Halter Achieves Unicorn Status with $100 Million Fundraise for US Expansion

Auckland-based agtech startup, Halter, has successfully raised $100 million in a Series D funding round, elevating its valuation to $1 billion and marking it as one of New Zealand's limited unicorn companies. The funding round, driven by Bond, the tech investment firm, and supported by venture capital entities such as NewView, Bessemer Venture Partners, DCVC, Blackbird, Icehouse Ventures, and Promus Ventures, underscores the growing reliance on technological solutions within the dairy sector. Halter specializes in a cattle management system that employs smart collars, connectivity towers, and a mobile app, enabling virtual cattle management via sound and vibration cues. This technological approach aims to heighten grazing efficiency while reducing environmental impact. The additional capital is earmarked for expansion within the U.S. market, where Halter is currently collaborating with over 150 ranchers across 18 states. The expansion is timely, given the increasingly pressing issue of labor shortages exacerbated by immigration policies under past U.S. administrations. Halter's CEO, Craig Piggott, states the company empowers smaller teams of farmers to manage livestock effectively, addressing the industry's current labor challenges.