What we do
We work with Massey staff and students to help commercialise their ideas.
Our services include:
Early Stage Funding
Start-up Advice
Protecting Your Idea
Our Network
Massey Ventures Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Massey University. Our role is to commercialise intellectual property and innovative research within the University. To achieve this, we work with Massey researchers and inventors to guide them through the commercialisation process and turn their innovative ideas into real-world commercial opportunities.
We also provide access to early stage investment to support the development of commercially promising ideas. Massey Ventures also holds equity in a range of companies that have been spun out of the University.
Our Team
Chief Executive
Officer
Mark Cleaver
Mark is the former Director of Business Development and Commercialisation at Massey University. Prior to joining Massey University in 2008, Mark spent 10 years with Crown Research Institute Landcare Research.
Mark has a particular interest in innovation and the commercialisation of research and has helped establish several new companies. In 2005 he co-founded his own business Aero Sports Protection Ltd, a sports equipment manufacturing and distribution business.
Commercialisation
Manager
Ella Moffat
Ella is a commercialisation manager at Massey Ventures with a Bachelor of Business majoring in International Business and Strategic Communication.
She has strong interests in start-ups, enterprise, and commercialization and sits on the Manawatū Momentum Investment Committee.
Student
Enterprise Lead
Brad Booysen
Brad is a seasoned entrepreneur with three ventures under his belt and extensive experience in B2B marketing.
In a previous life he worked as a civil engineer and held a variety of senior project management roles. Brad is passionate about helping startups find their way in new and emerging markets.
Senior Commercialisation
Manager
Dr Sean Mackay
Sean is a Senior Commercialisation Manager at Massey University. Prior to Massey he completed a PhD and Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Otago developing drug delivery technologies for the treatment of disfiguring strawberry birthmarks and neurological disorders.
Sean has a strong interest in the commercialisation of research, particularly in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical space, and is an advisor to multiple biotechnology and life science companies.
Commercialisation
Analyst
Jasmine Nash
Jasmine is a Commercialisation Analyst at Massey Ventures with a BSc in Molecular Cell Biology and BBus in Finance.
She is interested in the commercialisation of research and sits on the Manawatu Momentum Investment Committee.
Student
Enterprise
Dr Jeanette Rapson
Jeanette's mission is to raise a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. Her journey with Massey Enterprise started as a PhD student from the College of Health winning a place in the Grand Ideas Competition in 2020. Jeanette was mentored my some of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and mindset coaches to start practicing the modern combination of enterprise thinking and well-being. She is committed to introducing students, staff and academics to this exciting world of business innovation, while empowering them to stay well on their journey.
Commercialisation
Manager
Dr Dan Carlisle
Dan is a Commercialisation Manager at Massey Ventures with a PhD in Marketing from Massey University. Dan oversees the University's commercialisation pipeline and manages a portfolio of active projects.
Prior to joining the team, Dan was a research associate at Consumer Insights Ltd with experience in branding, market validation, and graphic design. Dan also sits on the Manawatū Momentum Investment Committee, KiwiNet Pipeline Committee, and co-founder of Nexus, an initiative supporting emerging commercialisation professionals.
Commercialisation and IP Manager
Dr Russell Wilson
Russell is the Commercialisation and IP Manager at Massey University. Prior to joining Massey in 2010, Russell spent 25 years working in the NZ dairy industry in a range of research and development roles ranging from research scientist through to R&D management.
Russell has a strong interest in the commercialisation of research, particularly in the food and agritech space.
Our Board
Chairman
Terry Allen
Terry is currently a Trade Commissioner for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Prior to joining NZTE he was the managing director of Allen Strategic, a company he founded specialising in the provision of governance, strategy and execution services at board and executive level. Terry has 20 years’ experience in the wider ICT industry, during which he has held senior roles in multinational technology companies, including 12 years with Microsoft New Zealand. He also ran the incubation business for Auckland University's Icehouse incubator for two years, focusing on business growth strategy, business start-ups, commercialisation and company governance. Terry holds a number of directorships and is currently on the board of Serato, Theta Systems, Massey Ventures Ltd and MPA Limited.
Director
Andrew Lewis
Andrew is currently lead partner at Auckland based Andrew Lewis Law. Andrew has 15 years' of partner level experience at leading New Zealand and international firms (12 years as a corporate partner at Simpson Grierson in Auckland and three years as a corporate partner at Norton Rose Group in Dubai).
He has led major transactions including mergers and acquisitions, investment transactions, capital raisings, and funds, joint ventures and supply and distribution arrangements. In many cases these transactions cross international borders with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions.
Student Board Observer
Gemma Sims
Gemma is an Industrial Design graduate from Massey University in Wellington undertaking her Masters of Design. Gemma is passionate about people and how experiences and problems can be improved through design and the important role design has in the changing world.
Alongside study Gemma also has interest in cricket, in particular representing the Wellington Blaze in domestic cricket.
Gemma is interested in entrepreneurship and bringing projects to life. She sees the student board observer role as a great learning opportunity for her whilst being relevant to her interests and aspirations.
Director
Giselle Byrnes
Professor Giselle Byrnes brings to the Board senior management experience in universities in Australia and in New Zealand and a broad knowledge of governance across the higher education and community sectors. Giselle is an internationally recognised historian and joined Massey in early 2016. She brings a particular expertise in academic governance and accountability and in the performing arts boards and governance sector. Professor Byrnes has been Fulbright scholar teaching New Zealand Studies at Georgetown University, Washington DC, and has served as President of the New Zealand Historical Association. She has a commitment to advancing the agenda around equity and access to higher education and is a strong advocate of the critical role played by modern universities in creating social, cultural and intellectual capital for public benefit and economic wellbeing.
Director
Matt Roskruge
Matt is from Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Tama and is a Rutherford Discovery Fellow, Associate Dean Māori, and Professor of economics in Te Kura Whai Pakihi Massey Business School.
Matt is director of Te Au Rangahau, Massey’s Māori business research centre, and is involved in a range of research and other initiatives that seek to support the continued success of the Māori economy and help realise the ambitions of Māori entrepreneurs. Alongside Māori economic success he also has a particular interest in social capital, health and regional development.
Student Board Observer
Rafael Kreutmayer
Rafael was Born and Raised in Rotorua but has Lived in Palmerston North since 2017. He is currently in his final year at Massey University, studying towards a Bbus in business management. Coming from a military background, Rafael has spent his spare time formulating a new Camouflage paint through his new business, KiwiKitt.
Rafael has always been interested in Business and entrepreneurship, even as a young kid selling "overpriced fizzy drinks" to other kids at school. He sees being a part of this Board is an excellent opportunity to broaden his knowledge and experience.
Director
Carolyn Dimond
Carolyn is the Chief Financial Officer at Massey University and brings significant financial and commercial acumen and experience to the Board. Carolyn sits on a number of boards including some of Massey Ventures' subsidiaries, Massey’s internationalisation subsidiaries, and is an member elected board member on UniSaver Limited, the NZ University Sector Superannuation Scheme.
Prior to joining Massey Carolyn was an Executive Director at EY working with a number of Tertiary Institutes, Public, and Private Sector organisations in New Zealand and the UK.
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Board Observer
Karina Nepia-Blyth
Karina is an investment associate at (NZTE) where she helps māori entities prepare to raise investment, secure growth capital, and connect with investment partners. Karina is passionate about creating opportunities in the regions, having grown up in Gisborne on the East Coast of the North Island.
Previously, Karina worked for PwC Auckland engaging with public, private and Māori sector Organisations.
Karina has a Bachelor of Business in Economics and Accounting. Prior to joining PwC, she worked at the Auckland Council in a Māori / Te Tiriti o Waitangi focused role, delivering objectives under the Māori employment strategy. She also has governance experience, having sat on the board of not-for-profit organisation TupuToa.
