.png)
In this series, Professor Cather Simpson talks openly about the lessons she’s learned bridging the worlds of science and venture capital. From the early days of New Zealand’s deep-tech ecosystem to her advice for founders seeking commercial partners, Cather brings honesty, humour, and decades of experience to the conversation - showing why collaboration between scientists and investors is at the heart of lasting innovation.
Joining Pacific Channel:
In this video, Professor Cather Simpson shares how her journey from laser physicist to deep-tech founder led her to become a Partner at Pacific Channel.
Cather recalls how a chance coffee meeting with Pacific Channel sparked Engender Technologies, and how mutual respect between science and business laid the foundation for one of New Zealand’s most successful deep-tech ventures.Today, she brings that same founder’s perspective to her role on Pacific Channel’s investment committee - helping scientists and entrepreneurs translate breakthrough research into world-changing companies.
“We had respect for each other’s strengths - that’s why Engender succeeded. It’s also why I’m at Pacific Channel today."
Orbis Diagnostics:
Orbis Diagnostics began with “point-of-cow” diagnostics to help farmers optimise herd genetics - then pivoted during COVID from infection testing to measuring immunity. That shift crystallised Orbis’s identity as a diagnostic platform company focused on decentralised, accessible blood testing.
In this insight, we explore why diagnostics are the bottleneck for decentralised healthcare (70% of medical decisions rely on a test), and how Orbis is building a multiplexed platform starting with a high-impact global challenge: hepatitis B. The Orbis HBV panel measures three key markers and delivers actionable results in about 30 minutes from a single finger-stick - helping identify infection and vaccination needs quickly and conveniently.
“We call Orbis the Nespresso of diagnostics - only we can make five cups at once.”
Backed by Pacific Channel, Orbis is developing a growing menu of near-patient tests to smooth the speed bump between patients and answers.
The Investment Eco-System:
New Zealand’s venture landscape looks very different to 15 years ago. In this short insight, Professor Cather Simpson reflects on how deep-tech investing has matured - from the early days of Engender, when funding high-risk science was rare, to today’s multi-stage ecosystem with active seed, Series A and Series B funds and global connectivity.
Cather discusses Pacific Channel’s role as an early catalyst, the importance of collaboration to build national capability, and how purpose, niche, problem complexity and potential impact shape our investment decisions.
A Century of Photonics
Professor Cather Simpson explains why the 21st century is the century of photonics - and why this matters for New Zealand’s future.
From cellphones to the internet, photonics underpins modern life, and New Zealand is emerging as a global contributor in this field. Cather discusses the country’s growing strength in quantum and photonic technologies, the leadership of the Dodd-Walls Centre, and how collaboration between researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs is driving the commercialisation of world-class innovation.
“The 21st century is the century of photonics, just as the 20th was the century of electronics.”
She also reflects on the “valley of death” - the challenge of scaling from prototype to production - and how targeted investment and smarter innovation choices can help New Zealand deep-tech companies thrive globally.
Seeking Advice Early:
In this video, Professor Cather Simpson shares her #1 tip for scientists turning research into companies: get advice early. From tech-transfer to investor expectations and basic finance, Cather explains why partnering with commercial experts is just as critical as the science - and how a founder’s learning curve can make or break a venture.
Key takeaways:
- Talk to your tech transfer office first
- Learn the basics: a short business/finance course goes a long way
- Don’t underestimate “the company stuff” - find a partner who rows as hard on the commercial side
- Look for passion + complementary skills (the MBA to your PhD)
The Importance of Equality:
Professor Cather Simpson shares her reflections on equality, diversity, and the importance of bringing every voice to the table - in science, venture capital, and beyond.
A physicist, entrepreneur, and partner at Pacific Channel, Cather has spent her career in male-dominated fields. In this video, she explains why equality isn’t just a moral imperative but a practical necessity for solving the world’s most important problems.
“When mediocre women and mediocre people of colour succeed at the same rate as mediocre white men - that’s when we’ll know we have equality.”
At Pacific Channel, we believe innovation thrives when diverse perspectives collaborate to drive change. That belief underpins how we invest, partner, and build deep-tech companies tackling global challenges in health, food, and the environment.
Fundamental Science
Professor Cather Simpson explores the importance of balancing short-term innovation goals with long-term investment in fundamental science.
She argues that while applied research drives immediate results, it’s the foundational “light–matter” science - the kind that asks why before how - that enables the breakthroughs shaping our economy decades later.
“If we push everything toward short-term outcomes, we’re effectively eating our seed corn.”
Cather also highlights the need for stronger integration between science and business leadership - ensuring governance at every level includes deep technical expertise alongside economic insight.
