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

Mitch

Hughes

Founding Partner

Jerry

X'Lingson

Founding Partner

Jerry

X'Lingson

Founding Partner

Advisors

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

Investment Associate

Tom

Carne

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

Eric

Kim

Investment Associate

Eric

Kim

Investment Associate

David

So

Investment Associate

David

So

Investment Associate

Aarshia

Sinha

Events Lead

Aarshia

Sinha

Events Lead

Maryem

Al-Ali

Investment Associate

Maryem

Al-Ali

Investment Associate

Jack

Ryan

Investment Associate

Jack

Ryan

Investment Associate

Hayley

Fittler

Investment Associate

Hayley

Fittler

Investment Associate

Ren

Imanaga

Investment Associate

Ren

Imanaga

Investment Associate

Sara Romero

Banfalvi

Investment Associate

Sara Romero

Banfalvi

Investment Associate

Jerry

X'Lingson

Founding Partner

Jerry

X'Lingson

Founding Partner

Saachi

Arora

Events Lead

Saachi

Arora

Events Lead

Hansen

Marudai

Designer

Hansen

Marudai

Designer

Manasa

Vinothkumar

Investment Associate

Manasa

Vinothkumar

Investment Associate

Andris

Dang

Investment Associate

Andris

Dang

Investment Associate

Disha

Jain

Investment Principal

Disha

Jain

Investment Principal

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 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 achieve greatness together, especially the founders who deserve to have their dreams championed. We encourage extreme ambition and exist to help people become tall poppies, pursuing greatness together alongside the founders we back. In our garden of tall poppies, we honour both success and failure, and turn the impossible into reality, believing that our successes are intertwined.

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 achieve greatness together, especially the founders who deserve to have their dreams championed. We encourage extreme ambition and exist to help people become tall poppies, pursuing greatness together alongside the founders we back. In our garden of tall poppies, we honour both success and failure, and turn the impossible into reality, believing that our successes are intertwined.

We Have Unbounded Curiosity

Purposeful curiosity about 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 living life to the fullest is to hold a deep curiosity that knows no bounds.

We Have Unbounded Curiosity

Purposeful curiosity about 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 living life to the fullest is to hold a deep curiosity that knows no bounds.

We place humans first

At NextGen, we act and invest through recognition of the nuances that makes us human. Our approach is therefore rooted in transparency and authenticity, trusting human instincts over rigid frameworks. By celebrating the individuality that define us, we foster a culture where we hire, partner, and invest in humans who thrive on their own terms, grow naturally, and achieve success together – not the externalities that surround them.

We place humans first

At NextGen, we act and invest through recognition of the nuances that makes us human. Our approach is therefore rooted in transparency and authenticity, trusting human instincts over rigid frameworks. By celebrating the individuality that define us, we foster a culture where we hire, partner, and invest in humans who thrive on their own terms, grow naturally, and achieve success together – not the externalities that surround them.

We are in pursuit of greatness

The pursuit of greatness is our commitment to excellence and pushing beyond the arbitrary limits we place on ourselves. It is a refusal to settle for what is acceptable, choosing instead to give our best. It shows up everywhere, from the care we put into the small details, how we show up in the world, and the ambition we bring to long-term goals. We do this not from pressure or comparison, but from excitement for what can emerge when the human potential is fully expressed, and from a deep respect for the rare and finite journey we are each given in life.

We are in pursuit of greatness

The pursuit of greatness is our commitment to excellence and pushing beyond the arbitrary limits we place on ourselves. It is a refusal to settle for what is acceptable, choosing instead to give our best. It shows up everywhere, from the care we put into the small details, how we show up in the world, and the ambition we bring to long-term goals. We do this not from pressure or comparison, but from excitement for what can emerge when the human potential is fully expressed, and from a deep respect for the rare and finite journey we are each given in life.

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.

Let's hear your story

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.

Investor Enquiry