Auckland PR startup Drumbeat closes NZ$2M seed, hiring for AU expansion
Drumbeat, an Auckland-founded AI-powered PR and communications platform, closed NZ$2 million (A$1.64M) in seed funding led by Icehouse Ventures with support from Brand Fund.
The company launched in March 2026 and has already signed 50+ customers across New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and the United States. Current headcount: 8 people. The capital will fund expansion into Australia and the US, which means sales hiring is coming.
Leadership team:
- Barney Chunn, CEO (co-founder, previously CONQA)
- Fallon Savery, co-founder/CRO (ex-SVP Revenue at Timely)
- Aaron Croft, co-founder/CPO (ex-Head of Product at Hectre)
Savery's presence as CRO with Timely SaaS revenue experience suggests a product-led sales motion targeting high-growth companies. No public OTE or headcount targets yet, but seed rounds this size in ANZ typically support 3-5 go-to-market hires in year one.
What they sell: AI-driven PR platform for startups and scaleups. Media relations management, content generation, campaign tracking, media clipping. Positioning against traditional PR agencies and generic martech tools. The pitch: consistent brand awareness through storytelling, not one-off announcements.
Market context: Drumbeat came out of venture studio New+Improved Ventures, which also built Tracksuit (brand tracking) and Ideally (market research). Backers include Australian marketers Adam Ferrier (Thinkerbell) and Henry Innis (Mutinex), which adds credibility in the marketing buyer segment.
The four-market customer footprint (NZ, AU, UK, US) before hitting double-digit headcount signals they are selling to startups with international ambition, not just local SMEs. That means outbound motion, likely founder-led initially.
What to watch: AU expansion timing, first dedicated AE hires, and whether they staff Sydney or Melbourne first. Series A typically happens 12-18 months post-seed if they hit growth targets. No public ARR or revenue figures disclosed.