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Key people at Blackbird Ventures.
Blackbird Ventures is an Australasian investment firm partnering with technology companies from their earliest stages. The firm provides capital and support across diverse sectors, from software to space, backing founders throughout their entrepreneurial journey, from concept to public offering. This approach emphasizes sustained, long-term commitment.
Founded in 2012 by Niki Scevak, Rick Baker, and Larry Diamond, Blackbird Ventures was established to provide early-stage investment in Australia and New Zealand's tech ecosystems. The founders recognized that transformative companies need enduring belief and support from inception, empowering entrepreneurs to pursue ambitious ideas.
Blackbird Ventures primarily serves founders and startups across Australia and New Zealand building global companies. The firm's long-term vision is to cultivate and accelerate the growth of the region's impactful technology businesses, fostering a vibrant startup culture and encouraging entrepreneurs to launch ventures within the local ecosystem.
Blackbird Ventures is an Australasian venture capital firm on a mission to back “wild hearts with the wildest ideas” from the very beginning. Founded with the belief that giant leaps forward are made by a passionate few, Blackbird invests in ambitious founders building technology-driven companies that aim to solve the world’s biggest problems—regardless of sector or stage. Its philosophy centers on long-term conviction, founder-first support, and backing life’s work rather than chasing short-term exits.
The firm focuses broadly across technology, from software and artificial intelligence to space, healthcare, and climate tech, united by ambition rather than industry. Blackbird has become a cornerstone of the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystems, not just through capital but through ecosystem-building initiatives like Giants (mentoring), Startmate (early-stage founder program), and The Sunrise festival. Its impact extends beyond portfolio returns, helping to normalize and professionalize entrepreneurship across the region.
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Blackbird was founded in 2012 in Australia, emerging at a time when the local tech ecosystem was still nascent and risk capital for bold ideas was scarce. The firm was built around the conviction that Australia and New Zealand could produce world-changing companies—if only more talented individuals were encouraged to take the leap into entrepreneurship. From the start, Blackbird positioned itself as a builder of companies and ecosystems, not just a capital provider.
Over time, Blackbird evolved from a regional seed fund into a multi-stage, multi-billion-dollar investment platform with deep roots in both Australia and New Zealand. It gained early credibility through high-conviction bets like Canva, which it backed from the idea stage and has supported through every subsequent round. This long-term, founder-aligned approach became a hallmark of the firm, shaping its identity as a partner that sticks around for the full journey—from Day 1 to IPO and beyond.
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Founder-First, Long-Term Mindset- Invests in people, not just sectors or business models, backing founders doing their “life’s work.”- Takes a long-term view, often participating in every round of a company’s journey and staying through IPO.- Operates with high conviction, prioritizing upside potential over risk minimization.
Deep Ecosystem Integration- Runs or backs key ecosystem programs: Startmate (early-stage accelerator), Giants (mentoring), and The Sunrise (founder festival).- Focuses on system-wide impact—aiming to inspire tens of thousands of Australians and Kiwis to enter startups.- Builds community through founder dinners, retreats, and tailored resources, making community the “beating heart” of the firm.
Operating Support & Network- Offers hands-on, founder-centric support: introductions, talent sourcing, go-to-market help, and access to a “little black book” of experts.- Maintains a large internal team (70+ people) dedicated to serving portfolio companies, not just deal-making.- Works *for* founders, not the other way around—embedding itself as a true partner in building generational companies.
Track Record & Scale- Backed iconic companies like Canva, SafetyCulture, and Canva, establishing credibility across geographies and stages.- Manages multiple funds with billions in assets under management, including a recent ~A$1 billion venture offering.- Has raised capital from global institutional investors, including sovereign wealth funds and superannuation funds, validating its model internationally.
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Blackbird is riding—and actively shaping—a fundamental shift in the Australasian tech ecosystem. Historically, Australia and New Zealand produced strong talent but struggled to retain it or build global-scale companies. Blackbird has helped change that narrative by proving that world-class, category-defining companies can be built from the region, given the right support, ambition, and long-term capital.
The firm benefits from several powerful tailwinds: the globalization of venture capital, the rise of remote-first and AI-native companies, and increasing appetite among local talent to build rather than join multinationals. At the same time, Blackbird is helping to create those tailwinds—by funding bold ideas in frontier tech (space, AI, robotics, climate), by normalizing ambitious entrepreneurship, and by building infrastructure (programs, networks, events) that lowers the barrier to entry for new founders.
Beyond returns, Blackbird’s influence is measured in cultural change: more founders are thinking globally from day one, more engineers and product people are choosing startups over corporates, and more capital is flowing into the region. In this way, Blackbird isn’t just a VC firm—it’s a catalyst for a homegrown innovation economy in Australia and New Zealand.
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Blackbird is poised to deepen its role as the anchor institution of the Australasian tech ecosystem. As the region continues to mature, the firm’s long-term, founder-centric model will likely become even more valuable—especially as global investors seek differentiated exposure to high-growth, founder-led companies outside the traditional U.S.-centric hubs.
Looking ahead, Blackbird will likely expand its footprint in deep tech, AI-native companies, and climate/space ventures, while continuing to double down on ecosystem-building. Its ability to attract top-tier global capital while staying deeply embedded in local communities gives it a unique edge. The real test will be whether it can help a new generation of Blackbird-backed companies achieve not just scale, but lasting global impact.
In a world where many VCs chase trends, Blackbird’s enduring bet is on people, ambition, and the belief that the next giant leap could start in a garage in Sydney, Melbourne, or Auckland. That’s not just a strategy—it’s a movement.
Key people at Blackbird Ventures.
