M8 Ventures

M8 Ventures is a Sydney-based venture capital firm focused on identifying and accelerating product-led technology startups across Australia and New Zealand. Established in 2017, the firm distinguishes itself through its approach as experienced operators-turned-investors, leveraging the deep product management and engineering backgrounds of its co-founders to provide substantive, value-add support to its portfolio companies. This model positions M8 Ventures as an active partner rather than a passive capital provider, a key differentiator in the early-stage investment landscape.

The firm primarily targets pre-seed and seed stage investments, though it selectively participates in Series A rounds for its strongest performers. M8 Ventures’ investment thesis centres on the conviction that exceptional technology products are built by outstanding technical teams, seeking out founders who demonstrate strong product and engineering DNA capable of creating global technology companies. They operate an industry-agnostic approach, with a keen interest in sectors such as Healthtech, HRtech, Medtech, AI, B2B, Carbon, Cyber Security, Enterprise Software, ESG, SaaS, and Women-led initiatives.

Currently, M8 Ventures operates with a syndicate-based model through the Aussie Angels platform, while actively engaging in the process of raising its first dedicated venture fund. This syndicate model allows for flexible investment in early-stage ventures, with typical cheque sizes ranging from AUD $10,000 to $1 million. The firm maintains a strong commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the technology sector, extending support through mentorship and strategic guidance in product development and market strategy. Their portfolio includes notable investments such as Hola Health, Pushas, Cake, Cardly, and Trunk, which was successfully acquired by Adobe InDesign. Bugcrowd, a unicorn, is also a part of their portfolio.

Leadership at M8 Ventures is spearheaded by its co-founders and managing partners, Alan Jones and Emily Rich. Alan Jones brings a rich history from his early roles at Yahoo and founding contributions to significant entities like Pollenizer, Startmate, and Blackbird Ventures, coupled with extensive experience as an active angel investor. Emily Rich, a technical co-founder of a machine learning and computer vision startup that achieved acquisition, previously served as Managing Director for Microsoft for Startups APAC and contributes significant expertise as a go-to-market mentor. Both partners are vocal advocates for diversity, embodying a 'no diversity, no dollars' investment philosophy to ensure they back a representative range of entrepreneurs.