Move fast, experiment and grow.
Meet the talented bunch of extraordinary humans behind Rampersand venture capital Australia. The team has been handpicked for their breadth of experience in startups, investment and venture capital. Every person, at every level of Rampersand, believes in our ability to uncover and back early-stage founders with abnormal potential. We are well-connected, thoughtful, informed and ready to roll up our sleeves to propel founders and investors to success.
Does this sound like you? We’re always looking to meet ambitious people. Head to our Work With Us page for more info.
TEAM
“We selected Rampersand as an investor for one key reason: the people behind the fund. While many venture capital options were available, we prioritised finding a partner who truly understood our vision and brought a human-centred approach to the long-term journey”
- Assaf Stizki, CEO & Co-Founder of Restoke.ai
Our team
Click through to meet each team member and find out how to get in touch.
Abhi Maran / Senior Associate
Andrew Poesaste / Partner
Chanie Hyde / Chief Ramplifier
Helen Souness / Venture Partner
Hugh Williams / Venture Partner
Paul Naphtali / Cofounder & Partner
Rod Hamilton / Venture Partner
Scott Dommett / Associate
Sunday Berry / Head of Operations
Taryn Pieterse / Partner
Varad Chaudhari / Investment Intern
Fund manager
Paul Naphtali / Cofounder & Partner
Martin Casey / Partner
Michael Naphtali / Partner
Team news
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![Abhishek Maran Rampersand Venture Capital Australia Partner]()
Meet Australia’s Inaugural FORBES 30 UNDER 30 list
Forbes - Sep '24
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![Rampersand venture partner Rod Hamilton and co-founder Paul Naphtali.]()
Venture capital fund Rampersand ramps up hunt for next Aussie unicorn
The Age - Sep' 24
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![Paul Naphtali is the co-founder of venture capital firm, Rampersand.]()
Opinion: Proposed M&A shake-up threatens more than monopolies
SmartCompany - Aug' 24
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Will new merger rules lead to an 'oligopolies outbreak'?
ABC - Jul' 24
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Opinion: AI rockets are taking off, but can they land?
Smart Company - Jul' 24
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![Featuring, Andrew Poesaste, partner at Rampersand]()
Glimmers of hope for startups with capital raises in 2024 up 30%
Smart Company - Jun ‘24
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![Rampersand partner Paul Naphtali says the startup ecosystem is already being affected by the proposed changes. Supplied.]()
Unrealised Gains
Capital Brief - May' 24
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![Taryn Pieterse - Partner at Rampersand]()
Rampersand appoints two new partners ahead of 'golden decade' for VC
Capital Brief - Apr ‘24
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![Paul and Helen from Rampersand Venture Capital Firm Australia]()
Tech unicorns vanish as start-up funding plummets, but investors hopeful
Sydney Morning Herald - Feb ‘24
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![ABR Article]()
Million-dollar slideshow: Investors reveal the best pitch decks they’ve seen and why they grabbed attention
The Australian Business Review - May ‘23
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![Rampersand, run by Paul Naphtali, last year secured more than $40 million for its next fund including from the billionaire Smorgon family and has been deploying the money.]()
The fog of fear lifting as venture capital splashes $810m in three months
AFR - Jul'23
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![EVP's Justin Lipman, Rampersand's Taryn Pieterse, Startup Daily editor Simon Thomsen, and Square Peg's James Tynan]()
Startup Daily TV: VC investors from Square Peg, Rampersand, Giant Leap & EVP share their insights on the state of Australian startup funding
Startup Daily - Feb '23
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![Rampersand cofounder Paul Naphtali talks to the crowd]()
Rampersand’s Paul Naphtali reviews 2022 and what lies ahead
Startup Daily - Jan ‘23
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![Cleo Westhorpe from Pivot, Rachel Yang from Giant Leap, Paul Naphtali from Rampersand, Jay Sutaria from Hike and Taryn Pieterse from Rampersand following the Open Office Hours event.]()
'We've got a lot of work to do': Venture capital makes diversity push
Sydney Morning Herald - Dec ‘20
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![Hugh Williams has led engineering at some of the world's most successful tech companies and is now back home in Australia looking for the next generation of start-up stars.]()
The Aussie who led Google Maps returns to help local start-ups
AFR - June' 19
