Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisors

Our advisors provide guidance and support to students on their entrepreneurial journey.

The Atom at Victoria University is supported by Innovation and Entrepreneurship Advisors, a group of experienced leaders and professionals who provide guidance and support to students on their entrepreneurial journey. They offer advice, mentorship, and connections to help students develop their ideas and build successful companies.

Advisory Group 2025

Vidya Dinamani

Vidya Dinamani is an advisor, investor, founder and author. She is an expert in product-market fit and innovation, and founded a product training and coaching company, Product Rebels, that teaches teams how to build products that customers will love. Her book on building customer-driven products and product-led organisations, Groundwork, can be found on Amazon.

She is also a founding partner at Ad Astra Ventures, a firm that invests in seed stage companies, focusing primarily on female founders. Vidya has coached over 400 companies from startups to Fortune 50 through Product Rebels and Ad Astra.

Vidya holds 9 patents for software technology, she earned a BS in Physics from Victoria University, New Zealand, and a Masters in Business Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Adiraj Gupta

Adiraj Gupta is the founder of Sendd, a platform empowering small businesses—particularly artisans and makers—by simplifying sales both online and in person. Launched in January 2025, Sendd has already supported over 130 New Zealand ventures by removing the complexity and cost of e-commerce. A seasoned entrepreneur, Adiraj has built multiple million-dollar companies, raised more than $5.5 million, and now leads a bootstrapped team of ten at Sendd.

As Entrepreneur in Residence for Victoria University based at The Atom for 2025, Adiraj volunteers to open the space daily for student founders, alumni, and community builders, connecting them with investors, mentors, and resources. He also chairs Wellington’s Momentum Investment Committee, leveraging his national and global networks to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem. Committed to encouraging future leaders, Adiraj funded a $1,000 prize recognizing entrepreneurial hustle. Adiraj also provides mentoring to various student startups.

Beyond The Atom and Sendd, Adiraj is an angel investor—having backed early-stage companies like Sharesies—and serves on the board of Leonardo, an MIT Press publication and nonprofit bridging art, science, and technology. A graduate of Victoria University, he challenged Ian Williamson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Wellington School of Business and Government, in 2017 to do more for student entrepreneurs. As a result, Adiraj and his then company Crypto Launchpad became The Atom’s first residents and test pilots. Through his leadership, he aims to spark a renaissance of entrepreneurship in Wellington and beyond.

Catherine Jones

woman smiling with green leaves in background

Catherine Jones is the CEO of Creative HQ, New Zealand’s leading startup hub and innovation agency. Under her leadership, Creative HQ has been recognized for its significant contribution to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, winning Best Contribution to the Tech Sector at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards and the Supreme Award at the Wellington Gold Awards. With a bold mission to help build 400 high-growth companies by 2030, Creative HQ is shaping the future of innovation in New Zealand and beyond.

Before stepping into the world of startups and innovation, Catherine had a career in law and investment banking, spending over a decade in London with global firms including HSBC, JP Morgan, and Linklaters. Her experience in high-stakes transaction management, risk mitigation, and corporate strategy gives her a unique perspective on scaling businesses and navigating complex financial and regulatory landscapes.

A champion of entrepreneurship, Catherine is passionate about equipping founders, intrapreneurs, and business leaders with the skills and mindset needed to drive meaningful impact. Prior to becoming CEO, she led Creative HQ’s School of Innovation, helping leaders adopt new ways of thinking and working to accelerate growth and success.

David ten Have

David ten Have brings exceptional value to The Atom as a member of the Atom Advisory Group, drawing from his extensive experience as a serial entrepreneur, technology executive, and business strategist. With a track record of founding, participating in and scaling multiple successful startups—including Omniblox, Makey Makey, Ponoko, and Provoke Solutions—David offers students authentic insights into the entire entrepreneurial journey from ideation to acquisition. His expertise spans product development (software and hardware), team leadership, funding strategies, and IP protection, making him an invaluable mentor for students navigating the complexities of launching their own ventures.

As a Victoria University alumnus with a Bachelor of Science degree, David understands the university ecosystem and is passionate about supporting the next generation of innovators. His pragmatic approach to mentorship is informed by his experience managing global teams, building strategic partnerships, and successfully navigating acquisitions. Students working with David benefit from his practical knowledge in technology commercialization, and his proven ability to transform innovative ideas into market-ready products that achieve significant commercial success.

Samantha Gadd

Samantha Gadd is an entrepreneur, founder, and employee experience (EX) expert. She founded Humankind, New Zealand’s leading people performance partner, which has worked with over 1000 organisations to improve both people and business performance.

She later founded Excellent, a global EX design company, to equip leaders with the tools and skills to create employee experiences that drive business success. A recognised thought leader, Samantha has advised leaders worldwide, delivered keynotes on the future of work, and led the creation of the EX Manifesto, signed by leaders in over 30 countries.

Samantha holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management and HR from Victoria University of Wellington.

Serge van Dam

Serge van Dam is an active Investor / Director of going-global Kiwi software / SaaS companies, including: Montoux, Re-Leased, Tapi, Raygun and Cogo.

Having originally studied Organisational Psychology at Victoria University, Serge is most interested in growth strategies, and has deep experience in B2B sales, marketing and distribution. He spent a decade as an acknowledged thought leader in fintech, having been part of the leadership team at M-Com - the world’s leading mobile banking and payments platform - which was acquired by Fortune 500 company Fiserv in 2011.

Serge is an Operating Partner at New Zealand’s most successful venture capital firm - Movac - and is an advisor to various New Zealand Government agencies. He was also named New Zealand’s Angel Investor of the Year in 2020.

Serge grew up in Argentina, is married with two children, and lives in Wellington. When not helping grow companies, you will find him in the great outdoors, arguing over politics, playing cards or with a novel in hand.

Ambassadors

Complementing the Advisors' expertise, a network of talented Ambassadors, play a critical role in expanding The Atom's success. These ambassadors are industry leaders and alumni, who champion The Atom's mission and provide vital connections and resources, further enriching the student experience.

Arama Kukutai

Arama Kukutai holds degrees in law and business from Victoria University of Wellington, and has been an investor, company founder and entrepreneur in the Agribusiness sector for over 20 years. He served as Executive Chairman of PKW Farms, a diversified investment entity involved in dairy farming and aquaculture activities in New Zealand, Asia and Australia, and led the New Zealand government’s Trade & Investment agency in North America. He is a co-founder and partner at Finistere Ventures and has overseen the growth of Finistere’s global portfolio, which now includes offices in New Zealand, Tel Aviv, Israel, San Diego, Silicon Valley and Dublin. Arama also serves on the boards of, or advises, a wide range of companies, including AgGenetics, Biolumic, CropX, Growers Edge Financial, Plenty, Taranis, ZeaKal, as well as the Fresh Start and Sprout accelerators, and is an active commentator and thought-leader on Agrifood sustainability and investment trends.

Sonya Williams and Brooke Roberts

Brooke Roberts and Sonya Williams by a sign that says Sharesies.

Sonya Williams is Co-Founder and Director of the investment platform Sharesies. Sonya comes from a career in the start-up, software-as-a-service and banking communities where she has led global marketing and product management—specialising in product strategy, customer acquisition, engagement and retention.

Brooke Roberts is Co-Founder, Director, and CEO of Sharesies. Brooke has experience leading large savings and investment portfolios and start-ups, as well as experience in product management and global marketing. A people person first and foremost, Brooke is fascinated by how behaviour drives outcomes.

Brooke and Sonya saw an opportunity to make investing more accessible and provide everyone the chance to grow their wealth. They are passionate about leadership, culture, making money easy and helping other young entrepreneurs on their journeys.

Suse Reynolds

Suse Reynolds believes in the power of angel investments to change the world and has a portfolio of more than 20 investments, all of which she believes can do just that. Suse co-founded AngelHQ (Wellington region’s angel network with over 80 members and some high profile successes to its name) in 2006 and remains on the board. Suse has been a member of the Angel Association since its inception in 2008 and took on the Executive Director role in 2012. Suse is a member of the Wellington Branch Committee of the Institute of Directors, a member of the Viclink Momentum Committee providing commercialisation advice and support to budding student entrepreneurs and was recently appointed to Matu Ventures Investment Committee. Suse is keen to help connect young entrepreneurs with angel investors and venture capital.

Tui Te Hau

Tui Te Hau is interested in how organisations innovate and connect meaningfully with their audiences. She has built complex national innovation programmes from scratch, including Mahuki: the world’s first business accelerator for the culture sector (located within Te Papa). Tui has also been a New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Melbourne, General Manager of a leading creative digital agency, and Chief Executive of Creative HQ. Tui also led the Maori Enterprise Team of Trade NZ (now NZ Trade and Enterprise). A scholarship recipient for the 2017 Global Women Breakthrough Leaders Program and a finalist in the Government category of the Wellingtonian of the Year Awards 2017, Tui is passionate about entrepreneurship in the creative capital.