Key hire
2025 Year in Review
Blackbird's annual letter recaps its 2025 deployment, cash returns, community programs and foundation grants, and introduces Jessica Tulp as the newest addition to its investing team.
Investor
Blackbird Foundation
Disclosed deals
Every published round Blackbird Foundation took part in, and every parcel of existing shares it bought off another holder. Deals we hold but haven't published yet are not counted.
Portfolio
Companies Blackbird Foundation has backed in a published round, and companies whose existing shares it bought off another holder.
| Company | What it does | First invested | Rounds | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No portfolio companies recorded yet. | ||||
Funds
Fund closes reported for Blackbird Foundation, as distinct from the investments it has made.
Portfolio companies acquired
Companies Blackbird Foundation has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Blackbird Foundation did.
People
Coverage
Stories naming Blackbird Foundation. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Funding announcement
Our efforts to close the gender investment gap
Blackbird shares results from its third year tracking how many women-led teams reach its investment committee, reporting FY25 gains in backing female founders, a market comparison with Cut Through Venture, and new sourcing partnerships.
News
La Foundary co-founder Anh Van blends art and mycelium science for sustainable packaging
Profile of La Foundary co-founder Anh Van, who grows mycelium from food waste to create sustainable packaging and art, ahead of future fundraising plans.
Funding announcement
2024 Year in Review
Blackbird's annual review letter recaps a year of investing: sums deployed across dozens of rounds, distributions to its investors, four new investment-team members introduced, and foundation and community program highlights.
4 deals
Boosting Female Founders: The women-led startups that secured a share of $12 million
Thirty-eight women-led startups, including Bubble Tea Club, The Hacker Exchange, Amelio Health and Ripple, received grants in round two of the Boosting Female Founders Initiative, sharing $11.6 million.
News
Blackbird is hiring a Product Operations Specialist
Blackbird's Founder Success team is recruiting a Product Operations Specialist, based in Sydney or Melbourne, to scale its community programs such as Giants, the Founder Academy and the Talent Network. Applications have closed.
News
Blackbird is hiring Three Investment Associates
Blackbird Ventures is recruiting three investment associates for its investment team, reporting to principals Michael Tolo, Tom Humphrey and partner Sam Wong. The post describes the role, benefits, culture and the firm's portfolio.
Key hire
Blackbird is hiring a Head of Investor Relations
Blackbird is recruiting its first Head of Investor Relations to manage relationships with existing and prospective LPs, describing the role, benefits, and the firm's assets under management and portfolio.
News
Blackbird is hiring a Portfolio FP&A Manager
Blackbird advertises for a Portfolio FP&A Manager to analyse portfolio data, describing its billion dollars under management, 68-company portfolio, workplace benefits, and startups including Canva, SafetyCulture and Culture Amp.
13 deals
Year in Reflection: 2020
Blackbird's year-end review covers its fourth fund announcement, investments in companies including See-Mode, Morse Micro and SafetyCulture, Startmate's climate cohort intakes, Mike Cannon-Brookes joining its board, and numerous team hires.
Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·TechCrunch Venture·TechCrunch Venture·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Women's Agenda·Startup News (WA)·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Women's Agenda·Startup Daily
Fund close
$650m
The Next Generation of Blackbird’s Investment Team
Blackbird introduces Tom Humphrey and Michael Tolo as new investment Principals alongside Tip Piumsomboon, and notes its fourth fund closed at $650 million in late 2020.
News
Blackbird is hiring a Head of People & Culture
The venture firm advertises an open senior role leading its people and culture functions, describing team growth plans, internal tools, employee benefits, and its portfolio and mission.
Unnamed stage
Investment Notes: Dovetail
Blackbird's investment note explains its backing of Dovetail, a platform for UX researchers founded by Benjamin Humphrey and Brad Ayers, covering its customer growth and community among UX professionals.
Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·Blackbird Ventures portfolio·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·TechCrunch Venture
Unnamed stage
$5m
Investment Notes: Roborigger
Blackbird's investment note announces $5 million put into Roborigger, a Perth robotics startup whose device steadies crane loads, profiling founder Derick Markwell and listing current construction projects.
Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·Blackbird Ventures portfolio·@AuManufacturing·Startup News (WA)
News
Blackbird is hiring a Fund Accountant
Blackbird Ventures advertises a full-time fund accountant position at its Sydney office, outlining duties across fund reporting, tax compliance, cash management and investor relations; the application period has since closed.
Fund close
$29m
The Third Way: This is Why We Back Our Founders
Blackbird describes closing its $29M first fund in 2013 and a GP-led secondary where fund investors sold a minority stake to StepStone and HESTA for about $100M, locking in returns while keeping its portfolio.
Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·Startup Daily·Business News Australia