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Lachlan Nixon, co-founder of Motion Capital (New Zealand’s Leading Climate-tech VC), discusses how the venture capital fund fits within the Active Investor Plus visa programme.
The below information represents general information only and not official financial advice.
The Active Investor Plus Visa, also known as New Zealand's "Golden Visa" on social media, requires a significant investment in the New Zealand economy. There are two tiers of investment available:
To be eligible acceptable as a Growth Category investment, a managed fund must be approved by Invest New Zealand formerly New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE). Motion Capital is one of the Growth Category’s approved managed funds.
Lachlan Nixon, who has been in New Zealand's venture capital space for over a decade, co-founded Motion Capital with other senior investors and entrepreneurs. The fund is focused on investing in and exporting New Zealand's climate tech innovation, specifically in technology companies that either avoid or reduce emissions and have a commercial opportunity. Nixon describes Motion Capital as New Zealand's leading climate tech venture fund.
The fund currently focuses on three key areas where New Zealand has a particular strength in decarbonisation
Venture capital is a high-risk asset class, but it typically offers returns that are commensurate with that risk. Motion Capital is a ten-year fund, as the companies they invest in take time to develop and scale innovative tech. While it's a long-term commitment, there are liquidity options available for investors to buy and sell among themselves.
Nixon notes that the fund's investors are typically entrepreneurial, understanding the challenges and opportunities of start up businesses. Many also have a personal passion for the environment.
A key aspect of Motion Capital is its focus on community and relationships. Nixon explains that the fund offers more than an investment option. It also seeks to deeply engage with its investors and build a close-knit community. This community is formed around the mission of climate tech and includes people with similar interests.
For Active Investor Plus (AIP) applicants, this means a chance to become part of a network that offers more than just a financial transaction. The New Zealand business culture is very relationship-driven, and this model fosters a two-way partnership where investors can use their skills to help portfolio companies.
The new visa program's requirement of just 21 days in New Zealand over three years allows investors to "dip their toe in" without a huge time commitment. This flexibility allows AIP investors to act as ambassadors for New Zealand from their home countries, connecting local companies with opportunities and markets abroad.
To learn more about Motion Capital, you can visit their website at motioncapital.co.nz
