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Featured Story

Michelle Battersby Sunroom co-founder

Founder Stories

Sunroom Co-Founder Michelle Battersby on knowing your strengths and the power of intuition

Michelle Battersby breaks down her journey from marketing at Citibank to now co-running her own founder-led business.

Latest News from Blackbird

Tracking the gender diversity in our investment pipeline

The latest data from Blackbird on the gender diversity in both our investment team and our investment pipeline.

Growing the Blackbird Aotearoa flock

Blackbird Aotearoa is having its own startup moment: we’ve had three new Blackbirds join us in the last month, taking us to a team of seven.

Completing the cycle for LPs

Reflecting on what our LPs mean to Blackbird, what's ahead for our investor community and why we're looking for our next IR superstar.

All Stories

Burnout

Webinar Debrief: Beating Burnout

Takeaways from our panel event with SafetyCulture on identifying the warning signs of professional burnout and strategies to beat it.

Head of Communications

Webinar Debrief: Beating Burnout

Takeaways from our panel event with SafetyCulture on identifying the warning signs of professional burnout and strategies to beat it.

Covid 19

COVID-19 Toolkit for Founders

Head of Communications

COVID-19 Toolkit for Founders

Group of ladies using Ovira.

Investment Notes: Ovira

Blackbird has invested $1M into Ovira.

Investment Notes: Ovira

Blackbird has invested $1M into Ovira.

Germ under microscope.

Blackbird Response to COVID-19

Blackbird Response to COVID-19

Blackbird monthly photo.

Blackbird Monthly, Edition 02, 2020

Head of Communications

Blackbird Monthly, Edition 02, 2020

Charlie Gearside.

Founder Stories

Spotlight On: Charlie Gearside, Co-Founder of Eucalyptus

Danielle Pinkus

Head of Portfolio Success

Spotlight On: Charlie Gearside, Co-Founder of Eucalyptus

Productivity Masterclass

Systems: A Simple Recipe for Productivity

Blackbird Head of Productivity Clark Carter’s guide to keep you on track.

Systems: A Simple Recipe for Productivity

Blackbird Head of Productivity Clark Carter’s guide to keep you on track.

Dovetail merchandise.

Investment Notes: Dovetail

We’ve finally found a product just for UX researchers in Dovetail.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: Dovetail

We’ve finally found a product just for UX researchers in Dovetail.

Derick Markwell standing besides a Roborigger machine.

Investment Notes: Roborigger

We’ve invested $5m in an innovation which promises to make worksites safer.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: Roborigger

We’ve invested $5m in an innovation which promises to make worksites safer.

Paper planes.

People + Culture

Welcome, New Blackbirds

Meet the seven newest members of the Blackbird family, who have joined us for 2020 and beyond.

Welcome, New Blackbirds

Meet the seven newest members of the Blackbird family, who have joined us for 2020 and beyond.

Blackbird team.

Blackbird is hiring a Fund Accountant

Head of Communications

Blackbird is hiring a Fund Accountant

The Blackbird team.

People + Culture

The Third Way: This is Why We Back Our Founders

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

The Third Way: This is Why We Back Our Founders

Food by Fable.

Investment Notes: Fable

Blackbird is proud to have invested in Fable’s seed round.

Investment Notes: Fable

Blackbird is proud to have invested in Fable’s seed round.

Person covered in pretty images.

Blackbird is Hiring: Financial Accountant

Blackbird is Hiring: Financial Accountant

Blackbird New Zealand community team.

Blackbird Spreads Its Wings

Blackbird Spreads Its Wings

Pretty pattern in water.

Blackbird is Hiring: Chief of Staff, Portfolio Analyst, People Lead

Blackbird is Hiring: Chief of Staff, Portfolio Analyst, People Lead

Raine scooter.

Investment Notes: Raine

We’re thrilled to have joined the seed round for Raine.

Investment Notes: Raine

We’re thrilled to have joined the seed round for Raine.

Hand holding an eye badge

Australian Startups Pave the Way

Australian Startups Pave the Way

Photo of the Blackbird team.

Blackbird is Hiring: Business Operations

Blackbird is Hiring: Business Operations

Incodocs team photo.

Investment Notes: Incodocs

We’ve invested in Incodocs, a software-as-service platform for trade and shipping.

Investment Notes: Incodocs

We’ve invested in Incodocs, a software-as-service platform for trade and shipping.

Australia's FIRST Robotics team.

People + Culture

We Are Sending Robotics Team to World Championships

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

We Are Sending Robotics Team to World Championships

People + Culture

What I Learnt From My Blackbird Internship

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

What I Learnt From My Blackbird Internship

Colourful hallway with figures at the end.

People + Culture

Sunrise Island Reflections: Part 2

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Sunrise Island Reflections: Part 2

Year in Reflection: 2018

Year in Reflection: 2018

Festival photo.

People + Culture

Sunrise Island Reflections: Part 1

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Sunrise Island Reflections: Part 1

Rivers of inquiry.

How We Invest: Rivers of Inquiry

How We Invest: Rivers of Inquiry

Burger with wings.

Welcome to the Third Agricultural Revolution

Welcome to the Third Agricultural Revolution

Sunfed's plant based meats.

Investment Notes: Sunfed

We have led a NZ$10M investment into plant-based meat company Sunfed.

Investment Notes: Sunfed

We have led a NZ$10M investment into plant-based meat company Sunfed.

Kate Glazebrook.

Investment Notes: Applied

We have led the seed round for hiring platform company, Applied.

Investment Notes: Applied

We have led the seed round for hiring platform company, Applied.

Colourful heart.

People + Culture

Thank You, Wild Hearts

Thank You, Wild Hearts

Photo of the Blackbird team in Melbourne.

Blackbird Melbourne is Open for Business

Blackbird Melbourne is Open for Business

Zoox co-founders.

Investment Notes: Zoox

We're investing $500K in Aussie-founded autonomous vehicle company Zoox.

Investment Notes: Zoox

We're investing $500K in Aussie-founded autonomous vehicle company Zoox.

The Blackbird and Startmate team.

Code of Conduct for Blackbird and Startmate

Code of Conduct for Blackbird and Startmate

Photo of the Blackbird team.

Blackbird is Hiring: Portfolio Intelligence Analyst

Blackbird is Hiring: Portfolio Intelligence Analyst

FIRST Robotics team

FIRST Robotics and Australia’s National Identity

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

FIRST Robotics and Australia’s National Identity

MOVUS machines.

Investment Notes: MOVUS

We're investing in a company connecting machinery to the internet.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: MOVUS

We're investing in a company connecting machinery to the internet.

A beautiful black bird staring out across a desert.

The Blackbird Master Plan

Blackbird's master plan for the future has four key steps.

The Blackbird Master Plan

Blackbird's master plan for the future has four key steps.

An astronaut with a surfboard looking out at a galaxy.

The Third Wave

Our third fund is $261M to fund ambitious Australian founders.

The Third Wave

Our third fund is $261M to fund ambitious Australian founders.

Flip-ups event poster.

Flip Ups: Not As Scary As You Think

Flip Ups: Not As Scary As You Think

Woman laying on bed listening to music

Nuraphones Are Here

Nuraphones Are Here

AskNicely Founders.

Investment Notes: AskNicely

We’re investing in this whose mission is to make NPS actionable for employees.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: AskNicely

We’re investing in this whose mission is to make NPS actionable for employees.

Sam Wong in the early days.

People + Culture

Blackbird: A Calling

Blackbird: A Calling

Roman Teslyuk, co-founder of EARTH AI.

Investment Notes: EARTH AI

EARTH AI is a company helping mineral explorers identify promising areas.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: EARTH AI

EARTH AI is a company helping mineral explorers identify promising areas.

Gilmour Space co-founder Adam Gilmour beside a rocket.

Investment Notes: Gilmour Space

Gilmour Space is developing a rocket to launch small satellites into space.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: Gilmour Space

Gilmour Space is developing a rocket to launch small satellites into space.

Bright coloured bird.

Company Missions: High Definition and Vivid Colour

Company Missions: High Definition and Vivid Colour

Photo of a man giving an inquisitive and inviting look.

How Much is Enough?

How Much is Enough?

Flavia Tata Nardini

Investment Notes: Fleet

Fleet's mission is simple: to create a network of tiny nano-satellites that deliver a global backhaul service for the Internet of Things.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: Fleet

Fleet's mission is simple: to create a network of tiny nano-satellites that deliver a global backhaul service for the Internet of Things.

Girl wearing Nura headphones.

Investment Notes: Nura

Nura is creating headphones that make music even more personal.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Investment Notes: Nura

Nura is creating headphones that make music even more personal.

The Creation of Adam.

What Blackbird Looks For in Founders

What Blackbird Looks For in Founders

Man making a small sign.

We’re Small Not Big

The Australian venture capital industry at the beginning of 2017 is undersized.

We’re Small Not Big

The Australian venture capital industry at the beginning of 2017 is undersized.

Blackbird's wall of investments.

Looking Forward: 2017

What we are looking for in founders and companies in 2017.

Looking Forward: 2017

What we are looking for in founders and companies in 2017.

Increasing gender diversity graph.

People + Culture

Startmate’s Diversity & Inclusion Efforts

Startmate’s Diversity & Inclusion Efforts

Investing in the Misunderstood

Investing in the Misunderstood

What Blackbird did in 2016 by the numbers

2016 in Review

2016 in Review

Simon Griffiths

Crowdfunding in the Toilet Paper Game

Crowdfunding in the Toilet Paper Game

Jodie Auster

People + Culture

What Emergency Rooms Have in Common with Startups

An AMA with Jodie Auster, former VP of People Ops at Thumbtack and ER doctor.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

What Emergency Rooms Have in Common with Startups

An AMA with Jodie Auster, former VP of People Ops at Thumbtack and ER doctor.

Needle.

Great Teams in Great Markets

Great Teams in Great Markets

Lachlan McKnight.

Revolutionising the Law

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Revolutionising the Law

Blackbird Mission and Values

Blackbird Mission and Values

Edrolo team.

People + Culture

Changing the Education Industry

Changing the Education Industry

Manish Rai Jain.

Skipping the Bad Startup Advice

AMA with Founder of DGraph, Manish Rai Jain.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Skipping the Bad Startup Advice

AMA with Founder of DGraph, Manish Rai Jain.

Gen George.

You Can Start Before Funding

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

You Can Start Before Funding

A crossroads.

People + Culture

From Accounting to Acting

From Accounting to Acting

Picture of Jodie Fox - Founder of Shoes of Prey

People + Culture

“We Needed to Be Naive and Arrogant”

How naivety and arrogance can help build world-changing businesses

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

“We Needed to Be Naive and Arrogant”

How naivety and arrogance can help build world-changing businesses

Rory from Propeller aero holding a drone.

Bringing the Internet to Worksites

AMA with Rory from Propeller Aero.

Bringing the Internet to Worksites

AMA with Rory from Propeller Aero.

Redbubble Founder and CEO Martin Hosking.

People + Culture

How to Improve Australia’s Innovation Ecosystem

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

How to Improve Australia’s Innovation Ecosystem

Samantha Wong.

When Girls Don’t Do STEM, Women Don’t Do Tech

When Girls Don’t Do STEM, Women Don’t Do Tech

Man shaking his head exacerbated.

Why We Rejected 1,983 Startups

Why We Rejected 1,983 Startups

Y Combinator directors.

Successful Founders Must Be Determined

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Successful Founders Must Be Determined

Bardia Housman.

Putting Everything On The Line

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Putting Everything On The Line

John Henderson.

Tall Poppy Syndrome Brings Us All Down

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Tall Poppy Syndrome Brings Us All Down

Rivers of Inquiry.

Helping (Robotic) Hands

Helping (Robotic) Hands

Susan Wu

People + Culture

Founders are Inquisitive and Resilient

The best founders are inquisitive and resilient.

Founders are Inquisitive and Resilient

The best founders are inquisitive and resilient.

Social Ventures Australia founding CEO Michael Traill.

No Startups = No Growth

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

No Startups = No Growth

CEO of Fishburners, Murray Hurps

People + Culture

Hidden Importance of Culture

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Hidden Importance of Culture

Meme about being invited to a partner meeting.

How Investors Fall in Love

How Investors Fall in Love

Blackbird team

People + Culture

Why Some Women in Tech Don’t Support Gender Diversity

The surprising response of women in tech on the gender issue and how can improve gender diversity anyway.

Why Some Women in Tech Don’t Support Gender Diversity

The surprising response of women in tech on the gender issue and how can improve gender diversity anyway.

Eucalyptus

People + Culture

Thoughts on Founder Vesting

Will Blackbird take your vested shares?

Thoughts on Founder Vesting

Will Blackbird take your vested shares?

Achilles' heel being struck by an arrow.

People + Culture

The Achilles Heel of Advice

Blackbird Partner Niki Scevak advises against advice.

The Achilles Heel of Advice

Blackbird Partner Niki Scevak advises against advice.

Panel of successful startups

What Products and Markets Do We Want?

We have a fairly narrow investment focus which is defined by our ability to add value to a company

Head of Communications

What Products and Markets Do We Want?

We have a fairly narrow investment focus which is defined by our ability to add value to a company

Two balls of light.

The Physics of Startup Financing

There is a fundamental paradox in the startup world: A lot more founders try to raise money than successfully do

The Physics of Startup Financing

There is a fundamental paradox in the startup world: A lot more founders try to raise money than successfully do

Interested Blackbird Zebra Art

Blackbird Founders and Silicon Valley Advisors

Head of Communications

Blackbird Founders and Silicon Valley Advisors

Niki Scevak at a conference

5 Reasons Aussie VC Will Be Thriving 5 Years

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

5 Reasons Aussie VC Will Be Thriving 5 Years

plants growing

At What Stage Will Blackbird Invest?

At What Stage Will Blackbird Invest?

Exit sign.

The Worst Slide In Your Pitch Deck

Please, don't show us your Exit slide.

The Worst Slide In Your Pitch Deck

Please, don't show us your Exit slide.

Bill, Niki, and Rick.

Our Next Chapter: Fund 2

We’re pleased to announce the next chapter of Blackbird Ventures with a further $200 million of capital to invest in Australian startups.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

Our Next Chapter: Fund 2

We’re pleased to announce the next chapter of Blackbird Ventures with a further $200 million of capital to invest in Australian startups.

Picture of the world

5 Reasons Aussie Startups Should Go Global From Day One

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

5 Reasons Aussie Startups Should Go Global From Day One

Box: A Capital Raising Journey

By reconstructing some of the equity data available in the filing we can see the progression of 8 rounds of financing over 7.5 years.

Box: A Capital Raising Journey

By reconstructing some of the equity data available in the filing we can see the progression of 8 rounds of financing over 7.5 years.

The Blackbird team.

People + Culture

How Many Startups Get Started in Australia?

Joel takes a look at how many Australian startups are started each year from 2010 to 2014.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

How Many Startups Get Started in Australia?

Joel takes a look at how many Australian startups are started each year from 2010 to 2014.

Blackbird team

Announcing the Blackbird Ventures Fund

In 2013 Blackbird announced the formation and first close of its $30 million venture capital fund.

Head of Communications

Announcing the Blackbird Ventures Fund

In 2013 Blackbird announced the formation and first close of its $30 million venture capital fund.

Sign of Australia made in Canva

7 Reasons We’re Excited About Australian Startups

Why Australia has such a great startup scene.

Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation

7 Reasons We’re Excited About Australian Startups

Why Australia has such a great startup scene.

Beautiful bird.

Reflections on Ambition

Blackbird Partner Niki Scevak reflects on ambition and why the best founders have loads of it.

Reflections on Ambition

Blackbird Partner Niki Scevak reflects on ambition and why the best founders have loads of it.

Bird with a question mark

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Featured Contributors

Tom Humphrey

Samantha Wong

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