What we do

 We're always looking for talented, ambitious and pro-active young Kiwis to join the team at First Cut.

​Members of First Cut Ventures are empowered with unprecedented access to The Icehouse’s network, resources, brand and capital to enable their own learning and development into value-adding start-up advisors and investors. First Cut Ventures leverages these learnings and access to resources to:

• Mentor and support young entrepreneurs
• Develop scalable resources and models to disseminate learnings for the benefit of New Zealand’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Contribute to the management and success of funds, and portfolio companies, related to First Cut Ventures.

Since 2015 we have raised over $500k from 30+ professional investors, which we are currently deploying across founders under 30. In addition to this, we have enabled Kiwi startups like Halter, Jrny and Spalk to raise more than $1M through initiatives such as the University Startup Challenge.

What we offer

First Cut Ventures members are empowered, engaged and educated through a portfolio of events, resources, projects and 1:1 mentoring to enable their personal growth alongside the goals of First Cut Ventures. Opportunities available to the members of First Cut Ventures include:

• Exclusive lunches with guests like Michelle Dickinson and Rob Fyfe
• Invitations to attend the more than 50 events The Icehouse hosts to develop investor and entrepreneur capability and facilitate capital raising
• Guidance and coaching from leading investors and entrepreneurs, working in collaboration to prepare due diligence and research on start-up companies
• Board observation roles; where members may attend the board meetings of start-ups that have raised capital from The Icehouse family of entities like Ask Nicely, Halter and Spalk, working alongside professional directors and exited entrepreneurs
• Access to and explanation of the mechanics of early-stage investment with exclusive access to real-life examples of investment documentation
• The ability to raise, guide and manage an seed and venture investment fund. First Cut Ventures currently manages a $500k fund raised from professional investors in NZ and abroad

These First Cut Ventures’s specific opportunities are augmented by unprecedented connection into The Icehouse. The Icehouse is New Zealand’s leading seed and angel-investment network and fund manager representing more than 500 individuals, including the likes of Adam Clark (Founder of M-Com, acquired by Fiserv), K1W1 (The investment vehicle of Sir Stephen Tindall) and George Gong (Founder of Beyondsoft, a US$1b listed technology company in China). The Icehouse’s network has invested more than $80m into over 130 of New Zealand’s leading start-ups including notable alumni Ethique, Nyriad, Harmoney, Crimson Education, PowerbyProxi (Acquired by Apple), 90 Seconds and Flirtey.

What we are looking for

First Cut Ventures presents an unparalleled opportunity for students to enhance their own development alongside their studies. These students do not need pre-existing knowledge about start-up investment. However, we are not looking for career C.V. builders. First Cut Ventures is an exceptional opportunity that requires serious commitment.

Team members are generally expected to be available for 1 – 3 hours per week to attend events, meet with entrepreneurs, participate in due diligence and organise opportunities to engage with and support young founders. First Cut has current members in Auckland and Wellington.
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First Cut is actively working to improve the diversity of our group and will give special consideration to the contributions of diverse thinkers from diverse backgrounds.

How to apply

If the above sounds like an opportunity that you would find great value in and enjoy pursuing then please email the following to Jack McQuire using the link below. 

• a one page CV
• a personal statement on what you’d bring and why your interested in First Cut
• Your unique perspective on one of either; young entrepreneurs founding companies, a technology trend, or a specific startup (approx 250 words).

Applications will be considered and roles will be filled on a rolling basis.

APPLY NOW