20-years of experience in the game
Our story began with Epicorp - a business incubator and fund that helped local companies grow between 2000 and 2009. During the COVID-19 pandemic we shifted focus to venture debt, keeping 35 local businesses afloat. In this time we have secured 500 local jobs and turned local ideas into internationally recognised brands.
Now, as ACTivate Capital, we’re stepping into a new era.
Our focus is simple – we invest in Canberra.
The Canberra region is home to some of Australia’s most educated, ambitious and innovative individuals. By investing in Canberrans, we are keeping our skills, ideas and economic potential local, yet globally impactful.
Partnering with and backed by the ACT Government as an initial limited partner, ACTivate Capital is unlocking the region’s competitive edge with direct connection and access to Australia’s leading research institutions including the Australian National University, CSIRO, University of Canberra and University of New South Wales.
Our founder-focussed approach recognises that the path from potential to profit takes more than just funding. We provide mentorship and guidance across the whole investment journey, ensuring that visionary leaders can scale with confidence.
Connected to Canberra
We work with local research providers and government agencies to maintain first line of sight on the best ideas and build connections with brilliant minds.
Ken Kroeger
Ken has spent 25 years transforming ideas into thriving businesses across industries like computer vision, mining, automotive, and simulation technologies. A seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record, Ken excels at driving innovation, building global partnerships, and scaling businesses to success.
Connect with Ken Kroeger on LinkedInOur members
Michael Cardew-Hall
General Partner, Board Chair and Investment Committee Member
Connect with Michael Cardew-Hall on LinkedInMichael is a mechanical engineer and innovation leader with deep expertise in technology transfer and commercialisation. A former Pro Vice-Chancellor of Innovation at ANU, he has held senior roles spanning research, academic leadership and venture capital. As former Chair of ANU Connect Ventures, he was responsible for investment in early-stage research commercialisation. Prior to joining ANU, he held engineering and management roles with GEC and Rolls-Royce Aero Engines in the UK. He has led and advised numerous deep-tech spinouts and has served as a Director of the Australian Solar Institute, Lithicon AS, Simile Systems, Cicada Innovations and CBRIN Ltd. He is currently Chair of the Board of WearOptimo Pty Ltd, and on the Board of Flaim Pty Ltd and the REACH Trailblazer at Deakin University.
Victor Pantano
General Partner
Connect with Victor Pantano on LinkedInVictor brings the right people together to drive impact and success in a fast-changing world. He has led high-performing teams, built large-scale industry initiatives, and accelerated research translation into commercial outcomes. With experience spanning investment and industry leadership roles across multiple sectors including defence, space and clean energy, he specialises in strategy, stakeholder engagement, and innovation. A Eureka Prize and CRC Star Award winner, Victor has raised hundreds of millions in funding to turn ideas into reality.
James Palmer
Chief Financial Officier and Director
Connect with James Palmer on LinkedInJames is a finance and governance expert who serves on multiple boards and provides contract CFO and advisory services to fast-growing tech and entrepreneurial companies. He was previously CFO at Seeing Machines and archTIS, where he played a key role in capital raising and scaling operations. A former EY partner and Managing Partner of its Canberra assurance practice, James brings over two decades of experience in professional services across Australia, the UK and the US. He is a Fellow of both Chartered Accountants ANZ and the ICAEW, a registered company auditor, and a graduate of the AICD. James is known for his strategic insight in corporate finance, governance and financial transformation.
Kerrie Jackson
Chief Operating Officer
Connect with Kerrie Jackson on LinkedInKerrie is a commercialisation expert with a passion for deep-tech innovation. With a background in organic chemistry and a decade of experience at the intersection of science and business, she has worked across physics, chemistry, engineering and ICT to bring transformative technologies to market. Formerly holding commercialisation and business development roles at the Australian National University and Cybersecurity Cooperative Research Centre, she most recently led Business Development at Nomad Atomics steering commercial strategy, market engagement, and partnerships to position their quantum sensing technologies for adoption across a range of industries.
Jenny Paven
Finance Manager
Jenny is a highly accomplished finance professional with an extensive background in managing complex financial operations and driving organisational success across diverse business environments. Possessing significant expertise in strategic financial management, rigorous internal controls, and comprehensive regulatory compliance, she combines analytical precision with strong leadership abilities to deliver sustainable outcomes and advance key managerial objectives.
Murray Rankin
Investment Committee Chair
Connect with Murray Rankin on LinkedInMurray is a seasoned entrepreneur and innovation leader with over three decades of experience driving business growth, strategy and governance across sectors in Australia and abroad. Known for his pragmatic approach and startup expertise, Murray has founded award-winning ventures, raised capital, and guided numerous businesses through rapid growth and exit. A former National Innovation Adviser to the Australian Government, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the ACT’s innovation ecosystem through initiatives like ICON, Griffin Accelerator and CBRIN. An active angel investor, Murray has backed more than 20 Australian startups and remains a trusted voice on entrepreneurial challenges.
Simon Uzcilas
Investment Committee Member
Connect with Simon Uzcilas on LinkedInSimon has over 25 years of venture experience, investing in and supporting founding teams to build world-class businesses. He has led investments across software, hardware, agritech, climate, industrial products, and life sciences, with numerous successful trade sale exits and IPOs. Beyond investing, Simon has been part of high-growth ventures in fintech and food. He has held roles at St.George Bank, Nanyang Ventures, ANU Connect Ventures, and Tenacious Ventures and regularly lectures on venture capital at UNSW Sydney.
Anne-Marie Perret
Director
Connect with Anne-Marie Perret on LinkedInAnne-Marie is a board director, advisor and early-stage investor with a strong focus on high-growth, innovation-led companies. With deep expertise in R&D funding, governance and commercialisation, she advises businesses from startups to multinationals across sectors including biotech, defence, ICT and renewable energy. She has held various leadership roles with organisations including Skykraft, Magia Solutions, Griffin Accelerator and Canberra Glassworks, and is a former President of the ACT Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. A qualified lawyer and former Commonwealth tax adviser, Anne-Marie combines strategic insight with practical experience to support scale-up success and innovation impact. She also chairs the board of Win the Day, a charity supporting Australian families affected by rare childhood cancer through accommodation, nutrition and treatment grants.
Brian Schmidt
Director
Connect with Brian Schmidt on LinkedInBrian is a Nobel Prize–winning astrophysicist and public intellectual with a career spanning research, leadership, and science advocacy. Renowned for leading the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe, he received the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics and has held senior academic roles including Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University. Brian is a prominent commentator on the role of science in society and contributes to national policy through the Prime Minister’s National Science and Technology Council. A Fellow of major science academies worldwide, he is also a Companion of the Order of Australia. Beyond academia, Brian is a passionate winemaker, producing Pinot Noir at his Canberra-based Maipenrai Vineyard and Winery.
Ian Cox
Director
Connect with Ian Cox on LinkedInIan is a seasoned public policy and innovation strategist with a career spanning government, industry and academia. He played a central role in shaping the ACT’s innovation landscape as the senior executive responsible for business and innovation policy from 2007 to 2019, delivering initiatives such as the CBR Innovation Network, early-stage grants, and trade and investment programs. Ian has also held roles in national industry associations, public relations, and government advisory, with a long-standing focus on economic development. He is a former ACT Government appointee to multiple venture capital and innovation boards, and more recently held a senior strategic advisory role at the University of Canberra before retiring from full-time work in 2021.
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