We help scalable
businesses scale!

What does that really mean?


We have been building businesses for more than 30 years.
Growing businesses to build dynamic teams, to achieve viability, to enhance valuation – it’s in our blood!

So what do we do?

We become stakeholders. That may mean being an advisor, a mentor, an investor, a shareholder or an Independent Director.

We use our proven expertise, our global networks and our collective wisdom to maximise opportunities for our clients and investments.

We often say this could mean:

  • a single conversation over coffee sharing our experiences 
  • it could mean taking an opportunity and restructuring the company to be ideally placed to capitalise upon that opportunity,
  • it could mean raising the capital to support the chosen growth strategy, 
  • it could mean introductions to potential partners or prospective clients that could singularly be the one catalyst for significant growth and sustainability.

Essentially, we make the company attractive to investors and by so doing, become a viable and sustainable venture.

  • We exploit our deep networks across Government and Enterprise worldwide to identify promising early stage innovation and entrepreneurial individuals with vision
  • We provide informed advice and mentoring to these ventures
  • We provide access to funding directly and indirectly through our resources
  • We typically take equity positions in these companies, in return for our contribution of expertise and guidance
  • Our investments are in compelling people and innovative ideas that have the promise of success in global markets
  • We are active at Board level within the companies, and ensure that management has the required resources to maximise opportunities for success
  • We introduce qualified service providers to assist in the success of these companies
  • We manage the next round of investment for our companies and assist in preparing all necessary representations
  • We maintain our equity position within the company until we no longer add value
  • Our exit typically is through a trade sale, a public offering or upon a transaction that facilitates a realisation of our investment

About us

The iQ group of companies was founded in 1999 by the late Dr. Laurie Hammond and Rick Anstey. From backgrounds that were poles apart, Rick and Laurie established a trusted partnership that was to last almost 20 years and saw the success of inQbator, inQling and the various iQFunds.

These organisations invested in more than 30 early stage Australian companies that subsequently raised more than $300 Million for growth strategies. Over the 20 years these iQ has successfully exited these companies or they have been closed in an orderly manner.  There have been no failures and everyone has contributed to our collective wisdom.

After, the sad and unexpected passing of Laurie Hammond, Rick Anstey decided that the brand should continue and in 2020 formed a new partnership with John Hummelstad and Fraser Kahler.

John and Rick had worked together while John was in strategic roles with  IBM in the Asia Pacific and similar roles with Microsoft where he was based in Singapore.

Fraser has managed his own Funds Management company since 2010 and previously was an investment advisor for global brands such as Smith Barney Citigroup. Fraser has managed a loyal portfolio of investors throughout his career.

Rick, John and Fraser work closely together to advise and support the founders and Senior Executives of promising companies and bring together the resources required to ensure opportunities and commercialised and monetised into viable growth companies with experienced management that is capable of driving growth and success.

John, Rick and Fraser have empathy, they have been there before with any issue faced by their clients or investment portfolio.

Investment Criteria

“We invest our time and funds in quality people, pursuing significant market opportunities beyond Australia, and creating real businesses where we have the networks, the knowledge and skills to add value.”

Since 1999, initially with inQbator and now with iQFunds, our approach has involved access to our expertise and networks to assess the opportunity and identify the real value that we can add to the growth of the business. This has initially involved time to understand the business opportunity and the people and agree on how best to maximise the value of the opportunity for the stakeholders and then, how best to realise that value.

Activities are across the full business life cycle and have typically involved support for all aspects of:

  • developing, questioning and refining business strategy,
  • support to execute that strategy,
  • ensuring funds are available for growth
  • corporate advisory services, structuring, merger or acquisition processes ( M&A )
  • escalate growth potential
  • succession planning
  • exits – shareholders and stakeholders to realise the value in their business

What interests us ?

  • Innovation that currently or eventually resides in Australia – products or services targeted at corporate or consumer markets – innovation is a general term, but includes new technology or process driven solutions, in proven vertical markets
  • Products or services that are a key driver of competitive advantage in the commercial world
  • Generally, early stage – research, newly incorporated, commencing operations or a company that strives for critical mass
  • Compelling individuals – who are passionate and realistic about their venture, can describe the market opportunity and also understand their strengths and limitations
  • has clearly identified intellectual property that is protected or capable of being protected
  • Where the shareholders support the business plan, and recognise the value we bring

People

Rick Anstey

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

John Hummelstad

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Fraser Kahler

FOUNDER / DIRECTOR

Contact

Australian Financial Services Licence No. 525067

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