Partner · Founder, Blackbird Ventures
Every published round Rick Baker 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.
Companies Rick Baker 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. | ||||
This is a stake in the fund itself, money that the fund's manager invests, not a stake in the fund manager.
Companies Rick Baker has backed that another company then bought. An exit for the holding, not a deal Rick Baker did.
Stories naming Rick Baker. Where several outlets covered the same round, they are bundled under whichever ran the fullest account.
Blackbird has locked in a second billion-dollar fund — its sixth, slightly bigger than the last — bringing in new institutional backers, and the article recalls portfolio wins, writedowns and failures.
Blackbird and Airtree mark Canva's worth down sharply, the employee share price falls too, and commentators question whether a 2027 sharemarket float remains realistic amid sliding confidence in AI-era software.
Blackbird partner Rick Baker recalls backing Canva's founders in 2013 and argues its 2026 AI launch extends that founding purpose to a new frontier.
Also Startup Daily
Blackbird's operating chief reflects on four years of the fund's independent, quarterly valuation process, citing the Eucalyptus acquisition and its returns as proof the 2022 policy endured.
Blackbird's Rick Baker recounts backing rocket firm Gilmour Space from its 2017 Series A to a newly closed A$217 million Series E at a valuation above US$1 billion.
Also @AuManufacturing
Canva has raised US$40 million at a US$1 billion valuation, becoming an Australian unicorn, with Sequoia China joining long-time backers Blackbird Ventures and Felicis Ventures in a round led by Blackbird.
Meliora, Clive Dickens' advisory firm, has started backing AI companies alongside a student-focused venture fund that is closing in on its fundraising target.
Also Forbes Australia
Blackbird partner Samantha Wong reflects on a decade of the firm's Sunrise conference and Australia's startup ecosystem, recalling Atlassian's Nasdaq listing and Aconex's float and sale to Oracle.
Also OIF Ventures portfolio·OIF Ventures portfolio·thelawyermag.com·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·LaunchVic·LaunchVic
Australian digital business cards startup Blinq raised a US$25 million Series A led by Touring Capital, with HubSpot Ventures, Blackbird and Square Peg participating, reportedly valuing the company at $200 million.
Student-run venture fund NextGen Ventures has locked in $1.5 million toward a $2.5 million target, backed by Blackbird's cofounders, Airtree and angel investors, and has already invested in AI startup Fluency.
Long-time SafetyCulture chief Luke Anear hands the reins to Kelly Vohs while moving to the chair; the piece also recaps the firm's recent raises, valuation dip and backer changes.
Blackbird's investor relations lead reflects on its limited partners, recalls the A$29 million first fund and A$1 billion returned to early backers, and flags her move to part-time as the firm seeks a replacement.
Rocket developer Gilmour Space has banked a $55 million Series D led by QIC for its first orbital launch, with Blackbird, Main Sequence, HostPlus and HESTA also taking part.
Also Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia·@AuManufacturing·Defence Connect
Blackbird's yearly letter recaps 2023: 38 investments worth $189 million across Australian and New Zealand startups, heavy AI and deep tech deployment, community programs, and open investment-team roles.
Robyn Denholm has joined SafetyCulture's board as a director, adding to her Tesla chairmanship and Technology Council role, replacing long-serving director and Blackbird co-founder Rick Baker.
Blackbird welcomes Michael Tolo, Tom Humphrey and Phoebe Harrop into its investment partnership, citing their craft, founder relationships and contribution to its New Zealand expansion.
Blackbird's team marks the firm's tenth birthday by unveiling a new A$1 billion fund to back ambitious Australian and New Zealand startups, sketching a 2032 vision of technology dominating the economy.
Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·TechCrunch Australia·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia·Dealroom·Startup Daily