Ben Kepes — investor profile photo

Ben Kepes

Professional board member, tech/business commentator and investor

📍 Canterbury, New Zealand🔄 Updated November 2026💼 8 investments📅 31 years investing🗓 Last invested Mar 2023𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 New Zealand
8
Total investments
1
Early stage
1
Mid stage
0
Late stage
31y
Years active

Portfolio

4 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
Mar 2023
Trusted Connections.
Board Member
Jan 2020
The Impact Enterprise Fund is New Zealand's first domestic focused impact investment fund. The Fund provides growth capital to businesses who deliver social and/or environmental impact, alongside attractive financial returns. This Fund has two primary objectives: delivering market-rate financial returns, and delivering tangible societal and environmental outcomes. The Fund, whilst still open for investment, is now live after a First Close at $8 million.
Board Member
Jun 2018
The Ākina Foundation is Aotearoa New Zealands leading impact consultancy. Were on a mission to make doing good a normal part of doing business. We support Government and businesses large and small to tap into the power of positive impact through capability building, procurement, and investment. Avoid greenwashing. Engage your employees and stakeholders. Develop your organisation to one that is better for people and the planet. Our bespoke impact consulting services can support your organisation to uncover the best ways to improve lives and the environment. Our vision is for a more prosperous, sustainable and inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand and world.
Board Member
Nov 1995
Home of the 'World's Toughest Trousers'​ - Cactus Supertrousers. We're an independent New Zealand bunch of folk who design and manufacture original sewn goods for people who work hard and play hard. We make gear that wears in, not out and pride ourselves on our construction ethic: strong, simple and appropriate to the task. Our Professional User buying privilege programme, covers sectors such as: Outdoor Education, Construction, Emergency Services, Forestry, Outdoors Industry, and Tourism. Qualifying companies and individuals can apply for Pro-User/ trade purchasing privileges at: http://www.cactusequipment.co.nz/prouser Cactus Backpacks are the result of thousands of hours spent testing in the world’s toughest locations. Our customers have adventured with our products from the Antarctic, through the world’s harshest deserts and up to the Arctic – and most points in between. Using the collective knowledge of these users has enabled us to build products whose apparent simplicity belies the hours of thought and engineering that has gone into them – they adhere to a ‘less is more’ philosophy.
mid stageManufacturing
Experience · 12 entries
All (12)
Investments (8)
Founder (3)
Board (7)
2023
Board Member
Mar 2023
Trusted Connections.
2020
Board Member
Jan 2020
The Impact Enterprise Fund is New Zealand's first domestic focused impact investment fund. The Fund provides growth capital to businesses who deliver social and/or environmental impact, alongside attractive financial returns. This Fund has two primary objectives: delivering market-rate financial returns, and delivering tangible societal and environmental outcomes. The Fund, whilst still open for investment, is now live after a First Close at $8 million.
2019
Paenga Kupenga Limited
Board Member
Jun 2019
Board Member
Jan 2019
Pegasus Health (Charitable) Ltd is a primary care network providing services and support to general practices and the community in Canterbury. As one of the largest Primary Healthcare Organisations (PHO) in New Zealand, our network encompasses over 400,000 enrolled patients, approximately 330 member GPs, 330 practice nurses and nearly 450 staff as well as many other community providers. Pegasus Health is an organisation that promotes a sense of community. We all work towards creating an environment where people experience a strong sense of belonging, of mutual support and are connected by the patient centric vision of ‘being an international centre of excellence for the development and provision of primary and community based healthcare’. We employ: •Clinical professionals - doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to work in our 24 Hour Surgery, clinical education team and practice support functions •IT professionals to work in our extensive technology development projects •Community health focused individuals who like to make a difference •Information and business analysts •HR and Administration professionals •Finance and accounting experts •Events management support staff •Marketing and communications specialists Want to view our current jobs or register your interest in working at Pegasus Health? Visit https://pegasushealth.careercentre.net.nz/
2018
Board Member
Aug 2018
One of NZ’s top four health insurance companies Specialist in individual and work health insurance Despite our relatively low profile, you may be surprised to learn that, we’re one of the top four group health insurers in New Zealand, and our employer schemes are the preferred work health insurance for a number of New Zealand’s largest and most successful businesses. We are low-key, and low cost compared with other top health insurance companies. And, because we are a pure Kiwi, not-for-profit mutual society, there are no shareholders in New Zealand or overseas, so no expectations of large profits to pay dividends. It’s this, together with an understated marketing approach, which leaves more money to pay out in work health insurance claims to you, our members. Being low-key doesn’t mean we compromise on service. In fact, in independent tests of NZ health insurance companies conducted by Canstar (2013 & 2014), UniMed was rated #1 group health insurer for customer satisfaction. You’ll enjoy a fast claims turnaround, with most standard claims being processed within 2-3 days of receipt. Some health insurers seem to be always looking for ways to decline claims. Others try to approve so many that their reserves become depleted. UniMed has been operating since 1979 and the reason it has become one of the top NZ health insurance companies is that it has developed a unique approach that pays out one of the highest percentage of claims of major providers, while still maintaining excellent reserves. Our priority is our members’ health, not shareholder wealth! It’s always a hassle to chop and change between health insurance companies and often doing so means losing cover for existing medical conditions. So it’s comforting to know that UniMed has an A- financial rating from AM Best.
Show all 12 entries ↓
Investment activity
1995–2023 · 8 investments
199512011120182201922020120231
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