Latest news with #BlackpearlGroup
Techday NZ
3 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
B2B Rocket joins Blackpearl to boost AI sales, USD $2.1m ARR
B2B Rocket has announced it will join forces with Blackpearl Group, gaining access to capital, infrastructure and product synergies as it looks to accelerate expansion in the US and beyond. Delaware-based B2B Rocket, which provides AI-powered outbound sales automation for small and mid-sized businesses, reported the partnership will significantly strengthen its ability to serve a global market. Blackpearl Group is a publicly listed AI data technology company with headquarters in New Zealand and the United States. B2B Rocket specialises in intelligent sales agents that automate lead generation, qualification and engagement without requiring human input, and has reached more than USD $2.1 million in annual recurring revenue. The company stated that joining Blackpearl Group will enable it to scale its platform and accelerate product development efforts. Noah Loul, Chief Executive Officer at B2B Rocket, commented on the vision and direction of the company, emphasising the team's commitment to supporting business customers: "We lead this company with conviction and a clear vision: to make a global impact by building tools that help businesses punch above their weight. Our core values have always been moving with urgency - hiring smart, moving fast and staying obsessed with delivering customer value," says Noah Loul, CEO of B2B Rocket. The integration of Blackpearl and B2B Rocket products has already taken place in select customer environments. This has enabled greater automation and potential cross-sell opportunities for sales teams, supporting a wider aim of streamlining pipeline generation processes. Loul further explained the value of the collaboration: "We're joining forces with a team that shares our velocity, our values and our obsession with getting real results for customers," Loul added. "This isn't the end of our journey; it's the start of a bigger one. We're here to take what works, multiply it by 10 and help more businesses scale without the baggage of bloated headcount or broken systems," explains Loul. Shared values The arrangement coincides with Blackpearl Group's progress towards a dual listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, pointing to a wider ambition to lead the AI sales enablement market globally. Both companies highlighted a close alignment of culture and goals through the partnership. Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer of Blackpearl Group, commented on the shared mindset and the rationale for the deal: "Relentless ambition is the common thread. B2B Rocket is cut from the same cloth as us - founder-led, customer-obsessed and unapologetically focused on delivering results. Their AI-powered outbound engine is the perfect complement to what we offer with Pearl Diver. This is far more than just a bolt-on. It's an investment in category leadership where humans and AI work together to power customer acquisition at scale," said Nick Lissette, Blackpearl CEO. Product expansion B2B Rocket's AI-driven outbound platform, used to autonomously generate and qualify leads, has quickly generated traction since launch and remains led by its founding team. The founder-led group, consisting of alumni from several high-growth environments, continues to guide operations as the company gains access to wider resources through its new partner. Loul, who previously scaled GlobalGeeks to USD $60 million in annual recurring revenue, is also known as an advocate for ethical, human-first approaches to AI – a perspective which has driven the development of B2B Rocket's customer-centric platform. On the anticipated benefits for users, Loul said: "This is a win for our customers too," said Loul. "We're bringing them better features, faster innovation and greater value to the ecosystem they're already using - now with the added benefit of Blackpearl's enterprise-grade security and infrastructure And we're doing that with the muscle of a publicly traded tech leader behind us." Ongoing development B2B Rocket reported that joint product development and integration work is already underway within select customer environments and that the combined platform will continue to deliver intelligent, AI-powered sales automation for modern small and mid-sized businesses. The focus remains on enabling innovation and simplifying sales pipelines for customers across North America and further afield. Loul concluded, "AI is only useful if it moves the needle and that's our mantra. Now, B2B Rocket has the 'fuel' to go further, faster," concludes Loul.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Blackpearl tech firm moves to buy US company B2B Rocket
Blackpearl Group, seen here celebrating their stock exchange listing, are moving to buy an American AI sales automation company. Photo: NZx NZX-listed tech company Blackpearl Group has made a further leap into artificial intelligence, with plans to buy a US firm. It signed a conditional agreement to fully acquire B2B Rocket - an AI sales automation company for an initial US$4 million in cash and more than 1.7 million Blackpearl shares. There was scope for further performance-based cash and share payments worth more than US$8m over five years, taking the total potential value of the deal to just over US$13m or almost NZ$22m based on Friday's closing share price for Blackpearl of $1.13. The deal would be subject to certain conditions, including converting certain share interests in B2B Rocket and having Blackpearl shares quoted on the Australian stock exchange (ASX). Blackpearl chief executive Nick Lissette said B2B Rocket blended well with their other products that focused on finding new customers for small and medium firms, particularly in the US. "What was really interesting is that I try and start most days of the week speaking with a potential customer - I get up and jump on one of our rep demo calls or a customer success call," Lissette said. "And B2B Rocket was a company that came to my attention through the demands of our customers," he said. "People said, 'Oh, do you integrate with B2B Rocket, or how does this fit in with B2B Rocket? And I was like, oh, OK." B2B Rocket had approximately US$2.1m in annual recurring revenue according to Blackpearl's market announcement. Blackpearl expected the deal to be completed in August. The company was considering a full range of funding options for the acquisition, including a mix of cash, debt and share initiatives. It was preparing to file an application for a foreign exempt listing on the ASX, but planned to keep its primary listing on the NZX. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
$1.2m In ARR In 45 Days – Silicon Valley Sales Giants Under Threat As Bebop Takes Aim
Press Release – Blackpearl Group Bebop was developed and taken to market in just 90 days. This was only possible because of years of investment into Blackpearl Groups proprietary software and data platform – formally known as Pearl Engine – a testament to the companys rapid innovation and robust technology infrastructure. Wellington, New Zealand – Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX:BPG) has announced that Bebop, its latest AI-driven sales enablement product, has reached $1.2 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just 45 days – making it the fastest-growing product in the company's history. Bebop achieved this milestone at twice the speed of Pearl Diver, itself a standout performer with $10 million of ARR within 24 months. Most SMEs have been locked out of high-quality sales intelligence – legacy platforms like ZoomInfo, Clearbit, and Apollo are built for enterprise and priced accordingly. Bebop changes that. In just seconds, this AI sales agent scans millions of US-based companies to deliver a hyper-targeted list of verified decision-makers, complete with personalised strategic dossiers. 'Bebop is like ChatGPT, but specifically built for sales and revenue growth. This is one of the fastest go-to-market trajectories we've seen across the SaaS and AI landscape, and customers have rapidly validated our value proposition. We hit it out of the park with Pearl Diver, so it's extremely exciting to see Bebop overtake its impressive early adoption. Bebop's traction validates our core thesis: that speed, usability, and value drive adoption. And our platform was built to scale these advantages, fast' comments Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer Faster and more intelligent for a fraction of the cost Bebop delivers enterprise-grade sales intelligence at a fraction of the cost of other platforms – finally making AI-powered sales intelligence accessible to the SME market. 'There's rising demand for AI-native, cost-effective sales tools that solve real SME challenges. With Bebop, we imagined unlocking unlimited revenue opportunities and cutting-edge business intelligence. Early customer feedback highlights Bebop's ability to 'save hours in research,' 'generate customers effortlessly,' and 'bring the power of AI to the everyday business owner'. That's real results; and a real threat to Silicon Valley sales giants,' believes Lissette. He adds that this previous generation of B2B tools relies on SQL queries over large databases, with apps designed to make that experience as seamless as possible. 'Bebop has intelligence at its core – genuinely understanding what a business provides and exactly who needs it. Our product delivers a fundamentally different experience that unlocks deep insights that fuel measurable revenue growth.' Doubling down on AI's potential Bebop was developed and taken to market in just 90 days. This was only possible because of years of investment into Blackpearl Group's proprietary software and data platform – formally known as Pearl Engine – a testament to the company's rapid innovation and robust technology infrastructure. 'That conviction has been validated. The results show Bebop is not just viable – it's a force multiplier for BPG's revenue growth. It now stands alongside Pearl Diver as a key driver in our product portfolio, reinforcing our strategy of building scalable, high-impact tools for customer acquisition,' reiterates Lissette. 'Bebop's rapid market-fit means our line of sight on $20M ARR is even clearer. And this also will greatly contribute to our medium target of $50M ARR.' 'We have deliberately invested since our capital raise intovplatform development and talent acquisition. The vision and engine is working. Our investment and market timing have aligned. With two products both demonstrating scale and demand, we're well positioned for sustained growth,' concludes Karen Cargill, Interim Chief Financial Officer About Blackpearl Group Blackpearl Group (BPG) is a market leading data technology company that pioneers AI-driven sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Specifically engineered for small-medium sized businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is simple: 'Better Growth Together'. When our customers win, we win. Founded in 2012, BPG is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
$1.2m In ARR In 45 Days - Silicon Valley Sales Giants Under Threat As Bebop Takes Aim
Wellington, New Zealand – Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX:BPG) has announced that Bebop, its latest AI-driven sales enablement product, has reached $1.2 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just 45 days - making it the fastest-growing product in the company's history. Bebop achieved this milestone at twice the speed of Pearl Diver, itself a standout performer with $10 million of ARR within 24 months. Most SMEs have been locked out of high-quality sales intelligence - legacy platforms like ZoomInfo, Clearbit, and Apollo are built for enterprise and priced accordingly. Bebop changes that. In just seconds, this AI sales agent scans millions of US-based companies to deliver a hyper-targeted list of verified decision-makers, complete with personalised strategic dossiers. 'Bebop is like ChatGPT, but specifically built for sales and revenue growth. This is one of the fastest go-to-market trajectories we've seen across the SaaS and AI landscape, and customers have rapidly validated our value proposition. We hit it out of the park with Pearl Diver, so it's extremely exciting to see Bebop overtake its impressive early adoption. Bebop's traction validates our core thesis: that speed, usability, and value drive adoption. And our platform was built to scale these advantages, fast' comments Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer Faster and more intelligent for a fraction of the cost Bebop delivers enterprise-grade sales intelligence at a fraction of the cost of other platforms - finally making AI-powered sales intelligence accessible to the SME market. 'There's rising demand for AI-native, cost-effective sales tools that solve real SME challenges. With Bebop, we imagined unlocking unlimited revenue opportunities and cutting-edge business intelligence. Early customer feedback highlights Bebop's ability to 'save hours in research,' 'generate customers effortlessly,' and 'bring the power of AI to the everyday business owner'. That's real results; and a real threat to Silicon Valley sales giants,' believes Lissette. He adds that this previous generation of B2B tools relies on SQL queries over large databases, with apps designed to make that experience as seamless as possible. 'Bebop has intelligence at its core - genuinely understanding what a business provides and exactly who needs it. Our product delivers a fundamentally different experience that unlocks deep insights that fuel measurable revenue growth.' Doubling down on AI's potential Bebop was developed and taken to market in just 90 days. This was only possible because of years of investment into Blackpearl Group's proprietary software and data platform - formally known as Pearl Engine - a testament to the company's rapid innovation and robust technology infrastructure. 'That conviction has been validated. The results show Bebop is not just viable – it's a force multiplier for BPG's revenue growth. It now stands alongside Pearl Diver as a key driver in our product portfolio, reinforcing our strategy of building scalable, high-impact tools for customer acquisition,' reiterates Lissette. 'Bebop's rapid market-fit means our line of sight on $20M ARR is even clearer. And this also will greatly contribute to our medium target of $50M ARR.' 'We have deliberately invested since our capital raise intovplatform development and talent acquisition. The vision and engine is working. Our investment and market timing have aligned. With two products both demonstrating scale and demand, we're well positioned for sustained growth,' concludes Karen Cargill, Interim Chief Financial Officer About Blackpearl Group Blackpearl Group (BPG) is a market leading data technology company that pioneers AI-driven sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Specifically engineered for small-medium sized businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers. Our mantra is simple: 'Better Growth Together'. When our customers win, we win. Founded in 2012, BPG is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Blackpearl Group Hits $12.5M ARR, Targets $50M Leveraging Multi-product Innovation
Press Release – Blackpearl Group As the AI landscape continues to shift, Blackpearl is not just chasing the future – it's actively building it. The AI opportunity is here and our platform has been purpose-built to capture it.' Blackpearl Group Limited (NZX: BPG) has announced its results for the year ended 31 March 2025, recording an astounding 70% increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and sharp rise in average revenue per user, underpinned by a multi-product innovation strategy. With $12.5m in ARR, Blackpearl is positioning not just for $20m ARR but to build toward $50m and beyond. 'Last year, we committed to setting ourselves up for the next stage of growth. We have the potential to be a billion-dollar company and we're creating a portfolio of solutions that balance high-risk innovation with consistent, long-term performance. We're innovating and executing at a pace that's hard for anyone to keep up with,' commented Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer. Building for the next stage of growth Lissette believes Blackpearl's success is rooted in an ability to innovate at pace on an ongoing basis. 'Last year, we told investors we would invest in the next stage of growth and we've proven this with the launch of Bebop, an AI-powered sales intelligence tool developed in a single quarter and the most successful beta in the company's history,' he explains. 'We're targeting the SME market in the US with AI-powered solutions that deliver measurable growth. With Pearl Diver firmly embedded and Bebop now live, the next phase of Blackearl's trajectory is dominance,' believes Lissette. Innovation powered by execution Importantly, this innovation has been strengthened by disciplined execution. 'At the same time, we've focused on scaling our core data infrastructure and transitioning to high-value enterprise customers. This has been a powerful multiplier of sustainable growth as we position ourselves for what's next,' comments Chief Financial Officer Karen Cargill. Pearl Engine, the core platform behind Blackpearl's products, has scaled by 210x over the past year and now processes 21 billion rows of data per day. What's more, average revenue per user (ARPU) reached $17.5k, marking a sharp 53% increase over the past six months and subscription revenue is up 91% from FY24. Highlights • $12.5m ARR, up 70% from $7.4m as at 31 March 2024 • $7.7m subscription revenue, up 91% from $4.1m in FY24 • $17.5k ARPU, up 53% over the last 6 months • 68% gross margin, reflecting continued platform efficiency • 17% of revenue from top 10 customers, up from 10% as at 31 March 2024 • Pearl Diver reached ~$10m ARR, only eight quarters after its full launch • Raised $12.5m in growth capital • Officially launched Bebop, following the most successful beta in the company's history Building the future 'As the AI landscape continues to shift, Blackpearl is not just chasing the future – it's actively building it. The AI opportunity is here and our platform has been purpose-built to capture it. We're positioned to lead AI-powered sales and marketing solutions for the US SME market and we're entering FY26 with clear momentum, a disciplined growth strategy and a compelling value proposition for investors,' concludes Lissette.
