Advemto
Advemto is developing ultrafast spectroscopy tools. Spectroscopy is used in virtually all fields of science and technology to investigate and explore the nature and properties of matter. Ultrafast spectroscopy uses extremely short lights pulses to measure fast dynamics.
Their spectrometers reduce the time it takes to collect data from many hours or days down to just minutes, while allowing measurement dynamics in proteins, as well as solar cells, LEDs, and photonics materials.
The company is currently selling to academic groups and has established distribution with an international distributor to expand their reach internationally.
Learn more about Advemto
Alimetry
Alimetry has developed a wearable, non-invasive medical device and software platform for the rapid and detailed diagnosis of a range of gastrointestinal disorders.
The device records stomach electrical activity, sending data to a companion iOS app for real-time symptom tracking. The data is analysed in the cloud and a report provided to clinicians, which greatly reduces the uncertainties and risks currently associated with patient diagnostics.
Learn more about Alimetry
Allegro Energy
The company is developing safe, clean and green energy storage solutions for use in range of applications, including electric mobility (scooters and bicycles), in power grid stabilisation settings and for
enabling uninterrupted power supply.
The patented invention, originally developed at Victoria University of Wellington is a water-based electrolyte system that has overcome voltage limitations that typically hinder other solutions.
Domiciled in Australia.
Learn more about Allegro Energy
Amaroq Therapeutics
Amaroq Therapeutics, a new biotech start-up spun out of the University of Otago, is advancing its programs to develop next-generation RNA therapy to target cancer.
The Amaroq Therapeutics team, led by Chief Scientific Officer and founder, Dr Sarah Diermeier, are exploring the use of lncRNA molecules as therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers in the treatment of cancer. They will be working on therapies to treat common cancers such as breast, colorectal and liver cancer.
The study of long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs), often referred to as 'dark matter' of the genome, are molecules naturally present in cells. They have become a focus of research globally as they can act as key cell regulators despite not coding for proteins.
Learn more about Amaroq Therapeutics
Amy.app
Jaipuna’s mission is to democratise education and make learning maths and other subjects easy for everyone. They’ve developed an AI-based private tutoring software platform for maths called Amy. Amy supports learning by giving students feedback and automatically filling their knowledge gaps as they learn.
Learn more about Amy.app
Avalia, Closed 2023
Avalia’s proprietary vaccine and immunotherapy platform generates robust and targeted immune responses for the prevention and treatment of infectious disease and cancer. Avalia's platform is patent protected with over 25 granted patents around the world.
Avalia’s lead program is targeting a cure for the 250 million people living with chronic hepatitis B infection – a liver-related disease. With no effective cure, chronic hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and requirement for liver transplants, and globally results in 1 million deaths per annum.
Through collaborations, Avalia is also developing a pipeline of treatment vaccines and new immune-targeting treatments for cancer.
Avasa
Avasa was established in 2018 to commercialise a novel implantable medical device, initially backed by the University of Auckland, that aids in complex microvascular artery and vein reconstruction. This process of artery and vein reconstruction has historically been done by surgeon’s hand sewing, leaving an opportunity for Avasa’s innovation to disrupt the current ‘normal’. Early testing of the company’s unique product has shown the benefits by improving safety and reversibility of the procedure, whilst making the process faster and easier for surgeons to complete.
Learn more about Avasa
B.spkl
Bspkl is a spin-out from GNS Science that was established in 2022. The company is commercialising a unique manufacturing method and technology to produce ultra-low iridium catalyst coated membranes, a key component of hydrogen electrolysers.
Hydrogen electrolysers are essential for the generation of green hydrogen, a climate friendly alternative to regular hydrogen which has many uses such as powering vehicles, generating electricity, and heating homes and business. The switch to green hydrogen has historically been unviable due to high costs and limited raw materials. Bspkl’s solution has the potential to resolve these issues and have a real world impact on the global shift to a climate friendly economy.
BioLumic
BioLumic uses UV light signals to unlock the natural genetic potential of seeds and seedlings—without requiring use of chemicals or genetic modification.
BioLumic’s technology, originating from Massey University, triggers biological mechanisms that have demonstrated increases in plant yield, vigour, and disease resistance. With global food demand increasing significantly, this is expected to be an important advancement in food production methods.
In soybean seeds, the company has shown it can use light signals help produce traits and yield benefits that stack onto other treatments. In medical cannabis crops, the company’s products have been shown to increase yield by over 40%.
Domiciled in the United States of America.
Calocurb
Calocurb was established in 2017 to commercialise a bioactive ingredient, sourced from New Zealand hops, which has been developed in collaboration with Plant and Food Research of New Zealand.
The products Calocurb have developed target appetite management, assisting people with chronic and debilitating obesity, a growing health epidemic internationally. The active ingredient is believed to be the only natural, non-prescriptive alternative to highly expensive prescription drugs. Calocurb’s products are scientifically researched, 100% plant-based and provide individuals with an affordable alternative to support their health needs.
Captivate Technology
Captivate Technology was established in 2022 to commercialise a unique carbon capture technology developed at Massey University. The team at Captivate have developed a porous solid material that acts as a sponge for carbon dioxide, referred to as a metal organic framework (MOF). Their novel MOF has potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the sequestration of CO2 across a range of industries.
Cleanery
The Sustainable Care Company Limited, trading as Cleanery, operates in the clean technology sector, selling a range of eco-friendly cleaning and personal care products that aim to have a reduced environmental impact compared to existing solutions.
It was established in 2017 and has developed unique cleaning solutions that allows them to sell products in powdered form. The ability to sell in powdered form with the consumer adding their own water, allows for a reduction in the use of single use plastics.
Chitogel
Chitogel is a medical device company with an advanced manufacturing facility based in Lower Hutt. They supply medical kits that optimse the wound healing environment and significantly improve patient outcomes following sinus surgery.
Originating from University of Otago research, Chitogel's developments are backed by over 10 years of research and clinical evidence, including 17 published studies and scientific papers and the observation of successful outcomes of a diverse range of sinus surgeries.
Codify Asset Solutions
Codify Asset Solutions (CAS) has developed a software platform that automates compliance, management, and auditing in a transparent manner, based on open standards.
CAS is initially focusing on the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations) industries, fully supporting the ISO-standard BIM (Building Information Modelling) Industries and other open standards.
The core of CAS software solutions, ACABIM, is a computational engine that can perform complex calculations and navigate through regulations and standards in a verifiable manner.
EdPotential, Exited 2021
EdPotential’s goal is to improve educational outcomes and save teachers time through the effective use of school data.
EdPotential provides a web-based SaaS (Software as a Service) product to schools that helps teachers inquire into their students' data, analyse it to identify gaps and strengths, and then act to target solutions that improve student achievement and outcomes.
Ferronova
Ferronova is a cancer diagnostics company, developing surgical oncology tracer systems for improving the staging of complex cancers.
More than 40% of people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. Successful cancer treatment relies on accurate staging of how far, and where cancer has spread from a primary tumour.
Ferronova's injectable magnetic and fluorescent tracers are designed to less invasively, more quickly, and more accurately map the pathways of the spread of cancer to lymph nodes.
Domiciled in Australia.
Hot Lime Labs
Hot Lime Labs are developing CO2 capture solutions for high tech, greenhouses that currently produce $70B food crops p.a. Growers add CO2 gas to feed plants, increasing yields by 25%, however current CO2 demand outstrips supply and costs are rising.
Hot Lime Labs’ technology uses patented limestone pellets combined with novel engineering to produce what they describe as clean and sustainable CO2. This allows growers to reduce their carbon footprint while being more cost-effective, providing a green alternative to the traditional fossil-based sources of CO2, natural gas and liquid CO2.
Inhibit Coatings
Microbial contamination is a deadly issue. Inhibit Coatings is on a mission to save lives by preventing the spread of dangerous pathogens in hygienic environments.
Inhibit Coatings produces highly effective antimicrobial surface coatings. The coatings work to inhibit the growth of potential microbial contamination and outbreaks in facilities with high hygiene and sanitisation requirements such as food and beverage, healthcare, and transport.
Inhibit Coatings works with end-users and suppliers to develop antimicrobial coatings for a range of applications including flooring, walls, textiles and filters.
InsituGen
InsituGen has developed a new testing platform for the detection of anabolic drugs in biological samples. The bioassays can be used to detect steroidal targets in animals, human athletes, and food sources such as nutritional supplements.
The initial product focus for its technology is directed towards detecting doping in the horseracing industry and trials in the horse racing industry in Australasia are currently demonstrating the superior value of their testing approach.
The product has also been tailored to be used in the camel racing industry in the Middle East. Customer trials are ongoing and yielding good results.
Komodo Wellbeing
Komodo have developed a data-driven wellbeing platform, empowering students and enabling schools to make positive and effective interventions.
With a mission of positively impacting the lives of all students, Komodo’s platform provides a voice for students, allowing teachers to become more aware of their mental wellbeing. It can help to reduce bullying, highlight the need for additional academic support and overall, help schools become a safer and happier place for all.
Komodo have already generated sales across multiple countries and their product is having a real-life impact on students across the globe.
Ligar Closed, 2023
Ligar is commercialising a technology called Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) which allows for high-selectivity capture, filtering and extraction of molecules at scale.
With versatile applications, including pollution and contaminant removal, flavour and substance rebalancing, high-value molecule extraction, and compound quality improvement, Ligar has market application across multiple industries.
Originally developed at the Waikato Institute of Technology (WinTec) and the University of Waikato, Ligar currently targets three global applications including removing smoke taint from wine, decaffeination and sugar rebalancing processes, and cannabinoid extraction.
Liquium
Ammonia is one of the largest chemical industrial processes. The current 100-year-old Haber-Bosch (HB) process to produce ammonia has a large carbon footprint. Due to the harsh reaction conditions and feedstock sources for the HB process, each tonne of ammonia produced results in three tons of carbon dioxide, cumulatively making up 2-3% of global carbon emissions.
Liquium is on a mission to scale and develop its novel catalyst to produce ammonia in a more efficient, lower cost and decentralized manner that will allow the deployment of the hydrogen economy alongside renewable energy and power the maritime sector as the next clean liquid fuel.
MACSO Technologies
MACSO was established in 2021 to develop a cloud based artificial intelligence platform that uses sensors and edge artificial intelligence to remotely monitor customers’ operating environments, with an initial application in the animal health sector.
MACSO’s first solution is designed to provide early detection of respiratory illnesses on commercial swine farms. It is anticipated to detect disease outbreaks days before traditional means of human-based detection, enabling farmers to take action that can prevent catastrophic loss.
Marama Labs
Marama Labs develops scientific hardware and data analytics solutions to help industrial customers, such as wineries, improve the quality of their products.
At the heart of Marama Labs' platform is its spectrophotometer, the CloudSpec, that accurately analyses light spectra in cloudy liquids.
The device can measure key quality components of wines - such as colour and mouthfeel - at crucial early production phases of winemaking, which has previously been difficult to do. The CloudSpec data gives winemakers insights on their wines the whole way through production, allowing them to monitor and control wine style and quality.
Alongside the hardware device, Marama Labs is building a data-analytics cloud-platform that couples the CloudSpec data with wine consumer and market insights, enabling winemakers to tailor their wine styles towards consumer preferences.
Over time, Marama Labs aims to expand its hardware/software platform to other markets where it is critical to understand the underlying chemistry of a cloudy liquid. (e.g. beverages, pharmaceuticals, and wastewater).
Mars Bioimaging Ltd
Mars Bioimaging Ltd uses cutting-edge bioimaging technology to revolutionise point-of-care medical diagnosis by combining the best features of X-ray, CT, MRI & PET in 3D, high resolution, colour images.
Spun out of research at the University of Canterbury and CERN and founded in 2007, Mars Bioimaging is the world’s leading research and development group in spectral molecular imaging, delivering the world’s first commercial pre-clinical spectral CT scanner.
Mars Bioimaging is now in expansion stage and has secured a partnership with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in the US to advance musculoskeletal imaging and diagnostics in clinical settings.
Montoux
Montoux provides its actuarial automation and decision science platform specifically designed for life and health insurers. Their software platform combines actuarial science, data science, and AI-based optimization algorithms, helping insurers drive value in new business and in-force portfolios while allowing them to operate smarter, faster, and leaner.
Legacy actuarial systems and workflows limit life and health insurers' ability to make data-driven decisions and meet modern customers' expectations. Montoux's Actuarial Automation and Decision Science platform enables insurers to leverage cutting-edge technology and new data sources to improve commercial results and optimize actuarial resources.
Customers include several major insurance providers across the United States, Asia Pacific, and the United Kingdom
Mekonos, Closed 2024
Mekonos is focused on improving how drugs are delivered to patients, and enabling highly-potent cell therapy approaches.
This is being achieved with their custom-developed silicon chips, each holding thousands of individually moving nano-needles, which are used to carry drug cargo that can be injected into the nucleus of cells. This helps to improve uptake and reducing waste.
The initial concept originated from a PhD project at the University of Canterbury. It quickly became clear that the company needed to be in the US, where major innovations in cell therapy are being developed.
Domiciled in the United States of America.
MyBetterBreathing, GoodAir
My Better Breathing Limited, is a patented mechanical breathing technology, known as Goodair Nosebuds. The nose buds provide a non-invasive, non-drug, effective nasal congestion solution, which allows natural function and improved nasal patency (how open the nose is).
The nose buds apply frequencies and airflow control to individual sides of the nose to correctly sense nasal airflow and deliver nasal breathing neurotherapies, offering individuals an alternative to nasal decongestants or antihistamines. The technology was developed by Professor David White, from the BioDesign Lab at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Nutrition from Water (NXW)
NXW a food technology firm in the deep technology and engineering sector, makes marine whey, a protein source produced from water and microalgae.
NXW was formed in 2020, is a seed stage business and has a key technology partnership with Cawthron Research Institute. Its mission is to produce complete nutrition with the lowest emission profile without compromising taste or quality.
Opo Bio
Opo Bio Limited, produces living and non-living ingredients for the production of the fast growing cultivated meats sector. The company is focused on addressing a key a gap in the market - the supply of high quality, fully characterised, commercial grade cells to support the rapid growth of the alternative meats sector.
The team aim to address the limiting factors in scaling production of cultivated meats and providing New Zealand cell lines that are sourced from high health status livestock, decreasing regulatory barriers with an immediate focus on GMO-free products.
Opum Technologies, Closed 2023
Opum Technologies is an artificial intelligence (AI) based automated care platform for knee injury recovery and management of chronic conditions. They empower medical teams and patients to improve musculoskeletal health, to help those suffering participate more fully in life.
With a team of world-class engineers and clinicians, Opum Technologies are translating cutting edge technology into the world’s most advanced orthopaedic data analytics solutions. These solutions, powered by AI, help to create actionable data insights, improving patients’ quality of life and healthcare providers’ quality of care.
Orbis Diagnostics
Orbis have developed a ‘lab on a disk’ testing platform that uses its microfluidic technology to miniaturise and automate accurate lab testing for use at points of need, such as pharmacy to provide blood test results in 15 minutes.
With the outbreak of COVID-19, Orbis recognised how the unique features of its system could help re-enable safe travel amidst a pandemic and quickly positioned its tests to deliver a quantitative immunity test for COVID-19.
The company are currently working with pharmacy chains and partners to bring its tests to market in New Zealand and overseas.
PowerON, Closed 2024
PowerON’s soft, multifunctional robotic structures aim to revolutionise robots and their future uses. Enabling soft, friendly, lifelike robots with a sense of touch that can interact with users and their environment more naturally.
PowerON’s proprietary technology opens up new products and applications, not only in robotics, but in automation, e-commerce, agritech, medical and more.
PowerON’s vision is to enable the use of intelligent robots and soft devices in daily life, at work and at home; helping physicians, physiotherapists, and nurses train with life-like models of the human body; creating prosthetics don’t hurt after an entire day of wear and feel like natural limbs; and supporting industrial workers with biomimetic robots that are accepted as real helpers, not cold, unfriendly, machinery.
Scentian Bio
Scentian Bio is a spin-out from Plant and Food Research that was established in 2020. The company is commercialising a unique sensing system that can define a digital reference for a taste and smell.
It is based on a replication of insect sensing receptors and can provide insight into many settings including early detection of contaminants in food, early diagnosis of disease, or the company’s immediate priority – the quality assessment and control of food ingredients.
Stretch Sense
Sensor Holdings, trading as StretchSense, produces motion-capture gloves that combine stretchable sensors and machine learning. This provides market-leading finger tracking for the animators and game developers building the future of virtual worlds and the metaverse.
Stretch sensors are perfect for measuring the subtle movements of the human body as they are highly accurate and do not suffer from occlusion, drift or magnetic interference – factors that limit the effectiveness of other types of motion capture sensors.
TasmanIon
TasmanIon is developing aluminium ion batteries for use in grid storage and portable applications. The materials being used are potentially more sustainable as they will not rely on diminishing supplies of cobalt and lithium.
The advantage of using aluminium ion batteries against other available options (lithium Ion) is the cheaper and more available raw material.
TamoRx
TamoRx’s founding inventors, from University of Auckland, School of Biological Sciences, aim to develop an immunotherapy medicine to help patients’ immune systems destroy cancer cells.
They have discovered a novel biological mechanism within cells that restricts the immune system from fighting cancer. The research team is developing a new therapy that frees a patient’s immune systems from this restriction, increasing immune attacks on cancer cells within tumours.
Upstream Medical Technologies
Upstream Medical Technologies was established in 2015 to commercialise novel cardiac biomarkers which are designed to diagnose specific heart conditions rapidly and accurately. Using research from the Christchurch Heart Institute, Upstream Medical are developing a tool that fills a gap in the diagnostics field, where clinicians have limited tools available to confidently triage around a third of patients that present with chest pains. These undiagnosed patients may be at risk of heart attack and clinicians are faced with the decision to discharge or hold for additional monitoring.
With potential to fill this gap, Upstream Medical Technologies aim to have a measurable impact on these patients lives.
XFrame
XFrame™ is a recoverable and reusable framing system for the next generation of sustainable building construction.
XFrame™ aims to replace the current waste-creating approach of platform timber framing with a structure that enables all adjoining wall layers (things like internal wall linings, insulation and cladding) to be connected in a reversible manner that maintains building integrity.
The XFrame™ product makes recovering and separating building materials fast and easy and it aims to become financial best practice to recover and reuse XFrame™ materials rather than dispose of them.
Domiciled in Australia.
Wellumio
Wellumio was established to commercialise a unique, world-first, portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device that will bring brain scans to where the stroke happens.
The company was established in September 2019 and the team is aiming to revolutionize the stroke treatment model to offer diagnosis in the critical ‘golden hour’ (first hour following the stroke).
The solution aims to offer cost-effective treatment that is accessible everywhere, with technology based on IP developed at Otago University and Victoria University of Wellington.
Woolchemy
Woolchemy is a material technology company, and was formed to transform an abundant base material, wool, into something more valuable, using sustainable, environmental and ethical processes.
Woolchemy develops high performance hygiene materials using natural fibres for products like nappies that are healthier for both people and the planet.
Consumer, shareholder, and legislative pressures are prompting sanitary hygiene product manufacturers to actively look for ways to solve the plastic, waste and pollution problems associated with their current products.
Woolchemy’s initial two products, neweZorb and newFlex are protected by patents and are biodegradable and compostable, renewable and sustainable, washable or disposable, and contains no toxic chemicals as tested under the OEKO TEX 100 Standard.
ZeroJet
Zero Jet was established to develop electric propulsion systems to eliminate the need for combustion engines on small watercraft.
ZeroJet believe a significant reduction in environmental impact can be achieved with their systems and estimate that taking one 20 horse-powered four stroke outboard off the water is equivalent to taking 150 cars off the road.
The company will work with boat buildings locally and internationally to expand and develop systems for larger tender boats to eliminate the need for combustion engines on small watercraft.
Zincovery
Spun out in 2021, Zincovery was established to commercialise zinc recycling technologies originating from the University of Canterbury. Zinc dust left over from the steel industry is hazardous, and current practice is to use large volumes of coal to extract the zinc so it can be reused.
Zincovery has developed an alternative approach using small amounts of hydrogen and a unique acid leaching process with avoids 95% of the emissions compared to the incumbent process as well as being 45% cheaper.
Meet the Booster Innovation Fund team
BIF is managed by a professional and highly experienced team, working alongside partners that have expertise in developing and commercialising intellectual property.
Nic has over 15 years' experience in investment analysis
Nic originally joined Booster in 2004 and has held a number of specialist portfolio management and analysis roles, covering fixed interest portfolios, equities, currencies and overall asset allocation. Nic is a CFA Charterholder.
David has over 35 years’ experience in investment management and portfolio research. He joined Booster in 2000 as our Chief Investment Officer. David’s key areas of focus are strategy, investment stewardship and Financial Adviser relationships.
Melissa has over 20 years’ experience in the investment and science commercialisation sectors.
Melissa has had technology commercialisation roles in both the public and private sectors. She has held executive and director roles in technology start-up companies, leading strategic growth and capital raising, establishing international sales and negotiating key partnerships.
Alison is the Chief Operating Officer for the Booster Group and has been with Booster since 2007.
Alison has over 20 years’ experience in investment banking and energy markets, focusing on settlement and administration, and also has a strong business analyst background from the various roles she has performed during her career.
John is the Chair of the Manager's Board of Directors, and an independent director. He brings a wealth of experience from his 37-year career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, of which 25 years has been as a partner in advisory and assurance.
John has extensive experience across different sectors and has held a number of governance roles in various industries including Wellington UniVentures.
Dana McKenzie is an entrepreneur and adviser. She works at the intersection of technology and science. Dana holds an MSc in computer science from the University of Colorado and an MBA from IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
She is head of global partnerships at Ara Ake, a business driving growth and adoption of new and emerging energy technologies.