Number of Founded Organizations 4
CB Rank (Investor) 113,945
  • Primary Job Title Founding Partner
  • Primary Organization 
    Aera VC

Derek is a futurist, serial entrepreneur and an aspiring civilian astronaut signed up to visit space with Virgin Galactic.

Prior to establishing Aera VC, Derek, alongside Sir Richard Branson, was the Founding CEO of The B Team, a non-profit alliance of global business leaders committed to putting people and the planet at the heart of the economy.

Prior to The B Team, Derek helped found over a dozen start-ups while based in New York, he built the venture-studio Human Ventures and has exited several companies including one acquired by Meredith Corporation/Time Inc for which he was named in the Silicon Alley 100 most influential tech people in NYC, and awarded New Zealand EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Returning to New Zealand, Derek founded the Aera Foundation and Aera VC. Derek is currently studying towards a Masters in Religion at Harvard. Previously he studied at MIT, Singularity University and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Derek was appointed the Social Innovator in Residence at Wharton at University of Pennsylvania from 2016-2017. He was a board member of Sky Television from 2013 to 2021.

Number of Current Jobs 1
Number of Past Jobs 1
Derek Handley is the Founding Partner at Aera VC. Additionally, Derek Handley has had 1 past job as the Chief Innovation Officer at Human Ventures.
Organization Name  
Title At Company  
Start Date  
End Date  
Human Ventures
Chief Innovation Officer2017Sep 2018
Number of Past Board & Advisor Roles 1
Organization Name  
Title At Company  
Start Date  
End Date  
SKY Network Television
Director20132021
Number of Events 1
Derek Handley has participated in 1 event, Super Return Asia on Sep 19, 2022.