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Eric Laakmann reposted thisEric Laakmann reposted thisClassic marketing, last one to post about the big announcement that I [kindly] made everyone else post about first thing 😅 It's been a week alright! Getting all our ducks in a row to announce our US$19M Series A and follow-on financing across multiple markets and time zones. This is a huge milestone for Vessev and a big step in the right direction for the ocean 💙 I've loved seeing all the aroha come through today so I thought I'd be a little bit sentimental and share some of my favourite moments over the last year and a half. I know I say it aaaaalll the time but... he tangata, he tangata, he tangata. It is the people, it is the people, it is the people. They're all legends but special shoutout to Eric Laakmann, Fearghal O'Connor, Mathew Hooper, Garry Jolliffe. Cheers to Claire Matthews, Chinmayee P., Lewis Hampton and Louise Cargo for all the mahi this week.
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Eric Laakmann shared this11,000 nautical miles of commercial operation and an incredible global customer base. Today we're announcing US$19M raised in our Series A and follow-on financing, led by Blackbird, with support from Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, Shasta Ventures, NZVC, GD1 (Global From Day One) and Rypples. We are also announcing our first US customer, FlyTahoe. We are now in serial production on the VS–9 with multiple vessels in build for international delivery. This raise has scaled that and will take Vessev global. This team has worked hard to earn it. And one of our vessels has just landed in the USA. It might be coming to a city near you soon. 👀 Onward.
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Eric Laakmann reposted thisEric Laakmann reposted thisSasha Kanthan & Julian Bowker from WaterBUS Initiative are completely immersed in the electric hydrofoil space and are super passionate about the impact the technology could have on their community on the Central Coast. Fearghal O'Connor sat down for a chat with them on the VS–9 in Sydney last month!
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Eric Laakmann reposted thisEric Laakmann reposted this289 passengers and 53 flights. We knew it was going to be good, but we were blown away by the response and excitement from everyone who stepped aboard the VS–9 in Sydney! As one of only two commercially certified electric hydrofoiling passenger models in the world, the VS–9 gave many people their first experience of this new way of moving on water. The conversations on board and the enthusiasm that followed each ride made it clear that Australia is ready for what's next. With services set to launch in Hobart, Perth and Sydney from 2027 onwards, we can't wait to be back🇦🇺
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Eric Laakmann shared thisProud to be working with Cameron and team 🙂 This is going to change how Hobart moves. The first vessel arrives next year!Eric Laakmann shared thisThrilled to have been in Sydney with the team at #Vessev, riding their demo VS-9 ahead of our own build commencing within two months. This will be the first vessel in Australia and world leading commercial electric hydrofoil network, coming to Hobart. The things that makes it even better is Tasmania’s natural resource connection in renewable energy. The ride exceeded every expectation. No exaggeration: we were flying above the water. Fully electric, zero onboard emissions, virtually no wake, and a fraction of the operating cost of comparable commercial passenger transport, on land or on water. And because it travels in straight lines across the water, it can cut journey times that road routes simply can’t match in cities like Hobart and Sydney. We can’t wait to see our boat hit the water in Tasmania early next year, less than a year from build start to launch. We’ll keep you posted on progress and the routes we plan to trial as soon as the schedule starts rolling out. We have reserved four more 12 meter vessels, significantly increasing capacity and flexibility to follow shortly after. #flyderwent Vessev Eric Laakmann Fearghal O'Connor Gemma-Leigh Parry
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Eric Laakmann shared thisHello Sydney 👋 We were in Sydney in June showcasing the possibilities of commercial electric hydrofoiling. We've signed agreements to bring our vessels to Hobart, Perth, and now Sydney as well. Australia is becoming a global showcase for forward thinking in how we move on the water. Sydney - like many harbour cities in the world has experienced incredible growth but at the expense of liveability in some cases. Congestion and traffic are major factors in how people live day to day. Access to water based transport is unevenly distributed. Our vessels provide new capability working alongside existing fleets that will change how people live and move in Sydney. Some might say Sydney is one of the best harbours in the world. One correction from the news segment - we were in Sydney with one of our commercially certified electric hydrofoiling vessels. This particular one (Kermadec) is approved in NZ but doesn't carry a commercial certification for Australia. We're working with local and global authorities to support our commercial deliveries to Australia next year.
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Eric Laakmann reposted thisEric Laakmann reposted thisIn fast growing places like Queenstown, we're starting to see the limits of land based transport. Water was once how people moved around, and we believe it can play a major role in the future too.
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Eric Laakmann shared thisTassie here we come 🇦🇺 Next year we will start the deployment of our vessels to Hobart Tasmania. Like many places in the world, Hobart owes its founding to a body of water - in this case the River Derwent. Water transport is already a valued part of the transport system and I can confidently say - some of the poshest water transport in the world is already here (check out the vessels for Mona - Museum of Old and New Art). We’re stoked to introduce our vessels, building on the transportation network that is already here. Huge thanks to Cameron McCulloch who had the vision for what could be possible in Hobart. Together, we can set a better Hobart in motion.
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Eric Laakmann shared thisJosh Portlock ⚡️🔋🛫 first reached out to us in 2023, excited about what electric hydrofoiling for transport could mean for the Swan River. It's happening. We're heading to Australia soon and we can't wait.Eric Laakmann shared thisThe news is out: Electric hydrofoiling is coming to Australia 🇦🇺 Next year you'll see two VS–9s cruising above the Swan River in Perth. ENAUTIC Group will be launching with premium tourism experiences (think wine cruises, twilight sailings, private charters) before introducing commuter routes once things get flying. The Swan is one of Australia's most underutilised waterways. We can't wait to help change that and bring more sustainable transport to Perth. Excited to be on this journey with you Josh Portlock and Kevyn Townley 🙌
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1w
Robbie Paul thank you Robbie!
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1w
Thank you John Kells! We are incredibly excited for GD1 to be on the journey with us.
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Eric Laakmann liked thisEric Laakmann liked this🌟 We’re hiring a Vice President of Hardware Quality at WHOOP. Quality isn’t something you inspect into a product at the end. It has to be built into every stage of the product lifecycle, from early development and supplier selection through manufacturing, launch, and real-world member experience. We’re looking for an exceptional hardware quality leader to join our Operations team and set the vision, strategy, and systems to deliver world-class quality across the global hardware and accessories ecosystem at WHOOP. This role is for someone who: ✅ Thinks end-to-end about quality, connecting product design, reliability, manufacturing, suppliers, and field performance into one closed-loop system. ✅ Builds teams and systems that scale, creating the operating mechanisms, metrics, and accountability required to deliver exceptional hardware at high volume. ✅ Partners shoulder-to-shoulder with Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Business Systems, Analytics, and our global partners to identify risk early and drive issues to root cause. ✅ Raises the bar continuously, using data, discipline, and a relentless focus on improvement to turn quality into a competitive advantage. This is a high-impact, high-stakes senior leadership role reporting directly to me. You’ll have the opportunity to shape how WHOOP approaches hardware quality as we continue to grow our product portfolio, expand globally, and deliver extraordinary experiences to our members. If you’ve built and scaled world-class quality organizations in consumer electronics, wearables, or complex hardware, we’d love to hear from you. 📍 Boston HQ 💡 Details & Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/gBFpvfpE Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them in the comments or send this their way. #WHOOP #HardwareQuality #Operations #Hiring
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Eric Laakmann reacted on thisEric Laakmann reacted on thisOur portfolio companies listed 98 new roles in the past week alone. A good sign that New Zealand’s startup scene is keeping busy, with ambitious teams growing and looking for great people to join them. A few worth checking out: 🩺 Alimetry: Summer Internship, Auckland, NZ 🚀 Dawn Aerospace: Governance, Risk & Compliance Manager, NZ 🐄 Halter: Customer Experience Specialist, NZ ⚡ Kwetta: Operations Manager, Napier, NZ 🤖 Marloo: AI ops Associate, Sydney, AUS 🚗 Partly: Account Manager - Repairer, Auckland, NZ 💸 Sharesies: Intermediate Marketing Designer, Wellington, NZ 🗄️ Supabase: Field Marketing Manager - Startups, San Francisco, USA 🚘 Wayve: Product Designer, London, UK ⛴️ Vessev: Embedded Hardware Engineer, Auckland, NZ These teams are building across everything from rockets and energy to AI, agriculture and investing. Not your average jobs list. There are another 900+ opportunities on our jobs board if you're thinking about what's next, or know someone who is.
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Eric Laakmann liked thisEric Laakmann liked thisA job could’ve paid off my loan. Formula Student taught me what money can’t buy. 🏁 Wrapping up 4.5 years and 6 race cars with the University of Auckland Formula SAE Team (FSAE47) officially marks the end of an era. Looking back across thousands of hours in the workshop, this wasn’t just an extracurricular, it was an absolute rollercoaster of an engineering odyssey. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world: • Late-night gearbox explosions hours before shipping. • Front wings disintegrating on the way to our best-ever Australasian performance. • Winning Australasia overall in 2022. • Travelling across the globe to test Kiwi "No. 8 wire" ingenuity against the world's best at Formula Student Switzerland and Austria. I had the privilege of serving as: • Mechanical Design Leader • Race Engineer • Chief Technical Officer Nominee • Gordon Mallinson Award for the fiercest commitment to the team. I was fortunate enough to compete as a driver across 7 competitions and 19 dynamic events (Autocross, Skidpad, Endurance and Efficiency), alongside presenting in 14 static events across Cost and Design. The hands-on engineering, rapid troubleshooting and connections opened doors I could have only dreamed of starting out. From analysing data and engineering race cars with M2 Competition and Toyota Gazoo Racing NZ, to validating flight hardware and separation systems at Rocket Lab to stepping into new electrical frontiers with Vessev. None of this would have been possible without an incredible support system: A huge thank you to Tom Allen and Daniel De Mel for their ongoing support, wisdom and backing. To every sponsor who believed in our vision, supplied materials and gave us the platform to innovate on a global stage, thank you. To everyone I shared a workshop floor, pit lane or European transit van with, thank you for the grit, the banter and the memories. To the future iterations of UoA Formula Student: I wish you all the best. I’ll be watching closely and supporting from the sidelines wherever I can. Time to pack up the pizza boxes and angle grinders and step into the next chapter! ⚡ #FormulaStudent #FSAE #Engineering #Motorsport #NewZealand #UniversityOfAuckland #RocketLab #Vessev #Mechatronics #Aerospace
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Eric Laakmann reacted on thisEric Laakmann reacted on thisThe perfect internship doesn’t exi- We're now on the lookout for current students or recent grads to join our internship program. Designing and building boats that fly above the water takes serious engineering and this is your chance to get in on the action. There are three spots up for grabs across Mechanical, Mechatronics/Electrical, and Manufacturing Engineering - each helping us bring different parts of our hydrofoiling technology to life. If you’re curious, willing to get stuck in, and working towards (or recently completed) a degree in engineering then check them out. Applications are open and the details are in the comments 👇
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Eric Laakmann reacted on thisEric Laakmann reacted on thisFriday Brief is here ☀️ The Rocket-Shaped Answer to Road Congestion 🚀 With over 13,000 autonomous flights already completed across India, Airbound has raised $37 million in a Series A led by Greenoaks, with participation from DoorDash, Lightspeed, Lachy Groom, and Humba Ventures. The Bengaluru-based startup is rethinking drone economics from first principles, designing rocket-like tail-sitter aircraft that weigh less than the cargo they carry to bring air freight costs closer to trucking. Rather than building a delivery operator, Airbound is positioning itself as the aircraft manufacturer that logistics networks will rely on. 👉 https://bit.ly/3UcbLbB Molten Salt Meets Heavy Industry's Biggest Problem 🏭 Spun out of MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering in 2022, Cambridge-based Mantel has raised $18 million, bringing total funding to $50 million, with backing from Constellation Technology Ventures and Azimut Investments to accelerate commercial deployment of its high-temperature carbon capture technology across heavy industry. At the core of its approach is a proprietary molten-borate salt loop that captures CO2 directly at industrial process temperatures while recovering thermal energy as high-pressure steam, cutting energy losses by 97% compared to conventional carbon capture and operating at less than half the industry-average cost per tonne. The capital is already being put to work across a growing project portfolio, including a deployment with one of Canada's largest oil and gas producers. 👉https://bit.ly/3Sytzgj Why Displace Water When You Can Fly Over It? 🌊 New Zealand marine tech company Vessev has raised NZ$32.6 million (ca. $19.4 million) in Series A and follow-on financing led by Blackbird Ventures to accelerate production and expand into the US, Australia, and beyond, following its first commercial deployment with Auckland ferry operator Fullers in 2025. The company builds electric hydrofoiling passenger and transport vessels with the hydrofoiling technology lifting the hull clear of the water to eliminate drag, making electrification viable where conventional electric boats would fall short on range and speed. 👉https://bit.ly/3SxuspC The Rock That Feeds Crops and Eats CO₂ 🪨 What if the most abundant rocks on Earth could simultaneously feed crops and pull carbon from the atmosphere? That's the premise behind Mafix, a Stanford University spinout founded by Jade Marcus and chemistry professor Dr. Matthew Kanan, which has raised $5.4 million in pre-seed funding led by Azolla Ventures, with participation from Counteract VC, Astera Institute, Plug and Play Ventures, Impact Science Ventures, and a Dutch family office. The company's mineral conversion process transforms inert silicate rocks into fast-weathering silicon fertilizers that release nutrients into soil while removing CO₂. 👉https://bit.ly/4gCf6bt
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Eric Laakmann liked thisEric Laakmann liked thisA room full of founders trying to build the next big New Zealand company. I went along to the Icehouse Ventures Showcase for Business Breakfast, where some of the country’s most ambitious startups and founders took the stage to share what they’re building. A huge thank you to Jamie France from Outlier, Connor Archbold from Tracksuit, John Robson from BioAura, Mark Rocket from Kea Aerospace, Alur Saguinsin from One Kidney, and Robbie Paul from Icehouse Ventures for taking the time to chat with me and help bring the story together. I am in awe of your work. And a special thank you to Leni Ma'ia'i for organising everything and making the story possible.
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Eric Laakmann reacted on thisMy mind has been blown the last few months as I’ve been witnessing behind the scenes at Vessev. Once you’ve experienced the VS-9’s electric hydrofoiling technology, it’s impossible to imagine a future on the water without it. Seeing how it’s created, the strategic thinking and the incredible people behind it all, I know this announcement is just the beginning! 🪽
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Eric Laakmann liked thisEric Laakmann liked thisI've trained dozens of founders to pitch on the Showcase stage over the last 9 years, but I'd never been on it myself. Until this year. Pitching this year's Showcase Fund at Spark Arena was a full-circle moment. After years of coaching from the side of the stage, standing under the lights gave me a whole new respect for the founders who get up there every year. Huge congratulations to the 12 founders who presented last night, and shout out to the rest of the Icehouse Ventures team for making it the best Showcase yet.
Experience & Education
Honors & Awards
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The IEEE/HKN Award
Case Western Reserve University
Given to the senior who possess the qualities necessary for an outstanding professional career in the general field of electrical engineering.
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Top Finalist Analog Design Contest
Texas Instruments
Finalist out of over 140 Universities
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