NEWSROOM
Unlocking Deep-Tech Potential: Maria Jose Alvarez’s Journey in New Zealand
1 February 2023
Chilean Biotechnology Engineer Maria Jose Alvarez is bridging the gap between the science and Venture Capital communities in New Zealand, helping deep-tech start-ups and first-time founders bring their ideas to life. Working as an Investment Manager at WNT Ventures, Maria Jose is dedicated to fostering the growth of the next generation of founders. Maria Jose is particularly passionate about supporting women and minorities in the VC community and in 2021 she was named a finalist in the Diversity category at the NZ Women of Influence Awards recognising her efforts and impact in this space.
Maria Jose was introduced to the world of deep-tech start-ups during her undergraduate studies in Chile when she and two of her classmates founded VIDaOX, a start-up focusing on giving wine waste a second life by extracting antioxidants and using them for food preservation and cosmetics.
“The experience showed me the lack of understanding the Venture Capital/investment community had about science-led start-ups, so when I moved to New Zealand, I knew I wanted to be on the investment side to help other researchers and first-time founders bring their ideas to life.”
Since moving to New Zealand and studying a Master in Bioscience Enterprise at the University of Auckland, Maria Jose has worked at four different funds covering private, government, and university funding, as well as being an advisor and investment committee member to other initiatives to commercialise innovation in New Zealand.
“I love everything about what I do. But one of the best parts is meeting new amazingly smart people working on things you didn’t even think were possible. Being involved with companies that are using science and engineering to change the way we live and look after the planet is always exciting, and I feel very grateful to play a small part in that.”
Maria Jose says being named a finalist in the Diversity category at the Women of Influence awards has been one of the highlights of her career so far. “When I started working in Venture Capital in New Zealand there weren’t many, if any, women or ‘diversity’ in most teams I worked in or with, so I have worked hard to create space for women and other minorities in the rooms I occupy. This has meant investing in women-led start-ups and helping women and other minorities get into Venture Capital.”
Maria Jose strongly believes in the significance of women investing and in supporting women-led enterprises through funding. “Investing is a pathway to wealth creation, wealth equality, and independence. It is the main way we can ensure we can afford the life we want to live until late in our lives, while also being able to walk away from situations that do not serve us. Investing in women-led businesses is also a no-brainer. Women create great businesses in all areas, from healthcare to biotech, e-commerce, retail, food, etc. While historically receiving around only 2-4% of all Venture Capital/investment funding per year, female-led businesses usually outperform those without a female founder or co-founder, whilst also providing higher returns to investors. Women getting funded shows other women that they can do it too. We have too many people looking up to Elon, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. I want to see us talking about the female equivalent of them, and for that, women need to get investment.”
Maria Jose has a long-standing relationship with the University of Auckland and the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). After completing her Master’s, she worked at UniServices, the university’s research commercialisation company. During her time there, she was a part of Velocity’s runner up team MicroVision, who were developing a smart algorithm to measure the movement of objects up to 0.0002 of a pixel, allowing the technology to assess stress strain and deformations in objects. Maria Jose has also volunteered for CIE as a speaker, judge and mentor for various programmes over the years, including Summer Lab and the Velocity $100k Challenge.
Maria Jose says she never thought she would be where she is today and still pinches herself for the life she lives. “Coming to New Zealand as an immigrant without any connections was a huge bet, but the country has really embraced me and allowed me to thrive, which speaks a lot about the culture and the opportunities you can have here.” Maria Jose says New Zealand’s international reputation for an innovative culture makes her proud and excited for her life and work here.
To aspiring founders, Maria Jose emphasises the importance of having the right team “When you are building a start-up, there are a million things that could go wrong or not how you expect, so it is important to surround yourself with people that are willing to ride the waves with you.”
1 February 2023
Chilean Biotechnology Engineer Maria Jose Alvarez is bridging the gap between the science and Venture Capital communities in New Zealand, helping deep-tech start-ups and first-time founders bring their ideas to life. Working as an Investment Manager at WNT Ventures, Maria Jose is dedicated to fostering the growth of the next generation of founders. Maria Jose is particularly passionate about supporting women and minorities in the VC community and in 2021 she was named a finalist in the Diversity category at the NZ Women of Influence Awards recognising her efforts and impact in this space.
Maria Jose was introduced to the world of deep-tech start-ups during her undergraduate studies in Chile when she and two of her classmates founded VIDaOX, a start-up focusing on giving wine waste a second life by extracting antioxidants and using them for food preservation and cosmetics.
“The experience showed me the lack of understanding the Venture Capital/investment community had about science-led start-ups, so when I moved to New Zealand, I knew I wanted to be on the investment side to help other researchers and first-time founders bring their ideas to life.”
Since moving to New Zealand and studying a Master in Bioscience Enterprise at the University of Auckland, Maria Jose has worked at four different funds covering private, government, and university funding, as well as being an advisor and investment committee member to other initiatives to commercialise innovation in New Zealand.
“I love everything about what I do. But one of the best parts is meeting new amazingly smart people working on things you didn’t even think were possible. Being involved with companies that are using science and engineering to change the way we live and look after the planet is always exciting, and I feel very grateful to play a small part in that.”
Maria Jose says being named a finalist in the Diversity category at the Women of Influence awards has been one of the highlights of her career so far. “When I started working in Venture Capital in New Zealand there weren’t many, if any, women or ‘diversity’ in most teams I worked in or with, so I have worked hard to create space for women and other minorities in the rooms I occupy. This has meant investing in women-led start-ups and helping women and other minorities get into Venture Capital.”
Maria Jose strongly believes in the significance of women investing and in supporting women-led enterprises through funding. “Investing is a pathway to wealth creation, wealth equality, and independence. It is the main way we can ensure we can afford the life we want to live until late in our lives, while also being able to walk away from situations that do not serve us. Investing in women-led businesses is also a no-brainer. Women create great businesses in all areas, from healthcare to biotech, e-commerce, retail, food, etc. While historically receiving around only 2-4% of all Venture Capital/investment funding per year, female-led businesses usually outperform those without a female founder or co-founder, whilst also providing higher returns to investors. Women getting funded shows other women that they can do it too. We have too many people looking up to Elon, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. I want to see us talking about the female equivalent of them, and for that, women need to get investment.”
Maria Jose has a long-standing relationship with the University of Auckland and the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). After completing her Master’s, she worked at UniServices, the university’s research commercialisation company. During her time there, she was a part of Velocity’s runner up team MicroVision, who were developing a smart algorithm to measure the movement of objects up to 0.0002 of a pixel, allowing the technology to assess stress strain and deformations in objects. Maria Jose has also volunteered for CIE as a speaker, judge and mentor for various programmes over the years, including Summer Lab and the Velocity $100k Challenge.
Maria Jose says she never thought she would be where she is today and still pinches herself for the life she lives. “Coming to New Zealand as an immigrant without any connections was a huge bet, but the country has really embraced me and allowed me to thrive, which speaks a lot about the culture and the opportunities you can have here.” Maria Jose says New Zealand’s international reputation for an innovative culture makes her proud and excited for her life and work here.
To aspiring founders, Maria Jose emphasises the importance of having the right team “When you are building a start-up, there are a million things that could go wrong or not how you expect, so it is important to surround yourself with people that are willing to ride the waves with you.”
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
