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“I hadn't heard about venture capital and didn't fully understand the process but after an eight month courtship of getting to know each other, I soon realised just what VC could bring to the table.” Luke Anear, CEO, SafetyCulture
“Most of all we loved Luke's passion for safety and his rare insights into the way it could be improved,” Rick Baker.
Like most good business ideas, the concept for SafetyCulture was created in Luke Anear’s garage. After working as a private investigator focused mostly on workers compensation claims, Luke wanted to be part of the solution rather than the problem.
"After working as a private investigator focused mostly on workers compensation claims, Luke wanted to be part of the solution rather than the problem."
So in 2004, Luke created a worksite safety document business for the construction industry. A variety of training materials which assisted businesses to meet compliant requirements/relevant safety standards creating safer places to work.
Sold online, these training materials were soon being relied on by 50,000 construction companies Australia-wide.
The training materials became the core of SafetyCulture’s next evolution and by 2012, a time when almost everyone used a smartphone, iAuditor was born – a free app offering a safety check-list that now puts the power in the hands of employees.
The efficiency of conducting these processes from the groundup can’t be overstated. The cost savings, reduction in paperwork and all around lower reliance on human resources had huge impacts on businesses of all shapes and sizes – from the world’s biggest airlines to research teams in Antarctica.
"The efficiency of conducting these processes from the groundup can't be overstated."
“One client says using iAuditor has reduced their insurance claims by 15% in 18 months, while another has cut its inspection times by half,” said Anear.
In 2013, this fast-growing business caught the eye of Blackbird Ventures founder, Rick Baker.
“We loved that a small team of eight based in Townsville had managed to create a product that had thousands of users all over the world in a short period of time.”
“Most of all we loved Luke's passion for safety and his rare insights into the way it could be improved,” said Baker.
SafetyCulture was an ideal fit for Blackbird given it’s a techbased business with global ambitions and Rick knew he had the networks to take it beyond Australian shores.
“It was changing the way people think about safety; it was global from day one with a "bottom up" sales model where people use the product and champion it within an organisation,” said Baker.
At the time, it was Blackbird’s biggest investment ($1 million) and it also received funding from Atlassian co-founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar who were first to reassure Luke about the benefits of venture capital to grow the business.
“I hadn’t heard about venture capital and didn’t fully understand the process but after an eight month courtship of getting to know each other, I soon realised just what VC could bring to the table” said Anear.
With its first round of funding, SafetyCulture was able to hire 21 people in eight weeks which eventually brought it to Sydney where it could hire the right people for its business challenges.
In the following three rounds of funding, SafetyCulture was able to invest in rebuilding the back-end which help set it up for the dynamic growth it’s experienced in the past two years. Blackbird was proudly involved in all four rounds of funding.
"In the following three rounds of funding, SafetyCulture was able to invest in rebuilding the backend which help set it up for the dynamic growth it's experienced in the past two years."
From day one Blackbird Ventures helped with key decision making, from operational and hiring decisions as well as financial reporting and internal metrics. The biggest benefit by far was the introduction to some highly influential people including those in Silicon Valley with invaluable advice.
"The biggest benefit by far was the introduction to some highly influential people including those in Silicon Valley with invaluable advice."
“Blackbird is all about founders helping founders and most of our investors in Blackbird are tech founders. In this case we introduced Scott Farquhar (co-founder of Atlassian) who became a close friend and mentor for Luke and ended up investing in the company,” said Baker.
Rick says he’s most proud of being able to support Luke’s growing ambitions as the company goes global with offices in Kansas City and Manchester employing over 120 people.
“We’re incredibly proud to support an exceptional Aussie founder and be able to help as his ambition grows,” said Baker.
"The cost savings, reduction in paperwork and all around lower reliance on human resources had huge impacts on businesses of all shapes and sizes."
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