‘We get an AI pitch a day – it's unlikely we'd fund another company'
The co-founder of New Zealand's longest-running venture capital company says it receives a deluge of artificial intelligence pitches – and while the technology is worth backing, another investment would be 'hard to justify'.
Carl Jones is managing partner of deep-tech investor WNT Ventures, a Tauranga-based organisation that launched in 2014 and is active across New Zealand and Australia. In May the capital organisation announced its fourth fund, its largest to date, which is aiming to invest $35 to $40 million by the end of the year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
9 hours ago
- Scoop
Hushtec Delivers Advanced Noise Control Solutions For Construction And Mining Sectors
Hushtec, a New Zealand-based manufacturer with over 50 years of experience, is providing advanced noise control solutions for industries facing stringent regulatory and community noise requirements. The company's customisable barriers and engineered systems are designed for sectors including construction, demolition, utilities, infrastructure, and mining. Construction sites often generate significant sound pollution that affects both workers and surrounding communities. Hushtec addresses these challenges with its range of construction site acoustics barriers, which are engineered to reduce noise by up to 43dB. These barriers are lightweight, weatherproof, and rapid to install, supporting compliance with environmental standards while maintaining a safer work environment. The solutions are available in both off-the-shelf and custom-made formats, and are used by contractors, project managers, and acoustic consultants across New Zealand. In the mining sector, Hushtec has developed targeted approaches for high-noise activities such as rock breaking and pile driving. The company's rock breaker noise mitigation products include premium noise barriers, acoustic tents, and shrouds. These solutions have been lab-tested to provide noise reductions of up to 35dB for barriers, 25dB for acoustic tents, and 15dB for shrouds, supporting compliance with workplace safety and environmental regulations. Their modular, durable construction allows for flexible deployment in harsh mining environments and areas near residential developments. Hushtec's integrated approach—from design and development to manufacturing—is carried out at its state-of-the-art New Zealand facility. The company's products are distributed globally and are trusted by Tier 1 contractors and industry leaders for their proven performance and reliability. Hushtec continues to seek partnerships with organisations dedicated to effective noise management across a range of industries.
Scoop
10 hours ago
- Scoop
CPL Group Supports Industrial Safety And Compliance With Advanced Room Divider And Dust Curtain Solutions
CPL Group, a New Zealand-based manufacturer of PVC screening systems, supplies a wide range of industrial barriers designed to support safety, air quality, and compliance in commercial and industrial environments. The product range is used in sectors including manufacturing, logistics, and food processing. Commercial room divider curtains are used to create internal partitions within warehouses, factories, and processing sites. These PVC curtain wall systems help segment workspaces, manage temperature zones, and reduce noise. Manufactured in-house by CPL Group, the curtains are built for industrial durability and can be customised to suit specific spatial layouts. The company also supplies dust curtains, which are used to manage airborne particles and fumes in operational settings. These barriers assist with maintaining air quality and meeting environmental and occupational health standards. Dust curtain systems are available in multiple sizes and formats and can be configured to meet site-specific conditions. CPL Group provides installation advice to ensure performance and regulatory alignment. Applications include food-grade rooms, cleanrooms, and temperature-controlled storage areas. By offering robust and adaptable partitioning systems, CPL Group supports businesses in reducing contamination risks and meeting statutory safety requirements.
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Gearing up for hoppy hours
Beercycles could soon be rolling through Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIED A new type of booze cruise is being pitched for Queenstown. Hamilton-based company Beercycle Ltd has plans to launch in the CBD, using people power to move between various partner venues around the town centre. According to its resource consent application, which has been formally received by Queenstown's council, the beercycles can accommodate up to 15 people, including a host/driver, undertaking two-hour tours, with stops at three or four local venues. The company's been operating in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton for nine years without incident — it wants to expand into Queenstown, aligning with the resort's identity as "an adventurous, fun, visitor-driven destination". The bikes are fully pedal-powered, making them an environmentally friendly mode of tourism, while also supporting local hospo venues, the application says. Republic Hospitality Group, which owns 1876, Sundeck and Winnies, provided a letter of support for the application, stating Queenstown's known for its innovation and world-class hospitality, and Beercycle presents a chance to further enhance that. The tours, planned to operate daily between 11am and 9pm, would include onboard music, with a capped output of 60dB — the speed of the beercycle's comparable to a jogger or scooter. Any disturbance to residents is considered less than minor, while there's no conflict anticipated between Beercycle and pedestrians/cyclists, and any environmental or social effects are deemed less than minor and well managed through proposed conditions, the application says.
