Kiwi AI tech company Blackpearl Group heading to Australia for dual listing on the ASX

The business has also has signed a conditional agreement to acquire US-based AI sales automation company B2B Rocket, which specialises in intelligent outbound sales agents that can generate, qualify and engage leads without human input.

The platform has more than US$2.1 million (NZ$3.4m) in annual recurring revenue (ARR) as it expands across the US. The deal is a combination of cash payment and an equity component in Black Pearl Group – US$4m in cash and 1.725 million BPG shares. The agreement includes performance-based payments of up to US$8m over five years, including up to US$2.5m in BPG shares (at the prevailing market price).

The performance payments are linked to B2B Rocket hitting revenue milestones of around US$20 million (NZ$34 million) in ARR.

BPG shares are up more than 6% in morning trade today to NS$1.20 on the news.

“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,”   Lissette said.

“Their AI-powered outbound engine is the perfect complement to what we offer with Pearl Diver. 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.”

Pearl Diver gives businesses transparency over their data, from who’s visiting their website and how to contact them to reduces costs per lead and grow revenue .

“This is far more than just a bolt-on,” Lissette said of the B2B Rocket acquisition.

“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.”

Earlier this year Blackpearl released Bebop, an AI-powered sales intelligence platform designed to replace cold calls. Within 45 days from release it hit NZ$1.2 million in ARR.

“B2B Rocket’s agentic technology is a perfect fit alongside both Pearl Diver and Bebop. I’ve personally sat in on customer demos for Pearl Diver where we’ve been asked, ‘Can you integrate with B2B Rocket?’,” Lisette said.

“Leveraging AI agents for customer outreach – across email, LinkedIn, and AI-driven phone calls – opens up new, ultra-affordable channels to help our customers find more customers. B2B Rocket is experiencing impressive growth on its own. With the integration of Blackpearl Group’s proprietary data engine, the Pearl Engine, we see a clear opportunity to act as a force multiplier to further accelerate that momentum. Coupled with cross-sell opportunities, this is a classic 1 + 1 = 3.”

The B2B Rocket acquisition is expected is complete in August 2025.

Blackpearl was founded in 2012,  is based in Wellington, New Zealand, and Phoenix, Arizona. The company listed on the NZX in December 2022.