Wellington UniVentures - Kelburn

Just like you, we want to make a difference in the world.      

Building on our purpose to lift lives everywhere with knowledge, Wellington UniVentures works with our University innovators to shape their research into initiatives that create impact. We do this by connecting them with partners, industry and investors to enable the growth and development of their idea or invention. With time, development and Wellington UniVentures’ support, these ideas can become life changing initiatives focused on solving problems and building stronger societies.

Through Wellington UniVentures, growing opportunities to channel Wellington-led research into real (and virtual) world applications for creative, social and commercial sectors, protecting the ideas that were born here while enabling them to be used by the world.

We do this by building powerful teams, connecting respected specialists and academics with industry, governments and educators - matching ideas with opportunities, people with people, knowledge with needs.

And while it’s knowledge we share, it’s people who make the difference – our team, innovators and experts, those we partner with and the people whose lives we help change. Everyone here has a genuine desire to help people develop – it starts in Wellington and we take it to the world.

Our Whakapapa

Wellington UniVentures, formerly known as Viclink, has been translating trailblazing research from Victoria University of Wellington since 1992. As we continue our journey growing opportunity, capability and valuable outcomes, our adoption of the name Wellington UniVentures strengthens our vital connection to both the University and Wellington. We worked with local design agency Scenario to devolop a new brand name and visual identity and you can read more about the process here.

Te Paewai

As part of Te Herenga Waka, Wellington UniVentures was gifted a te reo Māori name which links closely to that of the University.

Te Paewai was given to tie back to the University’s metaphor of the waka.

The ‘paewai’ is the joint or baton that holds the barge to the hull and is what gives the waka depth, making it a vessel for ocean ventures. The paewai is structurally integral and enables the canoe to travel long distances.

Paewai has several meanings, but all are focused on the concept of joining two items together; it means the collarbone—the bone that joins the breastbone to the shoulder blade and it’s a name given to a wooden mouthpiece attached to a gourd which enables drinking.

It is also used in the phrase ‘Te paewai o te rangi’ which refers to the horizon, looking at where the sea meets the sky.