Company founder predicts US$1bn valuation within next five years as develops quality assessment tools and possible trading platform
Auckland-based technology company Hectre has raised US$12mn in its latest funding round, with founder and CEO Matty Blomfield predicting the group will have revenue in excess of US$100mn and be worth US$1bn within the next five years.
Speaking to the NZ Herald, Blomfield said the financial injection would allow the group to develop a new, AI-powered scanner, as well as an online trading platform – also built using AI technology – which will “move the balance of power back to fruit producers”.
“The current supply chain is asymmetric in favour of retailers,” he told the newspaper. “That’s largely an information and data problem. I believe we can address this for the benefit of everyone – and especially growers.”
The company, which specialises in orchard management software and AI-driven fruit quality assessment tools, said the financial injection would support and accelerate its development.
It already works with a number of leading fruit suppliers around the world, including Vog in Italy, Nufri and Verfrut in Spain, and Borton Fruit in the US state of Washington.
Hectre’s latest funding round was led by Punakaiki Fund, with participation from Cultivate Ventures and Nuance Connected Capital.
Punakaiki Fund partner Nadine Hill told the NZ Herald that her organisation had welcomed greater interest from wealthy investors that had taken advantage of New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus scheme – known informally as ‘golden visas’ – introduced in April 2025.
