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The end of 2024 marked a significant milestone for Pacific Channel: 20 years of impact, innovation, and investment.
Over two decades, we’ve helped turn cutting-edge science into commercial ventures, supported founders and their teams tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges, and contributed to building a stronger deep-tech ecosystem in Asia-Pacific.
As we mark this anniversary, we’re taking the opportunity to look back at where we started, chart our evolution, and share our vision for the future through a new three-part video series.
Two decades ago, Pacific Channel began with a simple but radical belief: that New Zealand’s scientific excellence could, and should, be a foundation for global commercial impact. At the time, the idea of a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in life sciences and deep-tech in this part of the world was, frankly, ambitious. The ecosystem was nascent, the funding landscape thin, and few investors were focused on the long game of commercialising complex IP.
But that gap was exactly what gave Pacific Channel its purpose.
The first decade, now profiled in Pacific Channel: The First Decade, tells the story of how the firm laid its foundation. It began by backing researchers and scientists with bold ideas—often at a stage too early for traditional investors. It forged pathways to market for ventures that may otherwise have remained trapped in the lab. And it built, from the ground up, a new model of venture support that combined capital with active hands-on expertise.
As the video explores, these early years weren’t without challenge. But they were united by a clear vision: to create an environment where New Zealand’s deep-tech ventures could thrive and scale globally.
From initial investments in sectors like diagnostics and industrial biotech to the creation of critical relationships with universities and government partners, Pacific Channel’s first decade was about proving what was possible and establishing a reputation for perseverance, trust, and technical insight.
This first video in the 20 Years of Innovation, Impact & Investment series is not just a look back. It’s a reminder of why Pacific Channel exists: to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact. The lessons from those early years continue to shape the firm’s approach today.
As detailed in our 20 Year Impact Report, the early companies supported by Pacific Channel are still delivering on their promise, with 11 successful exits to date and more in the pipeline. But more than returns, what stands out is the patient, principled belief that impact takes time, and that venture capital, done right, can help deliver it.This is the first in a three-part video series, with future chapters exploring the firm’s second decade and what lies ahead. Together, they trace a story of ambition, resilience, and a distinctly New Zealand approach to building globally relevant science-based ventures.
Because the best ideas don’t just need capital. They need champions.
