Blackbird

For Craig Piggott, storytelling and honesty are essential to the pitch process. In our latest episode of Wild Hearts, the Founder and CEO of Halter explains how practicing your story until it resonates helps you engage and inspire the people who matter ⚡️ Tune in wherever you get your podcasts for insights on how to bring people on board with your vision 🚀 #WildHeartsPodcast #AuthenticLeadership #PitchingStrategy

Personal update from me - I recently joined the Blackbird investments team to lead their Foundry program! Foundry is Blackbird’s commitment to continue supporting the brilliant Aussie and Kiwi researchers who want to build world-changing deep tech startups. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks working with a talented group of frontier tech founders, sharing some of the hard earned lessons I’ve learned along my journey. Blackbird’s Founder-first culture exists within every single team and is a testament to our commitment to back the wild hearts who dare to build a better future for humanity. Bullish on a future where Aussie and Kiwi researchers are empowered to take the leap and translate their passions and knowledge into real-world impact. Send me a message if you’d like to learn more about Foundry or sign up at blackbird.vc/foundry for updates 💌

What happens when you bring innovation to the heart of traditional farming? In this week's episode of Wild Hearts, we sit down with Craig Piggott, CEO and Founder of Halter to discuss the journey of transforming the farming industry with smart technology ⚡️ Craig shares insights on managing supply chain and critical path changes, boosting productivity, the company's plans to expand globally, and how he and his team are reimagining the possibilities for agriculture. What can you expect in this episode? 📱 The in-app experience that turns Halter into a farmer's essential tool. 💡 Craigs biggest lessons as he ‘grows into a CEO’. 🔥 The intensity of Halter's daily leadership meetings and the role of ‘gratitude’. 🌍 Halter’s approach to expanding internationally, beginning with the US market. 💡 Lessons on operational excellence and refining the supply chain. 🔥 The art of fundraising and the method Craig used in his successful rounds. Listen now on Apple, Spotify and YouTube 🚀 #WildHearts #Podcasting #Innovation #Farming #Halter Samantha Wong Mason Yates Phoebe Harrop

Ready to take your startup global? 🌍🚀 At Sunrise Aotearoa 2024, Ken Brickley (CEO, MacroActive) and Ben Hanna (Head of NZ, Stripe) will be diving into the key strategies for expanding into international markets – from picking the right time to go global to aligning your team for success. 💡 Don't miss out on real-world insights and actionable tips to help you conquer new markets, thanks to Stripe. Register today for the follow-up webinar on 5 December 👉 https://lnkd.in/gXycCiSx See you there? 🌅 26 Nov, Shed 6 - Wellington

For Craig Piggott, CEO of Halter perfecting your pitch is a journey through "waves." In this week’s episode of Wild Hearts, Craig shares how creating rounds of investor meetings helps you refine your story and get feedback before you meet your dream investors 🚀 Tune into this week's episode for a fresh take on pitching strategy and what it means to make every conversation count. 🎧 Subscribe to Wild Hearts now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube! #WildHeartsPodcast #InvestorMindset #PitchingWithPurpose #StartupJourney Samantha Wong Phoebe Harrop Kirby Wotherspoon Ashleigh Gilchrist Mason Yates

🎉 It’s here! The full #Sunrise24 program is live. Dive into all the sessions, community meetups, and speakers now at 👉 www.thesunrise.live - your guide to an unmissable experience. Haven’t grabbed a ticket yet? Limited second-release tickets are still up for grabs, so don’t wait 🎟✨ For all our ticket holders joining us in Wellington on 26 Nov, check your inbox for your invite from Brella, our Sunrise networking app. Connect with others, set up 1:1 meetings, and plan your agenda to make the most of every moment. We’re counting down the days to an unforgettable #SunriseNZ24 - will you be joining us?

At Vow, ownership isn’t just encouraged—it’s woven into the fabric of the company. Employees at all levels are given the trust and responsibility to make high-stakes decisions—an experience that would take years to achieve at a larger company. Tune into this weeks episode of Wild Hearts to hear why Ines Lizaur thinks this unique culture fosters persistence and resilience in every team member. 🎧 Catch the full episode on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube 👇 #WildHeartsPodcast #OwnershipCulture #LeadershipInAction #StartupMindset

🌅 The countdown is on, and while we're eagerly anticipating every moment of #SunriseN24, this session has us *BEYOND* excited. Join Joel Little and Rowan Simpson as they dive into what defines true talent, how New Zealand’s unique mindset shapes success, and how ambition can drive global impact. Trust us - you’ll leave feeling inspired, recognising the shared creativity that connects founders and artists more than ever before. 🎟️ Limited second-release tickets have dropped. See you on 26 November, at Shed 6 in Wellington 👉 https://lnkd.in/dRGNvjGK

At SpaceX, failure isn’t just accepted—it’s part of the path forward. In this week’s episode of Wild Hearts, Ines Lizaur shares how facing high-stakes challenges shaped a culture of resilience and relentless problem-solving. It’s a perspective shift on innovation: thriving not despite setbacks, but because of them. 🚀 Tap in for a fresh take on what it means to lead, learn and celebrate the journey, regardless of what industry you are in. 🎧 Tune into Wild Hearts now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. #WildHeartsPodcast #SpaceXCulture #ResilienceInAction #InnovationMindset Vow

This week on Wild Hearts, former SpaceX engineer and now Head of Manufacturing at Vow, Ines Lizaur shares her journey of tackling massive challenges across high-stakes industries 🚀  In this episode, we dive into: 🚀 What did SpaceX teach her about decisiveness under pressure and learning from failure? 🌌 What principles make SpaceX special, and what qualities define Elon Musk’s leadership? 🛠 How did cross-functional teamwork and scrappy problem-solving shape her leadership at Vow? 📈 What lessons can be drawn from simplifying processes and pushing boundaries in an emerging field? 🎯 How does she balance ambition with the grounded realities of scale and reliability in cultured meat? This conversation is a fascinating look into how one of the great operators in the Aussie ecosystem is reshaping what it means to take calculated risks, simplify processes, and lead teams toward new frontiers in tech and sustainability. 🎧 Listen now on all streaming platforms, or via the links below 👇 #WildHeartsPodcast #InnovationJourney #LeadershipLessons #SpaceX #CellularAgriculture