiwi companies. Before Snowball Effect, he was involved with a several engineering businesses ranging from early-stage start-ups to global conglomerates. Highlights include carbon fibre structural design and project management with a global consultancy, design engineering for an early-stage marine technology start-up, and project management work with Rocket Lab. Cormac has a BE(hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury, and has family history from the region. Cormac is a director of: Get Home Safe (PFL), Core Schedule (PFL), Seaflux (PFL).
Tommy joined 2040 Ventures in 2025 after two years in consulting at Deloitte. In his role, he has a focus on the Punakaiki Fund portfolio. In 2024, Tommy completed the Sprout Accelerator, which supports agri-business innovation in New Zealand. This experience deepened his interest in early-stage companies and growth. Tommy holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and a Diploma in Science (Computer Science) from the University of Auckland.
Rebecca joined 2040 Ventures as an Operations Analyst in 2025, where she assists Angela with a range of operational matters. She brings an environmental focus to her work, having previously worked as a Senior Resource Consent Planner with Nelson City Council. Rebecca has a degree in Environmental Management and Sociology from the University of Otago, and she spent a year living in Papua New Guinea in association with her studies.
With portfolios diversified across sector, stage and business model, 2040 Ventures offers investors transparent, detailed insights and access to professionally managed funds. Both Punakaiki Fund and Climate Venture Capital Fund 2 are approved Acceptable Managed Funds under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa programme - providing international investors with a trusted path into the country’s innovation economy.
