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Ivo founders Min-Kyu Jung and Jacob Duligall
Investment
Investment Notes: Ivo Series B

We’re proud to lead the US$55M Series B round into Ivo, alongside Costanoa Ventures, Uncork Capital, Fika Ventures, GD1 and Icehouse Venture

Adam Gilmour and Rick Baker
Investment
Investment Notes: Gilmour Space Series E

From Series A to unicorn: continuing our journey with Gilmour Space

A collection of images from Blackbird events in 2025
Investment
2025 Year in Review

Today we're reflecting on the year that was at Blackbird.

Elyos founders Pip Brown, Adrian Johnston and Panos Stravopodis
Investment
Investment Notes: Elyos

Meet the Team

We
are
a
team
of
believers,
doers
and
optimists
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Building Blackbird
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All Teams

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Alex Apoifis

Alex Apoifis

Operations
Partner, Chief Operating Officer
Alex Gifford

Alex Gifford

Investments
Head of Investment Programs
Watch more comedy.
Alissa Lucas

Alissa Lucas

Building Blackbird
Impact Associate
Everything happens for no reason
Anthoney Duong

Anthoney Duong

Operations
Head of Investment Legal
Becca Kennedy

Becca Kennedy

Building Blackbird
People & Culture Partner
"It's nice to be nice"
Carlene Kemp

Carlene Kemp

Building Blackbird
Chief People Officer
Catt Vongpraseuth

Catt Vongpraseuth

Operations
Senior Operations Associate
Cindy Lam

Cindy Lam

Operations
Legal Counsel
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky” -Michael Scott
Connor Wiltshire

Connor Wiltshire

Building Blackbird
Data Analyst
"You grow through what you go through"
Davies Ayomide

Davies Ayomide

Building Blackbird
IT Operations Analyst
We are products of our experiences.
Ed Little

Ed Little

Building Blackbird
Head of Technology
What could possibly go wrong?
Georgia Bretnall

Georgia Bretnall

Investments
Community Operations
Georgia Robertson

Georgia Robertson

Investments
Associate
You never regret a swim.
Ha Tran

Ha Tran

Building Blackbird
Data Analyst
"Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience." - Eleanor Hibbert
James Palmer

James Palmer

Investments
Principal
Naivety is powerful when applied to the right problem.
Jane Shaw

Jane Shaw

Operations
Business Operations Analyst
Jasmin Jenkins

Jasmin Jenkins

Operations
Head of Investor Relations
We get to think the world is progressing when it is only repeating itself - Rudyard Kipling
Jessica Tulp

Jessica Tulp

Investments
Associate
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
Joel Connolly

Joel Connolly

Building Blackbird
Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation
Still trying to make fetch happen.
Josephine Tay

Josephine Tay

Investments
Giants Program Manager
Jun Hu

Jun Hu

Operations
Business Operations Analyst
Keep finding discomfort, or the discomfort will find you.
Justine Nangle

Justine Nangle

Operations
General Counsel
If I didn't become a lawyer I would have loved to work in musical theatre
Kate Glazebrook

Kate Glazebrook

Building Blackbird
Head of Impact & Operating Principal
It’s the simple (even boring-sounding) characteristics that matter most in a person
Katie Tholo

Katie Tholo

Building Blackbird
Partnerships & Program Producer
Lorna Donnelly

Lorna Donnelly

Operations
Senior FP&A Analyst
Lucia Salim

Lucia Salim

Operations
Fund Accountant
I’m just me
Maddy Guest

Maddy Guest

Investments
Investment Associate
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage
Mahalia Lum

Mahalia Lum

Building Blackbird
Executive Assistant (Alex Apoifis & Tom Humphrey) and Sydney Office Manager
Get excited for the little things
Max Meyer

Max Meyer

Investments
Principal
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier
Melia Rayner

Melia Rayner

Building Blackbird
Head of Communications
Being interested is more important than being interesting
Michael Tolo

Michael Tolo

Investments
Partner
Morven Brown

Morven Brown

Building Blackbird
Executive Assistant (Nick Crocker & Michael Tolo), Melbourne Office Manager
How you do anything is how you do everything
Nick Crocker

Nick Crocker

Investments
Partner
I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.
Nick Erzetic

Nick Erzetic

Building Blackbird
Data & Product Manager
"The grass is greener where you water it"
Niki Scevak

Niki Scevak

Investments
Partner
"The more ambitious you are, the more likely you are to succeed"
Nora Traughber

Nora Traughber

Investments
Acting Chief of Staff, Investments
Hope is a discipline.
Phoebe Harrop

Phoebe Harrop

Investments
Partner
Companies are just people. The best companies grow from the best people.
Rebecca McCallum

Rebecca McCallum

Operations
Head of Management Finance
Rick Baker

Rick Baker

Investments
Partner
Passionate about Aussie and Kiwi startups.
Riley Fallon

Riley Fallon

Operations
Legal & Compliance Associate
There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo and it's worth fighting for
Robyn Denholm

Robyn Denholm

Investments
Board Member
I believe bold ambitions enable a better world
Samantha Wong

Samantha Wong

Investments
Partner
Saron Berhane

Saron Berhane

Investments
Foundry Lead
If you do the work, the score will take care of itself.
Sean Weston

Sean Weston

Operations
Head of Fund Operations
You make your own luck
Silk Kadala

Silk Kadala

Investments
Principal
Relationships rule the world.
Sofia Echesortu

Sofia Echesortu

Investments
Portfolio Program Lead
"Always leave a little room for the unexpected" - James Clear
Sophie Steverson

Sophie Steverson

Building Blackbird
EA to Rick Baker, Niki Scevak and Samantha Wong
Hospitality is at the heart of every great business that you know and love.
Sophie Taylor

Sophie Taylor

Operations
Head of Strategy and Projects
Theia Gabatan

Theia Gabatan

Building Blackbird
Grant Programs and Impact Lead @ Blackbird Foundation
Being cringe is the price you pay for excellence 🥲
Tom Harvey

Tom Harvey

Operations
Investor Relations Associate
“It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.”
Tom Humphrey

Tom Humphrey

Investments
Partner
"A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world"
Tristan Edwards

Tristan Edwards

Investments
Investment Associate
Measure Once, Cut Twice
Zac Hardman

Zac Hardman

Building Blackbird
Senior IT & Project Analyst
My side projects have side projects
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All Teams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
All TEams
Investment
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Investment

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Alex Gifford

Alex Gifford

Investments
Head of Investment Programs
Watch more comedy.
Georgia Bretnall

Georgia Bretnall

Investments
Community Operations
Georgia Robertson

Georgia Robertson

Investments
Associate
You never regret a swim.
James Palmer

James Palmer

Investments
Principal
Naivety is powerful when applied to the right problem.
Jessica Tulp

Jessica Tulp

Investments
Associate
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
Josephine Tay

Josephine Tay

Investments
Giants Program Manager
Maddy Guest

Maddy Guest

Investments
Investment Associate
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage
Max Meyer

Max Meyer

Investments
Principal
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier
Michael Tolo

Michael Tolo

Investments
Partner
Nick Crocker

Nick Crocker

Investments
Partner
I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.
Niki Scevak

Niki Scevak

Investments
Partner
"The more ambitious you are, the more likely you are to succeed"
Nora Traughber

Nora Traughber

Investments
Acting Chief of Staff, Investments
Hope is a discipline.
Phoebe Harrop

Phoebe Harrop

Investments
Partner
Companies are just people. The best companies grow from the best people.
Rick Baker

Rick Baker

Investments
Partner
Passionate about Aussie and Kiwi startups.
Robyn Denholm

Robyn Denholm

Investments
Board Member
I believe bold ambitions enable a better world
Samantha Wong

Samantha Wong

Investments
Partner
Saron Berhane

Saron Berhane

Investments
Foundry Lead
If you do the work, the score will take care of itself.
Silk Kadala

Silk Kadala

Investments
Principal
Relationships rule the world.
Sofia Echesortu

Sofia Echesortu

Investments
Portfolio Program Lead
"Always leave a little room for the unexpected" - James Clear
Tom Humphrey

Tom Humphrey

Investments
Partner
"A desk is a dangerous place from which to watch the world"
Tristan Edwards

Tristan Edwards

Investments
Investment Associate
Measure Once, Cut Twice
Investment
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Operations
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Operations

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Alex Apoifis

Alex Apoifis

Operations
Partner, Chief Operating Officer
Anthoney Duong

Anthoney Duong

Operations
Head of Investment Legal
Catt Vongpraseuth

Catt Vongpraseuth

Operations
Senior Operations Associate
Cindy Lam

Cindy Lam

Operations
Legal Counsel
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.-Wayne Gretzky” -Michael Scott
Jane Shaw

Jane Shaw

Operations
Business Operations Analyst
Jasmin Jenkins

Jasmin Jenkins

Operations
Head of Investor Relations
We get to think the world is progressing when it is only repeating itself - Rudyard Kipling
Jun Hu

Jun Hu

Operations
Business Operations Analyst
Keep finding discomfort, or the discomfort will find you.
Justine Nangle

Justine Nangle

Operations
General Counsel
If I didn't become a lawyer I would have loved to work in musical theatre
Lorna Donnelly

Lorna Donnelly

Operations
Senior FP&A Analyst
Lucia Salim

Lucia Salim

Operations
Fund Accountant
I’m just me
Rebecca McCallum

Rebecca McCallum

Operations
Head of Management Finance
Riley Fallon

Riley Fallon

Operations
Legal & Compliance Associate
There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo and it's worth fighting for
Sean Weston

Sean Weston

Operations
Head of Fund Operations
You make your own luck
Sophie Taylor

Sophie Taylor

Operations
Head of Strategy and Projects
Tom Harvey

Tom Harvey

Operations
Investor Relations Associate
“It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.”
Operations
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Operations
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Operations
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Operations
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Operations
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird

We're true believers who have come together to propel Australia and Aotearoa's most ambitious startups forward.

Alissa Lucas

Alissa Lucas

Building Blackbird
Impact Associate
Everything happens for no reason
Becca Kennedy

Becca Kennedy

Building Blackbird
People & Culture Partner
"It's nice to be nice"
Carlene Kemp

Carlene Kemp

Building Blackbird
Chief People Officer
Connor Wiltshire

Connor Wiltshire

Building Blackbird
Data Analyst
"You grow through what you go through"
Davies Ayomide

Davies Ayomide

Building Blackbird
IT Operations Analyst
We are products of our experiences.
Ed Little

Ed Little

Building Blackbird
Head of Technology
What could possibly go wrong?
Ha Tran

Ha Tran

Building Blackbird
Data Analyst
"Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience." - Eleanor Hibbert
Joel Connolly

Joel Connolly

Building Blackbird
Creative Director & Head of Blackbird Foundation
Still trying to make fetch happen.
Kate Glazebrook

Kate Glazebrook

Building Blackbird
Head of Impact & Operating Principal
It’s the simple (even boring-sounding) characteristics that matter most in a person
Katie Tholo

Katie Tholo

Building Blackbird
Partnerships & Program Producer
Mahalia Lum

Mahalia Lum

Building Blackbird
Executive Assistant (Alex Apoifis & Tom Humphrey) and Sydney Office Manager
Get excited for the little things
Melia Rayner

Melia Rayner

Building Blackbird
Head of Communications
Being interested is more important than being interesting
Morven Brown

Morven Brown

Building Blackbird
Executive Assistant (Nick Crocker & Michael Tolo), Melbourne Office Manager
How you do anything is how you do everything
Nick Erzetic

Nick Erzetic

Building Blackbird
Data & Product Manager
"The grass is greener where you water it"
Sophie Steverson

Sophie Steverson

Building Blackbird
EA to Rick Baker, Niki Scevak and Samantha Wong
Hospitality is at the heart of every great business that you know and love.
Theia Gabatan

Theia Gabatan

Building Blackbird
Grant Programs and Impact Lead @ Blackbird Foundation
Being cringe is the price you pay for excellence 🥲
Zac Hardman

Zac Hardman

Building Blackbird
Senior IT & Project Analyst
My side projects have side projects
Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Building Blackbird
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Want to join a fast-paced, high ambition, colourful collection of legends? You'll fit in just fine at Blackbird.

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