M8 Ventures

General Partners Alan Jones and Emily Rich share investment committee duties. Both are based in Sydney and are involved in every deal evaluation. The firm's structure is deliberately flat—no separate chief investment officer or external investment committee layer exists. This partner-led model means every portfolio company receives direct attention from a named decision-maker.

Yes. M8 has maintained an Australia-and-New-Zealand-only investment mandate since its 2016 founding. The firm views ANZ as a structurally undercapitalized seed-stage market relative to the US, UK, and Israel. While some portfolio companies expand internationally post-investment, the firm does not lead rounds for startups headquartered outside the region.

M8 writes initial checks between $500,000 and $1.5 million at pre-seed and seed stages, with reserves allocated for follow-on investments. The firm does not lead Series A rounds, and it does not operate an angel syndicate. The partnership prefers being a lead or co-lead investor when possible, reflecting its appetite for board seats and active portfolio involvement.

Deal flow is built almost entirely through the partners' personal networks inside Australian and New Zealand startup communities. Alan Jones and Emily Rich draw on relationships from Startmate, Techstars, and local founder ecosystems cultivated over more than a decade. The firm does not rely on inbound cold applications, broker-sourced deals, or centralized associate-scouting programs—every investment opportunity reaches a General Partner directly.

The firm has not publicly disclosed details of any subsequent fundraise beyond its initial institutional vehicle. Fund size and timing remain undisclosed. M8 tends to operate quietly, providing updates through direct limited-partner communications rather than press releases.