Rampersand

Rampersand is a prominent venture capital firm headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with an additional office in Sydney. Established in 2013 by co-founders Paul Naphtali and Jim Cassidy, the firm has quickly become a key player in the Australian and New Zealand early-stage technology ecosystem. Rampersand’s core mission is to identify and back founders with "abnormal potential"—those building innovative technology companies with global ambitions. They differentiate themselves through a deeply hands-on, founder-friendly, and human-centric approach, aiming to be the first port of call for ambitious entrepreneurs.

The firm employs a unique "What Do We Need To Believe" (WDWNTB) framework for its rigorous investment selection process, screening approximately 2,000 startups annually but typically investing in only about five. This high-conviction strategy ensures deep engagement and robust support for their portfolio companies, extending beyond capital provision to include strategic guidance, network access, mentorship, and assistance across areas like sales, product, and international expansion.

Rampersand focuses its investments on early-stage technology startups, typically at the Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A stages, with cheque sizes generally ranging from A$250,000 to A$3 million. Their sector focus is broad but concentrated on disruptive technologies, including artificial intelligence, data, business-to-business software-as-a-service (B2B SaaS), marketplaces, climate technology, health technology, quantum computing, blockchain, and other frontier sectors.

Over its decade of operation, Rampersand has invested close to A$100 million across more than 30 companies, with its portfolio companies demonstrating an impressive track record. Companies backed by Rampersand are reportedly twice as likely to raise follow-on capital compared to the industry standard. The firm prides itself on delivering top-quartile performance for its investors, fostering enduring relationships built on trust, connection, and alignment.

The leadership team includes co-founder and partner Paul Naphtali, who brings extensive experience from Silicon Valley and the UK in strategic communications for venture-backed startups. Other key partners, such as Taryn Pieterse and Andrew Poesaste, contribute diverse backgrounds in investment banking, venture capital, and technology building, further strengthening Rampersand’s capacity to support its founders from day one to global scale.