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Bridgewest Ventures Opens Access to New Zealand’s Fast-Rising Deep-Tech Market Through NZ$60.2 Million Venture Fund Raise

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U.S.-backed venture platform positions New Zealand as a global innovation gateway, offering investors exposure to proprietary technology companies and Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa eligibility

AUCKLAND, New Zealand and MIAMI, May 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bridgewest Venture Fund I LP has successful first close of approximately NZ$60.2 million from a group of institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and international migrant investors, positioning the Fund as one of the leading gateways for offshore capital seeking exposure to Australia and New Zealand’s rapidly emerging deep-technology ecosystem. With this validation and strong support from New Zealand investors, Bridgewest Ventures is now raising funds from sophisticated US investors.

“Our strategy is built around discovering and developing companies before they become visible to broader international capital markets.”

The Fund is structured as an eligible investment under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program, offering qualifying global investors a pathway to New Zealand citizenship while meeting approved investment criteria under the country’s migrant investment framework.

Bridgewest Ventures also expects growing interest from U.S. and Australia-based investors seeking geographic diversification away from increasingly crowded North American, European, and Asian venture markets.

As part of its international expansion strategy, Bridgewest Ventures has also commenced fundraising activities in Australia following the recent granting of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). The Australian distribution strategy is being led by John van der Wielen, Senior Adviser to Bridgewest Group, and will include a June 2026 investor roadshow targeting sophisticated investors, family offices, private wealth advisers and institutional capital partners across key Australian markets.

“Global investors are actively looking for differentiated markets where innovation quality is high but capital competition remains relatively low,” said Saum Vahdat, Chief Executive Officer of Bridgewest Ventures. “New Zealand and Australia are producing globally relevant intellectual property in sectors such as life sciences, medical technology, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and clean technology — yet the market remains significantly undercapitalized relative to the quality of innovation being developed. We believe this creates a compelling asymmetry for sophisticated investors.”

Bridgewest Ventures operates with a hybrid model that combines U.S.-grade investment discipline and global operating capability with an established local New Zealand and Australia presence and sourcing network. Parent company Bridgewest Group has more than 25 years of experience building and investing in growth companies across seven countries.

Unlike many traditional venture funds that operate as passive financial investors, Bridgewest Ventures emphasizes active operational engagement intended to reduce execution risk and accelerate commercialization pathways for portfolio companies.

The firm focuses on identifying proprietary opportunities within New Zealand and Australia’s innovation ecosystem at an earlier stage than what many international investors can access directly. Bridgewest Ventures then works actively with portfolio companies to de-risk technology, strengthen governance, expand commercial capability, and create pathways into larger global markets.

“Our strategy is built around discovering and developing companies before they become visible to broader international capital markets,” said Paul Brownsey, General Partner of Bridgewest Venture Fund I.

“We believe New Zealand and Australia represent one of the more overlooked innovation markets globally. Through our local operating presence, proprietary sourcing network, and active management model, we aim to help companies scale internationally while giving our limited partners exposure to growth opportunities that are often unavailable in larger, more efficient venture markets,” added Brownsey.

Bridgewest Ventures has committed approximately NZ$6.0 million of its own capital into the Fund on the same terms as external investors, reinforcing alignment between the manager and limited partners.

The Fund remains open for additional commitments through Q4 2026 and is targeting total commitments of NZ$100 million.

Bridgewest Ventures invests across sectors including:

Life SciencesMedical TechnologyArtificial IntelligenceAdvanced MaterialsClean Technology

By connecting international capital with New Zealand-originated innovation, Bridgewest Ventures aims to help companies expand globally while supporting high-value employment, export growth, and commercialization of intellectual property developed within New Zealand’s research and technology sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can US investors invest in rapidly emerging deep-tech ventures in New Zealand and Australia?

Bridgewest Venture Fund I LP accepts institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and international migrant investors. The Fund is one of the leading gateways for offshore capital seeking exposure to Australia and New Zealand’s rapidly emerging deep-technology ecosystem. The Fund remains open through Q4 2026 and targets total commitments of NZ$100 million. Contact Bridgewest Ventures for information.

Is Bridgewest Venture Fund I eligible under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa program?

Yes. Bridgewest Venture Fund I is structured as an eligible investment under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program, allowing qualifying international investors to meet approved investment criteria under New Zealand’s migrant investment framework while gaining exposure to the country’s emerging deep-technology sector.

Why are investors looking at New Zealand and Australia for venture capital opportunities?

New Zealand and Australia are increasingly recognized as overlooked innovation markets producing globally competitive technology and research. Bridgewest Ventures like many international investors, see the region as an opportunity to access high-quality intellectual property, earlier-stage companies, and geographic diversification outside traditional venture hubs such as Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia, and gain exposure to stable markets that may offer resilience during periods of global economic and geopolitical volatility.

What makes Bridgewest Ventures different from traditional venture capital firms?

Unlike many venture capital firms that operate primarily as passive financial investors, Bridgewest Ventures uses an active operational model designed to help portfolio companies scale globally. The firm works closely with founders to strengthen commercialization, governance, strategic partnerships, and international market expansion.

Additional information is available at:
Bridgewest Ventures

About Bridgewest Ventures

Bridgewest Ventures is the venture capital platform of Bridgewest Group, focused on building globally competitive companies originating from New Zealand and international research ecosystems. With operations across seven countries and more than 25 years of venture creation and investment experience, Bridgewest Ventures combines institutional investment capability, operational expertise, and international commercial networks to help emerging companies scale globally.

Media & Investor Contact

Saum Vahdat
Chief Executive Officer
Bridgewest Ventures
+1 310 717 5600
svahdat@bridgewestgroup.com 

Paul Brownsey
General Partner
Bridgewest Ventures
+64 21 447 076
paul.brownsey@bridgewest.ventures 

John Van der Wielen
Senior Adviser
Bridgewest Group
‭+61 472 510 006‬
john@johnvdw.com 

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SOURCE Bridgewest Ventures

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Monport MEGAS Brings Advanced LightBurn Features to Desktop CO2 Laser Engraving

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New 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver brings LightBurn’s advanced feature set — autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera placement — directly into the software, closing a gap most “LightBurn compatible” machines leave open.

SEATTLE, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As LightBurn continues to be the preferred software for makers, educators, and small manufacturing businesses, Monport is emphasizing the advanced workflow capabilities of its MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver. The system enables users to perform autofocus, wireless connectivity, and live camera positioning directly inside LightBurn, creating a more streamlined production workflow than the basic compatibility offered by many desktop laser systems.

The integration allows users to complete nearly every production step directly inside LightBurn rather than switching between multiple software applications.

The announcement positions the MEGAS as a candidate for best CO2 laser engraver among software-focused buyers: makers, Etsy and Shopify sellers, and small production shops who run LightBurn daily and have grown frustrated switching between a manufacturer’s app and the software they actually use to build and send jobs. The feature announcement coincides with Monport’s Summer Sale, which drops the MEGAS to $2,799.99 for a limited time.

Why “LightBurn Compatible” Doesn’t Always Mean Full Support

LightBurn is the industry-standard control software for hobbyist and small-business laser systems, but compatibility varies widely between machines. Many desktop CO2 laser engravers can send basic cut and engrave jobs to LightBurn, yet require a separate manufacturer app for autofocus, camera alignment or wireless setup—breaking the workflow and adding extra steps every time a job changes materials or needs repositioning.

Industry buyers researching a 70W laser engraver often discover this gap only after purchase: a listing says “LightBurn compatible,” but autofocus still means picking up a manual gauge, and camera alignment means opening a second piece of software just to preview where a design will land.

Going Beyond Basic LightBurn Compatibility

Many competing desktop laser systems support basic LightBurn functions for cutting and engraving. Advanced features such as autofocus, wireless camera positioning and complete wireless workflow integration, however, are often limited, and may require proprietary software, or are unavailable inside LightBurn itself.

The Monport MEGAS was engineered to provide these advanced functions directly within LightBurn, helping users spend less time switching between applications and more time producing finished products— one of the reasons Monport designed the MEGAS specifically for LightBurn power users.

Autofocus Without Leaving LightBurn

On the MEGAS, autofocus is triggered and confirmed directly inside LightBurn, so operators can set material height and start a job without switching to a separate focusing tool or app. For a 70W laser engraver running frequent material changes—from thin acrylic sheet to thicker basswood board—that single-window workflow removes one of the more repetitive steps in a typical production day.

Wireless Connectivity Simplifies Shop Workflow

The wireless connection also enables operators to send jobs to the machine without repeatedly reconnecting USB cables, making the workflow especially useful in classrooms, shared makerspaces and production environments where multiple computers may access the laser.

The MEGAS connects to LightBurn over Wi-Fi, removing the tethered USB connection many desktop CO2 laser engravers still require. That means the machine can be positioned away from a workstation and run jobs sent wirelessly, a common request among small-shop and classroom users managing limited floor space or shared equipment.

Live Camera Placement Inside LightBurn

An onboard wireless camera streams a live view of the work surface into LightBurn, letting users position and align artwork on pre-printed or irregular material directly on screen instead of manually measuring and test-firing the laser.

From Design File to Finished Product

For many laser users, efficiency is measured by how quickly a design becomes a finished product. With the MEGAS, users can import artwork into LightBurn, position the design using the live wireless camera, activate autofocus with a single click, and begin engraving without leaving the software.

By keeping every major production step inside one interface, the workflow reduces setup time, minimizes alignment errors, and simplifies repeat production for businesses engraving dozens—or even hundreds—of personalized products each day on their desktop CO2 laser engraver.

Real-World Material Performance

To demonstrate production versatility, during internal testing, Monport evaluated the MEGAS across several materials commonly used by Etsy sellers, gift businesses and production workshops:

Plywood — crisp engraved wooden signs with clean edgesAcrylic — polished awards and plaques with sharp detailLeather — high-contrast wallet engraving with minimal scorching

The testing demonstrates that a single desktop CO2 laser engraver can handle multiple product categories without requiring significant workflow changes.

Better ROI for Small Businesses

Monport also compared estimated material costs with typical retail pricing across four popular product categories:

Engraved plywood sign: Approximately $35 retail price with about $5 in material costs.Engraved acrylic award: Approximately $45 retail price with about $8 in material costs.Engraved leather wallet: Approximately $55 retail price with about $12 in material costs.

Based on estimated material costs alone, these products show potential material-cost margins of approximately 75% to 85%, before accounting for labor, packaging, shipping, platform fees and other operating expenses. Monport says the combination of higher-margin products, intelligent batch engraving, and a streamlined LightBurn workflow can help small businesses, Etsy sellers, and Shopify merchants recover their investment more quickly as production scales.

Built for Professional LightBurn Users

While M-Design Hub, Monport’s free Windows and macOS software, offers AI-powered image processing, one-click material settings and intelligent batch engraving, Monport says the MEGAS was equally designed for experienced LightBurn users who prefer complete control over every project.

Supporting both software environments gives creators the flexibility to choose an automated workflow for everyday production or LightBurn’s advanced tools for more complex engraving jobs—a combination Monport believes makes the case for the MEGAS as a best CO2 laser engraver choice regardless of skill level.

“LightBurn has become the workflow that thousands of makers and small businesses rely on every day,” said Monport CEO.

“Our goal with the MEGAS was to eliminate unnecessary software switching by bringing advanced features like autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera positioning directly into LightBurn. That lets users focus on production instead of setup.”

Explore Advanced LightBurn Features on the MEGAS

Monport is positioning the MEGAS as an entry point for LightBurn users who want to explore the software’s advanced feature set without adding a second app to their workflow. Full setup guides and LightBurn configuration walkthroughs for the MEGAS are available on Monport’s website.

Summer Sale Pricing

As part of Monport’s Summer Sale this July, the MEGAS desktop CO2 laser engraver is available at a special offer price of $2,799.99—the limited-time promotional price on the machine to date. The discount is applied automatically at checkout; no promo code is required. The offer runs for a limited time or while supplies last and includes two complimentary laser marking spray bottles, used to prepare bare metal surfaces such as stainless steel for laser marking.

Availability

The Monport MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver is available through Monport’s official website.

About Monport

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Seattle, Monport designs desktop and industrial CO2 and fiber laser engraving and cutting machines for makers, small businesses and workshops, backed by U.S.-based technical support.

Media Contact:

Monport Laser
Email: official@monportlaser.com
Website: https://monportlaser.com

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SOURCE Monport

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Tredence Launches Domain Native Forward Deployed Engineering to Close the Last Mile of Enterprise AI

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The FDE practice builds an elite class of engineers at the intersection of domain expertise and data & AI, solving enterprises’ hardest business problems.

BENGALURU, India and SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tredence, the world’s leading data & AI services company, today announced the launch of its Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) practice, committing to build a dedicated pool of 200 FDEs over the next 12-18 months. Through this practice, the company intends to build the most domain-native engineering capability in the market, helping clients move faster from problem to impact.

Built to tackle high-impact challenges for Fortune 100 enterprises, Tredence’s FDEs are domain specialists first and engineers second. A Retail FDE understands markdown cycles and assortment planning. A supply chain FDE understands network constraints and demand volatility. A revenue growth management (RGM) FDE understands trade spend and price elasticity.

Each Tredence FDE brings that depth to the work of building and scaling agentic systems, applying deep engineering expertise to the business decisions that matter most, from pricing and promotions to the data and semantic foundations that power enterprise operations. They are platform agnostic by design, working across clients’ existing technology stack, including Databricks, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Snowflake, AWS, and leading frontier model providers.

Enterprise AI often struggles at the last mile, where data, systems, and business decisions must come together to create measurable value. Tredence’s Forward Deployed Engineers combine speed, powered by deep AI, data, and engineering expertise, with depth, built through years of domain experience, to turn AI into business outcomes faster.

“Enterprise AI is at an inflection point, and success now depends on combining AI-native engineering with industry depth to turn technology into real business outcomes. Our FDEs are designed to solve the hardest business problems, lead end-to-end AI transformations, and take ownership all the way from business problems to enterprise-scale deployment. That’s the level of accountability enterprise AI needs today,” said Shub Bhowmick, Co-founder and CEO, Tredence.

Why Tredence’s FDE Model Is Different-

More than a decade of deep domain expertise across industries
FDEs bring years of experience in supply chain, customer analytics, built through work with 100+ Fortune 500 clients.AI native engineering as the default way of working
FDEs build with AI from the start, reinforced by Tredence’s AI Forge program, which is centered on AI-first problem solving.Frontline ownership, powered by specialized teams
Tredence FDEs lead from the front, anchoring small, elite teams and owning everything from business problems to enterprise-scale deployment.Hands on depth across hyperscaler, frontier AI, and data platforms
Tredence FDEs help shape the very platforms they build on, with seats on the product advisory teams of leading hyperscalers and ISVs.

About Tredence

Tredence is a global AI and data science solutions provider focused on solving the last-mile problem in AI, the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence leverages deep domain expertise, advanced data platforms and accelerators, and strategic partnerships to provide tailored, cutting-edge solutions to its clients. The company has 4,200+ employees across the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Riyadh, Dubai, London, Toronto, and Bengaluru, serving top brands in Retail, CPG, Hi-tech, Telecom, Healthcare, Travel, and Industrials. For more information, please visit www.tredence.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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Fractus and Geotab settle U.S. patent litigation

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Additional agreements reinforce Fractus’ role in the IoT technologies ecosystem

BARCELONA, Spain, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fractus, a pioneer in antenna technology and patent licensing, today announced that it has reached a settlement with Geotab, resolving the patent infringement litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The terms of the agreement are confidential.

The settlement is an important milestone for Fractus in the connected fleet and transportation market. It brings an end to the dispute with Geotab and confirms the relevance of Fractus’ patented antenna technology in IoT applications where reliable wireless performance is essential.

Fractus also welcomes the growing list of its IoT licensees, which further strengthens Fractus’ position in the IoT ecosystem and demonstrates the growing value of its technology in fleet management, cargo visibility, and mobile asset monitoring.

Fleet telematics and cargo tracking are expanding quickly as transportation and logistics companies look for better visibility, safety, compliance and efficiency. According to Berg Insight, fleet management systems in active use in North America are forecast to grow from 19.2 million units at the end of 2024 to 33.2 million units by 2029. Berg Insight also expects the global installed base of tracking devices for trailers, containers and other cargo-carrying units to grow from 13.8 million units in 2024 to 26.9 million units by 2029.

In these markets, antenna performance is more than a technical specification. Connected devices must communicate across networks, frequency bands, countries and difficult operating conditions, often within space-constrained designs installed on vehicles or other mobile assets. Fractus’ patented antenna innovations help enable the compact, high-performance, multiband connectivity that these IoT devices require.

“We are very pleased to have reached this resolution with Geotab and to see Fractus’ technology gaining further recognition in the IoT market,” said Jordi Ilario, CEO of Fractus. “Fleet management, trailer monitoring and asset tracking are clear examples of how wireless connectivity is transforming transportation. These recent agreements are an important validation of our innovation, and they encourage us to keep building constructive licensing relationships with companies that value strong technology and intellectual property.”

About Fractus

Fractus is an early pioneer in the application of advanced geometry and mathematics to antenna design. The company’s patented innovations enable compact, high-performance, multiband antennas used across smartphones, IoT devices, network infrastructure, connected health and transportation applications. Fractus holds a portfolio covering more than 40 inventions and licenses its technology to leading companies across the wireless ecosystem.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1896932/Fractus_Logo.jpg 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fractus-and-geotab-settle-us-patent-litigation-302834075.html

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