H2 Ventures

H2 Ventures is a pioneering venture capital firm and accelerator based in Sydney, Australia, deeply committed to fostering innovation within the fintech, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. Established in 2013 by brothers Ben and Toby Heap, the firm has consistently focused on identifying and nurturing early-stage entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas. They serve a diverse ecosystem, bringing together talented founders, strategic investors, and forward-thinking financial services organisations to drive technology-enabled disruption across various industries.

Beginning as the AWI Ventures Accelerator in 2014, the initiative later rebranded to H2 Ventures in 2015, quickly establishing itself as a significant player in the Australian startup landscape. A key differentiator for H2 Ventures is its H2 Accelerator, Australia's only dedicated fintech, data, and AI accelerator, offering a comprehensive 20-week to six-month program designed to support startups from their nascent stages. This longer duration, compared to typical three-month accelerators, provides intensive mentoring, operational guidance, and access to crucial networks, going beyond mere capital provision.

H2 Ventures prides itself on being "venture partners for life," investing in founding teams from day zero and embracing the inherent risks of early-stage ventures, even before a product has been built. Their investment philosophy backs founders demonstrating purpose, ingenuity, instinct, and a strong drive for learning and execution. A notable achievement is their annual publication of the 'Fintech100' report, which identifies leading global fintech innovators, showcasing their thought leadership and deep industry insights.

Leadership is provided by its founding partners. Ben Heap brings over 25 years of experience in financial services and investment, including serving as the Managing Director of UBS Global Asset Management in Australia and as a member of the Australian Commonwealth Government's 'Fintech Advisory Group'. Dr Toby Heap, with a PhD in thermal physiology and artificial neural networks, has a background as a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney and has founded multiple digital startups, holding board positions with companies like Zemble and Equitise, and receiving both Churchill and Eisenhower Fellowships.