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Techday NZ
16-07-2025
- 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.
Techday NZ
13-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Black Pearl Group to acquire B2B Rocket in AI sales deal
Black Pearl Group has signed a conditional agreement to acquire all shares in B2B Rocket, a United States-based company focused on artificial intelligence for sales automation. B2B Rocket develops AI-driven outbound sales agents that generate, qualify and engage leads for small and medium-sized enterprises without requiring human involvement. According to information provided by Black Pearl Group, the platform has achieved more than USD $2.1 million in annual recurring revenue and is expanding its presence across the US. Details of the acquisition The acquisition deal includes an upfront cash payment and an equity component in Black Pearl Group. In addition, the arrangement contains a performance-based earn-out structure over five years, which combines cash and equity elements and is contingent on B2B Rocket reaching specified revenue milestones. The aim is to reward sustained growth and customer acquisition momentum, with a maximum payout designed to coincide with substantial annual recurring revenue expansion. Black Pearl Group Chief Executive Officer Nick Lissette connected the two companies' cultures and ambitions. "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," says Blackpearl CEO Nick Lissette. Black Pearl's Pearl Diver product and B2B Rocket have already been integrated in certain customer environments, providing increased automation and cross-sell potential for sales teams. Lissette explained that bringing the two companies together is expected to provide material benefits for customers looking to increase their sales pipeline with fewer manual processes. "This is far more than just a bolt-on," says Nick. "It's an investment in category leadership where humans and AI work together to power customer acquisition at scale. This acquisition and our ASX ambitions reinforce our trajectory. Our platform, our people and our playbook are all geared toward sustained, scalable growth," adds Nick. Broader growth plans In parallel with the transaction, Black Pearl Group confirmed it is preparing to file an application to list its shares on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), signalling the company's intention to expand its capital market presence beyond New Zealand, where it is already listed. Nick commented on Black Pearl Group's outlook following the deal, stating, "With B2B Rocket on board and ASX listing in motion, we aren't just expanding; we're accelerating. Relentless ambition isn't just a the model," concludes Nick. B2B Rocket was described as a partner well aligned to Black Pearl Group's own focus areas, namely, technology for improving sales and marketing efficiency among small to mid-sized businesses. The combined operation will seek to serve an expanded client base through increased use of AI sales automation technologies and integration between the companies' respective platforms. The five-year revenue-based earn-out forms a significant component of the deal structure, providing incentives for B2B Rocket to achieve continued growth after the initial acquisition is completed. The integration of B2B Rocket's AI outbound sales technology into Black Pearl Group's platform is intended to unlock new opportunities for a range of business customers operating in the sales and marketing sectors. Follow us on: Share on:
Scoop
13-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Relentless Ambition: Blackpearl Acquire B2B Rocket And Announces It Will Dual List On The ASX
Black Pearl Group Limited (NZX: BPG) has signed a conditional agreement to acquire 100% of B2B Rocket Inc - a fast-scaling US-based AI sales automation company with a laser focus on helping small and mid-sized businesses grow. In parallel with this transaction, Blackpearl has confirmed it is preparing to file an application to dual list on the ASX. B2B Rocket specialises in intelligent outbound sales agents that can generate, qualify and engage leads without human input. The platform has already achieved over US$2.1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and is rapidly expanding across the US. '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,' says Blackpearl CEO Nick Lissette. The two products are already integrated in select customer environments, unlocking a new level of automation and cross-sell opportunity for sales teams who want more pipeline with less pain. 'This is far more than just a bolt-on,' says Lissette. 'It's an investment in category leadership where humans and AI work together to power customer acquisition at scale. This acquisition and our ASX ambitions reinforce our trajectory. Our platform, our people and our playbook are all geared toward sustained, scalable growth,' adds Nick. About the deal Under the terms of the agreement, the consideration includes an upfront cash payment and an equity component in Black Pearl Group. An additional performance-based earn-out is structured over a five-year period, combining cash and equity, and is tied to B2B Rocket achieving agreed revenue milestones. The structure is designed to reward sustained growth and customer acquisition momentum, with the maximum payout aligned to significant ARR expansion. 'With B2B Rocket on board and ASX listing in motion, we aren't just expanding; we're accelerating. Relentless ambition isn't just a tagline…it's the model,' concludes Lissette. 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.
Techday NZ
02-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Bebop reaches NZD $1.2 million ARR in 45 days with SME focus
Bebop, an AI-driven sales enablement product developed by Black Pearl Group, has recorded NZD $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within 45 days of its market launch. The announcement highlights Bebop as being the fastest-growing product in the company's portfolio, reaching its ARR milestone at twice the speed set by Pearl Diver, another product from the same company that attained NZD $10 million in ARR over 24 months. Access for SMEs According to Black Pearl Group, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally found themselves excluded from access to high-quality sales intelligence due to the cost and scale of established platforms such as ZoomInfo, Clearbit, and Apollo. Bebop is intended to address this gap. The company reports that Bebop provides rapid access to highly targeted lists of verified decision-makers at millions of US-based companies, supported by personalised strategic dossiers. Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the product's rapid uptake: "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" Positioned on cost The company states that Bebop delivers sales intelligence tools similar in function to existing enterprise solutions but is priced to make such tools accessible to SMEs. This approach, Black Pearl Group claims, meets growing demand for AI-based and cost-effective sales applications tailored to SME needs. Lissette further said, "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." He contrasted Bebop's capability with earlier generations of business-to-business sales software, which he described as depending largely on SQL queries with interfaces optimised to simplify data retrieval. According to Lissette, Bebop's design provides a distinct experience by understanding both the offerings of a business and its relevant target market, ultimately helping to generate actionable insights for revenue generation. Lissette stated, "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." Product development and outlook Bebop was built and brought to market within 90 days, which the company credits to its ongoing investment in its proprietary Pearl Engine software and underlying data infrastructure. The company suggests this effort illustrates its ongoing technology-driven approach to product development. Lissette added, "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." He continued, "Bebop's rapid market-fit means our line of sight on NZD $20 million ARR is even clearer. And this also will greatly contribute to our medium target of NZD $50 million ARR." Karen Cargill, Interim Chief Financial Officer, remarked, "We have deliberately invested since our capital raise into platform 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."
Techday NZ
02-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Bebop reaches USD $1.2 million ARR in 45 days with SME focus
Bebop, an AI-driven sales enablement product developed by Black Pearl Group, has recorded USD $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within 45 days of its market launch. The announcement highlights Bebop as being the fastest-growing product in the company's portfolio, reaching its ARR milestone at twice the speed set by Pearl Diver, another product from the same company that attained USD $10 million in ARR over 24 months. Access for SMEs According to Black Pearl Group, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally found themselves excluded from access to high-quality sales intelligence due to the cost and scale of established platforms such as ZoomInfo, Clearbit, and Apollo. Bebop is intended to address this gap. The company reports that Bebop provides rapid access to highly targeted lists of verified decision-makers at millions of US-based companies, supported by personalised strategic dossiers. Nick Lissette, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the product's rapid uptake: "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" Positioned on cost The company states that Bebop delivers sales intelligence tools similar in function to existing enterprise solutions but is priced to make such tools accessible to SMEs. This approach, Black Pearl Group claims, meets growing demand for AI-based and cost-effective sales applications tailored to SME needs. Lissette further said, "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." He contrasted Bebop's capability with earlier generations of business-to-business sales software, which he described as depending largely on SQL queries with interfaces optimised to simplify data retrieval. According to Lissette, Bebop's design provides a distinct experience by understanding both the offerings of a business and its relevant target market, ultimately helping to generate actionable insights for revenue generation. Lissette stated, "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." Product development and outlook Bebop was built and brought to market within 90 days, which the company credits to its ongoing investment in its proprietary Pearl Engine software and underlying data infrastructure. The company suggests this effort illustrates its ongoing technology-driven approach to product development. Lissette added, "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." He continued, "Bebop's rapid market-fit means our line of sight on USD $20 million ARR is even clearer. And this also will greatly contribute to our medium target of USD $50 million ARR." Karen Cargill, Interim Chief Financial Officer, remarked, "We have deliberately invested since our capital raise into platform 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."
