James Fuller is the co-founder and CEO of Hnry, the Wellington-born digital accounting service that has grown from a dining room table and a few spreadsheets into one of Australasia’s largest accountancies. Today, Hnry employs 150+ staff across three countries, processes over $3bn in annual transactions, and has raised NZD$65m across six venture rounds from investors in New Zealand, Australia, and the US.
This guide distills founder-tested insights for first-time NZ entrepreneurs on whether venture capital is the right path—and how to raise it in a way that truly benefits your business.
From First Raise to Fully Funded: Lessons from a Founder Who’ll Help You Do It Too
A practical roadmap for founders — from deciding if VC is right, to raising your round, to thriving with investors after the close.
The Founder’s Guide to Venture Capital
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Part 1: Is VC Right for My Startup?
Part 2: The Fundraising Process
Part 3: Preparing for the Fundraise
Part 4: How to Raise a Successful Round
Part 5: How It Feels to Run a VC-backed Startup
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James’ Best Practice Fundraising Toolkit
Best practice distilled into frameworks and templates so that you can raise like James.
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Most first-time founders are blindsided — building a pitch deck can drag on for weeks or months, with endless feedback loops that stall growth.
James built these tools after years as an analyst living in PowerPoint — and then used it himself to close 6 funding rounds and $65M.
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Decide if venture capital is the right path, weigh it against bootstrapping, and use a checklist to know when you’re ready.
Learn how a raise really works—from shaping your story to targeting investors and navigating term sheets.
Get practical steps for engaging investors—networking, warm intros, updates, and first meetings done right.