Climate tech venture firm Wavemaker Impact nabs Monique Conheady for ANZ expansion

Southeast Asian climate tech venture firm Wavemaker Impact has named Monique Conheady as its new Venture Partner for Australia and New Zealand ahead of rolling out locally in 2023.

The VC’s mission is to back build and back climate tech startups with the combined potential to reduce global carbon by 10% by 2035.

Wavemaker Impact dubs them ‘100×100’ companies – startups with the potential to abate 100 million metric tons of carbon emissions and be a US$100-million revenue business. So far, Wavemaker’s founding team – Doug Parker, Marie Cheong, Paul Santos, Steve Melhuish and Quentin Vaquette have built 15 companies from scratch, including to unicorn status and an IPO, and invested over US$300 million in Asian tech companies, including 35 greentech startups.

Parker said the firm is “lucky” to have Conheady heading its ANZ efforts.

“As a successful climate entrepreneur, she understands better than anyone the opportunities and challenges of launching green companies for ANZ,” he said.

Conheady’s 25 years focused on climate and impact tech spans ranges from serial founder to executive, investor and director.

She was cofounder and CEO of ustralia’s first carshare service, Flexicar, before an exit to Hertz. She also co-founded the crowd-funded energy retailer DC Power Co. and is currently the chair of JET Charge, the country’s leading EV charging infrastructure business. Her CV also includes being on the boards of the Victorian Environment Protection Authority; Phantm, a natural materials solutions lab; and the inaugural Chair of the Cremorne Digital Hub, Victoria’s digital ecosystem gateway.

“I’m excited to join the Wavemaker Impact team and to bring their climate tech venture building approach to the ANZ region,” Conheady said.

“Entrepreneurs play a critical role in developing scalable solutions that address climate change. I’m looking forward to working with experienced entrepreneurs to uncover opportunities to build climate tech unicorns that serve the region and beyond.”

Conheady said Wavemaker Impact is already looking looking for experienced founders to build an Australia-based climate tech unicorn. The details are on LinkedIn here.