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Electro Ventures
Electro Ventures was founded in Perth by Joshua Portlock as a holding company that both founds and backs early-stage sustainable-mobility companies.
Electro Ventures
Electro Ventures was founded in Perth by Joshua Portlock as a holding company that both founds and backs early-stage sustainable-mobility companies. The firm describes itself as entrepreneur-led, with a team of founders who have previously launched their own startups. Its investment thesis targets clean-technology adoption across electric aviation, marine propulsion, and renewable-energy infrastructure, concentrating on the highest-adoption segments of the emobility transition. The firm's portfolio spans air, land, and water transport. Confirmed positions include Electro.Aero, a developer of electric-aircraft chargers and renewable-energy aviation infrastructure; ENautic, which builds WaveDrive electric hydrofoil propulsion systems and WaveFlyer personal watercraft; Fly On E, an electric-aircraft training and sales operation; and Electro Base, a modular containerized battery system for grid-independent solar EV fleet charging. Electro Ventures invests from incorporation through growth capital, with its strongest focus at the seed stage. The firm operates in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, representing Jump Aero's JA1 eVTOL aircraft across the latter. It structures investments as direct holdings rather than through a traditional fund, and states it charges no management fee or carried interest, instead investing in parallel with external backers. Electro Ventures lists seven named team members and advisors, including Co-Founder and CFO Bronson Davies, Sustainability Director and Chair Carol Wallbank, and Chief Investment Officer Catherine Bian. The firm also runs ElectroLabs, an internal venture studio that incubates new ideas before deciding whether to spin them out or scale them internally — the CyberTrailer aerodynamic solar trailer prototype is a recent project originated through this model. The firm qualifies for Australia's Early Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) regime, offering a 20% tax offset and zero capital-gains tax for eligible investors holding shares between one and ten years. Electro Ventures' structural differentiator is its no-fee, co-investment model. Unlike standard venture funds that charge a 2% management fee and 20% carry, the firm deploys its own capital on the same terms as outside investors, sharing risk and return. This architecture, combined with the ESIC tax treatment, explicitly targets Australian taxpayers seeking exposure to early-stage clean-tech without the layered cost structure of a conventional VC fund.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Oceania
Country
Australia
City
Perth
Corporate office
Perth, Australia
Principals
Joshua Portlock
Founding Partner & Innovation Director
Bronson Davies
Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer
Carol Wallbank
Sustainability Director & Chair
Catherine Bian
Chief Investment Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Electro Ventures?
Founding Partner and Innovation Director Joshua Portlock leads the firm, supported by Chief Investment Officer Catherine Bian. The firm operates as an entrepreneur-led holding company, with a team of founders who have built their own startups. Investment decisions appear to be made collectively by this core group, though specific committee structures have not been publicly disclosed.
Does Electro Ventures charge management fees or carried interest?
No. Electro Ventures states it does not charge the conventional 2% annual management fee or 20% performance fee typical of venture capital funds. Instead, the firm invests its own capital in parallel with external investors, sharing the same risks and returns. This structure is central to its pitch to Australian investors (per the firm's website).
How does Electro Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The firm's deal flow appears to arise from two channels. First, its internal venture studio, ElectroLabs, incubates new ideas before deciding whether to spin them out or scale them internally — the CyberTrailer aerodynamic solar trailer prototype is one example. Second, the founders' network within the Australian and Asia-Pacific sustainable-mobility ecosystem generates inbound opportunities. The firm's stated focus on founder-to-founder relationships and fast due diligence supports this approach (per the firm's website).
Is Electro Ventures structured as a family office or a venture firm?
Electro Ventures is an asset manager structured as a private equity holding company. It is not a single-family office; it raises capital from external investors who co-invest alongside the firm's own balance sheet. The entity Electro Venture Holdings Pty Ltd acts as the investment vehicle, with a venture-studio arm (ElectroLabs) operating inside it.
What investment stages does Electro Ventures typically target?
The firm invests from incorporation through growth capital, but states its best value-add and primary focus is seed funding. Portfolio companies span different commercial stages, from early growth to mature profitability, providing a mix of liquidity and longer-duration upside (per the firm's website).
What is the ESIC tax benefit and how does it apply to Electro Ventures?
Australia's Early Stage Innovation Company (ESIC) regime offers eligible investors a 20% tax offset on their investment and zero capital-gains tax for shares held between one and ten years. Electro Ventures states it is currently ESIC-eligible, meaning Australian taxpayers can access these benefits when investing through the firm (per the firm's website).
How is Electro Ventures related to the companies it backs?
The firm acts as both founder and investor. Some portfolio companies, such as Electro.Aero and Electro Base, were founded or co-founded by Electro Ventures itself. For other companies, the firm takes an early-stage equity position and provides hands-on operational support, leveraging its team's experience building their own startups. This hybrid founder-investor model distinguishes it from arms-length financial backers.
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