Hectre secures $12 million Series A investment to accelerate AI innovation

New Zealand-based agtech company Hectre has announced the successful completion of a $12 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by prominent investors in the country, including Punakaiki Fund, Cultivate Ventures, and Nuance Connected Capital.

Originally aiming to raise $10 million, the company exceeded its target as investors recognized the growing demand for data-driven solutions in the horticultural sector. The fresh produce industry continues to face operational inefficiencies and limited access to reliable quality data at the harvest and packhouse levels.

“Some of the hardest-working people in our sector are often paid the least. This is largely a data issue. Hectre is helping to address this imbalance,” said CEO Matty Blomfield.

To mark the funding milestone, the company hosted New Zealand’s Minister of Immigration, Hon Erica Stanford MP, at its Auckland headquarters as part of the AIP Visa programme, which has now surpassed $3 billion in investment.

According to Minister Stanford, 573 applications have been received to date, totalling approximately $3.39 billion in investment, with over $1.05 billion already committed. This compares to 116 applications and around $70 million invested over two and a half years under previous visa settings.

Hectre wants to define the future of ag

During the visit, the company also showcased its long-term vision and provided a live demonstration of its Hectre Arc solution, designed to support growers and packhouses with data-driven decision-making.

Founded in 2017, the firm currently operates in 22 countries worldwide and works with some of the largest fruit packhouses globally.

The company is now developing hyperspectral imaging technology to detect both internal and external fruit defects and assess maturity earlier in the supply chain.

The newly secured investment will support continued AI development and global expansion as the industry increasingly seeks solutions to improve efficiency and fruit quality across fresh produce operations.

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