Kiwi Fintech Sterling Raises $3.15M to Scale AI Platform
Synopsis
Sterling is targeting the growing demand for AI-driven finance automation after securing fresh capital from Blackbird and prominent New Zealand tech investors.
New Zealand fintech Sterling AI is set to enter the financial technology space after raising NZ$$3.8 million (A$3.15 million) in its recent Seed round, which was led by Blackbird Ventures.
The round also saw participation from New Zealand’s tech investor Rowan Simpson and Eliot Crowther and firms behind Trade Me, Pushpay, Xero, and Vend.
The funds raised will be used to hire and scale the young firm’s enterprise offerings in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.
Sterling AI, founded in 2025 by Nik Wakelin and Ludwig Wendzich, connects into existing finance and accounting software to help businesses manage invoices, sync with banks, and close month-end accounts.
The company has secured initial clients such as Manukora, Storypark, and Echelon while also catching the government’s attention in its research and development programs, according to the company’s database.
The funding raised is part of the company’s journey as a start-up, having launched its products last year, with no revenue or profit details disclosed publicly.
The Sterling AI funding is timely as businesses in Australia and the US invest more in artificial intelligence technology to reinvent finance operations.
According to Gartner’s 2026 CFO Budget Priorities research, nearly 60% of CFOs would increase their finance artificial intelligence budgets by over ten percent, while a further 24% would boost the sum by 4-9%.
Finance AI Spending Growth
The research also highlights finance personnel productivity as one of the top three finance priorities for CFOs worldwide in 2026. These findings result from a survey of over 300 CFOs and senior finance executives worldwide.
The investment in AI will see Sterling AI scale its operations in New Zealand, Australia, and the US as it continues to develop software for business finance applications, including automating some financial functions.
Source: Startup Daily
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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