Generalist · VC Firm · Active
Blackbird
Blackbird Ventures is an Australian multi-stage VC founded 2012, with ~A$1.5B AUM across four funds. Blackbird Ventures IV A$1B (2022 vintage).
Investment thesis
Blackbird Ventures is an Australian multi-stage VC founded 2012, with ~A$1.5B AUM across four funds. Blackbird Ventures IV A$1B (2022 vintage). Invests pre-seed to growth across Australian/NZ deep tech, enterprise SaaS, consumer, climate. Cheques A$500k-A$50M, lead or co-lead.
Quantum portfolio: PsiQuantum (silicon-photonic fault-tolerant — significant for Blackbird as PsiQuantum relocated Australian operations to Queensland 2024 with A$1B state commitment) and Nomad Atomics (Australian cold-atom quantum sensing).
Value-add: dominant Australian VC franchise; strong relationships with CSIRO, University of Sydney and Queensland government; critical for PsiQuantum's Australian manufacturing buildout.
Not a quantum specialist — single platform-scale bet with strategic local anchor value, plus adjacent sensing exposure. Essential co-investor for any Australian-quantum ecosystem founder.
Anti-thesis
The patterns that trigger a fast no with this fund.
- Silicon Quantum Computing exposure is largely a function of being the default ANZ generalist rather than a deliberate quantum thesis, there is no evidence of a second or third quantum bet to build a portfolio learning loop
- ANZ LP base and AUD-denominated funds create FX and follow-on risk for capital-intensive quantum companies that will need to raise USD growth rounds from Tiger, Lightspeed, or sovereigns
- Public communications emphasize founder-led consumer and SaaS wins (Canva, SafetyCulture), quantum founders may be deprioritized in partner mindshare and platform support
- Australia's quantum policy (National Quantum Strategy, PsiQuantum Brisbane subsidy) is government-driven, Blackbird has not positioned itself as a translator between Canberra grants and venture capital, leaving that lane to Main Sequence and Horizons
Notable quantum portfolio
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