Blackbird Ventures is an Australasian venture capital firm headquartered in Sydney, investing across every stage of a technology company's life from idea to beyond IPO. Founded in 2012 by Niki Scevak and Rick Baker, the firm backs Australian and New Zealand founders across software, deep tech, AI, robotics, space, healthcare and other frontier technology sectors, holding a portfolio of more than 130 companies including Canva, SafetyCulture and Culture Amp.
Blackbird backs founders from the earliest idea stage through growth and beyond IPO rather than following a round-by-round or narrow sector thesis.
The firm makes its first investment at the pre-seed, seed, or Series A stage, historically around two-thirds of its investments have been pre-product or pre-revenue at the time of first check, but will also invest in later rounds, and has followed several portfolio companies through eight or more subsequent financing rounds.
Blackbird invests broadly across every type of technology, from enterprise and consumer software to deep tech, saying it is guided by founders' ambition rather than a top-down sector thesis.
Its current portfolio spans enterprise and healthcare software, consumer products, medical devices, autonomous robotics, AI infrastructure, clean energy systems, and quantum technologies, alongside a long-running emphasis on frontier areas such as space, satellites, and alternative protein.
Blackbird invests only in founders with a strong personal connection to Australia or New Zealand, though the companies themselves may be based anywhere in the world.
Blackbird closed its sixth flagship vehicle with more than $710 million in investor commitments as of August 2026.
That raise drew primarily on Australian superannuation funds including HostPlus, AustralianSuper, NGS Super, Telstra Super, and Aware Super, alongside private investors and Australian and New Zealand sovereign wealth funds.
Leadership
Investment Strategy
Blackbird moves quickly by venture standards, typically taking a couple of days to a couple of weeks from first conversation to term sheet, and uses standard, founder-friendly deal terms drawn largely from the Australian Investment Council's open-source funding documents.
Beyond capital, the firm runs a dedicated Founder Success function offering leadership coaching, communications support, and a five-week Founder Academy, alongside talent-matching through its Lilypad platform and Startmate's Fellowship programs.
It also convenes its portfolio community through founder retreats, small-group dinners, the Giants mentoring program, and the Sunrise startup festival.
Notable Investments
Rick Baker — Partner, Co-Founder
rick@blackbird.vc
Niki Scevak — Partner, Co-Founder
Alex Apoifis — Partner, Chief Operating Officer
alex@blackbird.vc
Mervyn Marcano — Managing Partner
merv@teamblackbird.org
Nicholas Crocker — General Partner
nick@blackbird.vc
Michael Tolo — General Partner
mtolo@blackbird.vc
Phoebe Meadows — Partner
phoebe@blackbird.vc
Australia
