The Meliora Company, the advisory, ventures and creative business founded by entrepreneur Clive Dickens, has announced a new specialist AI investment fund, which will invest in CTO-led startups that are focused on turning AI into practical advantage that results in accelerated build cycles, tighter unit economics, and products customers adopt faster.
Meliora Ventures Fund One (MVF1) is a pre-seed focused investment fund raising $3m USD from sophisticated wholesale investors for the purpose of investing in Vertical AI startups, Generative AI products and SaaS technology with an AI differentiator.
“We are investing where AI is the clear differentiator,” said Clive Dickens, Managing Partner at Meliora. “We are focused on CTO-led companies, Vertical AI startups, Generative AI products, SaaS technology with an AI edge, and related technology that unlocks international scale.
“Our aim is simple: to compound outcomes for investors through disciplined entry, concentrated support and transparent governance. We pair capital with execution through our Meliora advisory arm, resulting in a portfolio designed for repeatable wins, co-investment opportunities and durable returns.”
Meliora Ventures has already made a number of investments in leading start-ups including IV.AI, Relevance AI and Source, investing in CTO led startups providing not just capital but also strategy, commercial guidance and hands-on support to accelerate growth.
Meliora Ventures also confirmed it would be participating in the upcoming funding round for two Australian start ups Springboards.AI and StoryDesk.AI. “We are excited to be investing in these two rising stars in the Australian AI space,” said Clive Dickens, Managing Partner at Meliora. “Both Springboards.AI and StoryDesk.AI epitomise what we are looking for: CTO-led companies with a clear focus on unlocking the exciting potential of AI within a particular vertical industry.
“We are seeing a huge range of startups who are now unlocking the massive potential of AI and the large language models that underpin it, and then turning that into tangible new products that are not only transformative for businesses but significantly simplify and improve the daily lives of their consumers,” said Jack Lonergan, Partner at Meliora.
“Meliora’s Ventures Fund One seeks to be at the forefront of that wave, empowering focused, entrepreneurial teams to solve real world problems in highly innovative ways for the first 1.2bn Weekly Active AI users across the world.”
Dickens also confirmed that Meliora Ventures Fund One had secured Shazam Co-Founder Chris Barton and former Singtel Optus and Seven West Media senior executive William Hedberg as strategic advisors to the new fund. Both executives have strong experience working with ambitious technology founders and helping shepherd them from Pre-seed to Series A.
“I’m very excited that we’ve been able to attract two entrepreneurs of Chris and William’s calibre to partner with us and lend their expertise as advisors, as Meliora Ventures explores investment opportunities both internationally and here in Australia,” said Dickens.
Investor presentations have now commenced with a target of first close before Easter and a final close by June 2026. Interested investors and start-up teams can learn more www.melioraventures.com.
All MVF1 materials, compliance and investor relations will be conducted via Australian Technology Start-up GXE.com an advanced investment management and administration platform, which is also an early stage seed investment of Clive Dickens and Will Hedberg.
