Blackbird Ventures

Blackbird Ventures is a principal investment firm based in La Jolla, California, focusing on investments in emerging technology companies, information technology, software, biotechnology, and real estate development. Founded in 2012, Blackbird aims to support innovative entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas by investing in startups from their inception through to their growth stages. The firm has built a diverse portfolio valued at over $7 billion, featuring more than 100 companies across Australia and New Zealand, including notable startups like Propeller, Gilmour Space, Halter, Eucalyptus, and Harrison AI. Blackbird Ventures is dedicated to fostering generational ambition and ownership, making it a significant player in the venture capital landscape.

Alex Apoifis

Partner and COO

Phoebe Harrop

Partner

Tom Humphrey

Investor

Tip Piumsomboon

Principal

Niki Scevak

General Partner

Michael Tolo

Principal

Samantha Wong

General Partner

Mason Yates

Portfolio Analyst

Past deals in New Zealand

Halter

Series C in 2023
Halter Limited, founded in 2016 and based in Morrinsville, New Zealand, specializes in the development of GPS-enabled, solar-powered collars for livestock. These innovative collars allow farmers to virtually fence their pastures and monitor their cattle effectively. By utilizing this technology, Halter aims to enhance farm productivity, improve animal welfare, and promote sustainable farming practices. The company is dedicated to empowering farmers to manage their operations more efficiently while also safeguarding the environment.

Partly

Series A in 2022
Partly is a developer of innovative databases and solutions tailored for the auto parts sector. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Canterbury, New Zealand, the company provides an inventory and fitment management system that enhances the efficiency of parts procurement. By offering a software infrastructure, Partly streamlines workflows and improves repair cycle times, allowing repairers and suppliers to access real-time pricing and availability from various suppliers. This facilitates quicker transactions and helps users find the right parts more effectively. Additionally, Partly plans to launch an online parts market, enabling auto parts companies to connect with customers globally and expand their product offerings.

AskNicely

Series B in 2022
AskNicely is a customer experience platform focused on enhancing the performance of frontline teams by integrating employee experience with customer feedback to foster revenue growth in service businesses. The platform specializes in collecting and acting on real-time customer feedback, automatically triggering feedback requests through integration with customer relationship management systems. By tracking net promoter scores, AskNicely helps businesses improve customer retention, generate reviews, and increase referrals, ultimately driving profitability. The company serves over 1,300 clients globally and operates offices in the United States, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Its mobile platform provides personalized coaching and motivation for frontline workers, streamlining operations by reducing the need for extensive middle management.

First AML

Series B in 2021
First AML Limited, established in 2017 and based in Auckland, New Zealand, specializes in providing outsourced customer due diligence (CDD) services. The company offers a range of compliance solutions, including identity verification, source of wealth and source of funds assessments, politically exposed person (PEP) screening, and support for annual reporting and audits. First AML's cloud-based platform simplifies the anti-money laundering onboarding process, enabling clients to efficiently manage compliance with regulations across various jurisdictions. By facilitating data integration and streamlining workflows, the company assists businesses of all sizes, including law firms, accounting firms, real estate agents, and financial institutions, in mitigating the risk of criminal exploitation and enhancing access to the financial system.

Partly

Seed Round in 2021
Partly is a developer of innovative databases and solutions tailored for the auto parts sector. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Canterbury, New Zealand, the company provides an inventory and fitment management system that enhances the efficiency of parts procurement. By offering a software infrastructure, Partly streamlines workflows and improves repair cycle times, allowing repairers and suppliers to access real-time pricing and availability from various suppliers. This facilitates quicker transactions and helps users find the right parts more effectively. Additionally, Partly plans to launch an online parts market, enabling auto parts companies to connect with customers globally and expand their product offerings.

Halter

Series B in 2021
Halter Limited, founded in 2016 and based in Morrinsville, New Zealand, specializes in the development of GPS-enabled, solar-powered collars for livestock. These innovative collars allow farmers to virtually fence their pastures and monitor their cattle effectively. By utilizing this technology, Halter aims to enhance farm productivity, improve animal welfare, and promote sustainable farming practices. The company is dedicated to empowering farmers to manage their operations more efficiently while also safeguarding the environment.

Partly

Seed Round in 2020
Partly is a developer of innovative databases and solutions tailored for the auto parts sector. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Canterbury, New Zealand, the company provides an inventory and fitment management system that enhances the efficiency of parts procurement. By offering a software infrastructure, Partly streamlines workflows and improves repair cycle times, allowing repairers and suppliers to access real-time pricing and availability from various suppliers. This facilitates quicker transactions and helps users find the right parts more effectively. Additionally, Partly plans to launch an online parts market, enabling auto parts companies to connect with customers globally and expand their product offerings.

Halter

Series B in 2020
Halter Limited, founded in 2016 and based in Morrinsville, New Zealand, specializes in the development of GPS-enabled, solar-powered collars for livestock. These innovative collars allow farmers to virtually fence their pastures and monitor their cattle effectively. By utilizing this technology, Halter aims to enhance farm productivity, improve animal welfare, and promote sustainable farming practices. The company is dedicated to empowering farmers to manage their operations more efficiently while also safeguarding the environment.

Mint Innovation

Series B in 2020
Founded in 2016, members of the Mint Innovation team have a strong background in chemistry, biotechnology, and leveraging IP in the industrial sector. They are scaling their technology in their Auckland plant and labs to demonstrate the commercial application of their biometallurgy processes for metal recovery.

AskNicely

Series A in 2019
AskNicely is a customer experience platform focused on enhancing the performance of frontline teams by integrating employee experience with customer feedback to foster revenue growth in service businesses. The platform specializes in collecting and acting on real-time customer feedback, automatically triggering feedback requests through integration with customer relationship management systems. By tracking net promoter scores, AskNicely helps businesses improve customer retention, generate reviews, and increase referrals, ultimately driving profitability. The company serves over 1,300 clients globally and operates offices in the United States, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Its mobile platform provides personalized coaching and motivation for frontline workers, streamlining operations by reducing the need for extensive middle management.

AskNicely

Seed Round in 2017
AskNicely is a customer experience platform focused on enhancing the performance of frontline teams by integrating employee experience with customer feedback to foster revenue growth in service businesses. The platform specializes in collecting and acting on real-time customer feedback, automatically triggering feedback requests through integration with customer relationship management systems. By tracking net promoter scores, AskNicely helps businesses improve customer retention, generate reviews, and increase referrals, ultimately driving profitability. The company serves over 1,300 clients globally and operates offices in the United States, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Its mobile platform provides personalized coaching and motivation for frontline workers, streamlining operations by reducing the need for extensive middle management.

Nexus Notes

Seed Round in 2015
Nexus Notes is an online marketplace that facilitates the buying and selling of course notes, study materials, and templates for university students in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Sydney, the platform enables users to upload their assignments and questions to receive feedback from tutors. By offering peer-to-peer educational resources, Nexus Notes supports students in accessing high-quality study materials and learning techniques employed by successful peers, ultimately aiding them in achieving better academic results. The platform also incorporates features such as promo codes, sharing, and verification to enhance the user experience.
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