Salus Ventures 'delighted' with Archie Judd's appointment

Salus Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Australia that focuses on investing in early-stage technology companies developing critical sovereign capabilities, has announced an addition to its investment team with the appointment of Archie Judd.

Judd returns to Australia after nearly a decade in the United Kingdom, where he was a member of IQ Capital, one of Europe's leading deep technology funds.

Judd's experience includes a tenure at IQ Capital, which manages investments of USD $1 billion and primarily focuses on artificial intelligence. He also worked for over five years with Deloitte UK, specialising in technology mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and ventures.

His background brings a wealth of experience to Salus Ventures, which aims to support founders developing deep technology and dual-use capabilities to enhance Australia's national resilience.

Dan Bennett, General Partner and Co-Founder of Salus Ventures, commented on the move.

"Archie brings a unique combination of experience, creative energy, significant global expertise and networks, along with deep knowledge in mathematics, chemistry and artificial intelligence," he said.

"We're delighted to have secured an individual of Archie’s calibre as Salus Ventures continues to grow the deep technology ecosystem in Australia."

Judd expressed his enthusiasm with TechDay about returning to Australia and joining Salus Ventures.

"After making the decision to return to Australia, it was important for me to continue in the field of deep technology and artificial intelligence, as I think we are just at the beginning of a period of accelerated growth. I am excited about the future," he said.

"Co-founders Dan Bennett and Marten Peck have quickly established Salus Ventures as the go-to venture fund for entrepreneurs building innovative technology with critical application in both commercial and government markets, which is really exciting for me," Judd added.

"Equally important is the calibre of the executive team and the opportunity to work with some of the most highly experienced global investors, advisors and founders."

Marten Peck, who is also a General Partner and Co-Founder of Salus Ventures, commented on the appointment by noting: "We continue to achieve significant milestones, and our ability to scale is attracting top international talent like Archie. His appointment continues to strengthen our team and sets us up for even greater outcomes as we solidify our position as the expert fund for emerging national resilience start-ups."

Archie Judd's addition to Salus Ventures is seen as a strategic move to bolster the firm’s expertise and network within the deep technology sector.

As the venture fund continues to drive investments towards creating sovereign capabilities, Judd's experience is expected to play a critical role in identifying and nurturing potential technology start-ups that can contribute to both commercial and national security applications.