Jenny Morel
Founder and Managing Partner of No 8 Ventures a company that has invested in 14 young New Zealand companies, ranging from telco software companies to early stage human pharmaceuticals biotech.
Jenny Morel, an economist whose career has included a stint with the OECD in Paris, believed she and the fund were being recognised for their ground-breaking approach to developing high-tech businesses from good ideas. Starting out, Morel was inspired and guided by seasoned US venture capitalist Franklin "Pitch" Johnson, who 30 years ago formed Asset Management Co (AMC), one of the longest-established Silicon Valley venture firms.
No. 8 has invested in businesses including Argent Networks, which supplies telco billing systems, early-stage cancer therapeutics company Proacta, industrial-scale composting company VCU Technology and 3D graphics outfit Right Hemisphere. Morel clearly enjoys her work with No. 8. "We get this role of helping people who are passionate about what they are doing, who've got fantastic ideas and then really trying to turn those into great businesses.
In 2006, Jenny was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business.
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