Massey spin-out Captivate Technology appoints CEO following seed funding

Captivate Technology was founded by Professor Shane Telfer who, in his chemistry lab at Massey, created a recyclable, sponge-like adsorbent material to selectively capture carbon dioxide from industrial emission sources. The patented material has applications across sectors such as cement, steel, natural gas, biomass combustion and biogas.

The company is focused on delivering practical and deployable carbon capture solutions for industries where emissions reduction options are limited, supporting decarbonisation efforts in New Zealand and internationally.

Lauren Salisbury has been appointed as Captivate Technology’s Chief Executive Officer while Professor Telfer has transitioned into the role of Chief Technology Officer. He will continue to lead the company’s scientific direction, research and development roadmap and technical validation as the technology is deployed commercially.

The leadership transition follows the successful close of the company’s Seed funding round, led by deep-tech investor WNT Ventures and supported by a syndicate of Australasian investors.

The investment marks a significant step forward for the Palmerston North-based company, enabling it to move beyond laboratory validation and into real-world industrial deployment of its carbon capture technology.

The company is backed by Massey Ventures Limited, the university’s commercialisation arm, and is focused on translating research into scalable climate solutions.

Chair Callum Streeter says the appointment of Ms Salisbury reflects Captivate’s evolution from research-led development to commercial execution.

“Closing our seed round was a pivotal moment for Captivate, allowing us to move decisively from research into commercial execution. Appointing Lauren as CEO is a key part of that next phase. As we scale globally, it’s essential to have leadership with experience translating complex technology into real-world deployment while maintaining strong alignment between science, strategy and commercial delivery.”

Ms Salisbury is an experienced executive and chartered director with more than 20 years’ international experience in strategy, business transformation and digital innovation. She has worked extensively with boards and founders to scale technology-led businesses in industrial and regulated environments.