Get to know our team
We're obsessed with the magic of young ambition
Most people underestimate young founders. They see youth and think inexperience. They see inexperience and think risk. They see risk and walk away.
But we see something different. We see people with fire in their eyes, a bias for action, and a stubborn belief that the world can, and should, be better. We see the ones who build before they’re told they can. The ones who don’t wait for permission.
Yes, youth comes with challenges. But it also comes with clarity, speed, and imagination. The kind that changes industries.
NextGen Ventures was born to back that magic. Because the future doesn’t belong to the experienced. It belongs to the bold.
Most people underestimate young founders. They see youth and think inexperience. They see inexperience and think risk. They see risk and walk away.
But we see something different. We see people with fire in their eyes, a bias for action, and a stubborn belief that the world can, and should, be better. We see the ones who build before they’re told they can. The ones who don’t wait for permission.
Yes, youth comes with challenges. But it also comes with clarity, speed, and imagination. The kind that changes industries.
NextGen Ventures was born to back that magic. Because the future doesn’t belong to the experienced. It belongs to the bold.
Founding Partners
Mitch
Hughes
Founding Partner
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Mitch
Hughes
Founding Partner
Jerry
X'Lingson
Founding Partner
Jerry
X'Lingson
Founding Partner
Advisors
Davi
La Ferla
Advisor
Davi
La Ferla
Advisor
Niki
Scevak
Advisor
Niki
Scevak
Advisor
Paul
Naphtali
Advisor
Paul
Naphtali
Advisor
Andrew J
Nash
Advisor
Andrew J
Nash
Advisor
Rebecca
Rozencwajg
Advisor
Rebecca
Rozencwajg
Advisor
Campus
Izabella
Mancewicz
Investment Associate
Izabella
Mancewicz
Investment Associate
Tom
Carne
Chief of Staff
Tom
Carne
Chief of Staff
Ryan
Choong
Investment Associate
Ryan
Choong
Investment Associate
Mitch
Hughes
Founding Partner
Mitch
Hughes
Founding Partner
Harry
Phillips
Investment Associate
Harry
Phillips
Investment Associate
Bhavesh
Nain
Investment Associate
Bhavesh
Nain
Investment Associate
Alea
Babeck
Investment Associate
Alea
Babeck
Investment Associate
David
So
Investment Principal
David
So
Investment Principal
Aarshia
Sinha
Investment Associate
Aarshia
Sinha
Investment Associate
Felix
Lichte
Investment Associate
Felix
Lichte
Investment Associate
Faraj
Abbasi
Investment Associate
Faraj
Abbasi
Investment Associate
Reem
Hamdon
Investment Associate
Reem
Hamdon
Investment Associate
Jerry
X'Lingson
Founding Partner
Jerry
X'Lingson
Founding Partner
Isaiah
Chou
Investment Associate
Isaiah
Chou
Investment Associate
Jonathan
Mulondo
Investment Associate
Jonathan
Mulondo
Investment Associate
Hansen
Marudai
Designer
Hansen
Marudai
Designer
Nathan
Ha
Investment Associate
Nathan
Ha
Investment Associate
Our Values
We believe in owning our futures and shaping the world we want to live in.
We take radical ownership
Radical ownership means taking action, not waiting for others to build the life or world we envision. It’s about dictating outcomes, rejecting conformity, and actively doing the work that defines our legacy. As Steve Jobs once said, “everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you”. We have the power to change life, mould it, and leave our mark. We embrace this mindset completely, as the standard of ownership we hold internally must mirror the radical ownership we admire in the founders we back.
We are growing a garden of tall poppies
At NextGen, we believe it is time to change the narrative in Australia that silences ambition among our youth – tall poppy syndrome. We’re building a tribe where exceptional people thrive and unapologetically pursue greatness together, especially the founders who deserve to have their dreams championed. We encourage extreme ambition and exist to help people grow into tall poppies. In our garden of tall poppies, we honour both success and failure, aiming to work just as hard as the founders we back, in the belief that our successes are intertwined.
We Are Incurably Curious
Purposeful curiosity about humans, technology, and the way the world works fuels our growth as humans and pushes us to constantly evolve as partners to founders. So we approach every challenge with an open mind, never letting ego get in the way of our learning. We accept that we don’t know everything and welcome the discomfort of uncertainty, because it drives us to find new solutions and make better decisions over time. We are lifelong learners, as to live life to the fullest is to hold a deep curiosity that knows no bounds.
We back humans first
At NextGen, we act and invest through recognition of the nuances that makes us human. We therefore show up in the world as our authentic selves, whether through what we write, say, or do. Our investing approach is rooted foremost in consideration of the founder/s as humans, trusting our instincts over rigid frameworks. By celebrating the individuality that defines us, we foster a culture where we recruit, partner with, and invest in humans who thrive on their own terms, grow naturally, and achieve success together.
We are intellectually honest
We have the courage to look stupid before we look smart, but, crucially, we pair that courage with an open-mindedness to either pedal back or increase conviction when presented with compelling contrary information. Whenever we don’t know something, or doubt a belief we once held, we voice it, operating under the firm belief that our collective greatness is hindered by ego and arrogance. And selfishly, through being upfront and proactive about what we don’t know, we best serve our future selves, through exponentially increasing our rate of growth as thinkers and doers.
Get involved
"The next unicorn could be sitting in a university library right now – and NextGen will be the first to find them"
Craig Blair Airtree Co-founder and Partner
Looking for investment?
Our doors (or inboxes) are always open! If you're a young Aussie founder bursting with ambition, we want to hear from you. Even if it's just a kernel of an idea, please don't think it's too early to reach out.
Our doors are always open! If you're a young Aussie founder bursting with ambition, we want to hear from you. Even if it's just a kernel of an idea, please don't think it's too early.
Looking to invest?
NextGen sits at the forefront of the acceleration of our ecosystem at the grassroots level, creating a ripple effect that both financially benefits our LPs and transforms our ecosystem into a hub for ambitious young Aussies to thrive.
NextGen sits at the forefront of the acceleration of our ecosystem at the grassroots level, creating a ripple effect that both financially benefits our LPs and transforms our ecosystem into a hub for young Aussies to thrive.