New Zealand tech company Fergus raises $3.5 million to drive global expansion
Fergus, the leading job management platform for growing trades businesses in New Zealand, announced today a $3.5 million
AUD investment led by Sydney-based, Microequities Venture Capital Fund.
The financing will be used to accelerate growth in Australia, and further its global expansion as the go-to job
management software for the trades industry. As part of the financing, Howard Leibman, from the Microequities Venture
Capital Fund, will join the Fergus Board of Directors.
With thousands of tradesmen around the world already using Fergus and heavily relying on its features to run their
day-to-day operations, Mr Leibman believes Fergus has demonstrated significant early potential to dominate the market
for job management software globally. "Fergus is becoming increasingly embedded in the Australian trades and services
sector and is enjoying early traction in key international markets. Funds raised in this round will allow Fergus to
appropriately resource its sales and marketing capabilities, and to ultimately replicate the success achieved in New
Zealand, in Australia and beyond,” Mr Leibman said.
Fergus was founded in 2011 by veteran trades businessman, Dan Pollard, who has over 20 years experience in the trades
industry. Mr Pollard’s experience includes founding and managing one of the largest plumbing maintenance companies in
New Zealand, giving him an intimate understanding of the many challenges faced in the sector. “Fergus was built because
I needed a software solution to help manage my business and the products available in the market just weren’t up to
scratch,” Mr Pollard said.
After building Fergus to provide a solution for his own plumbing company, Mr Pollard saw his business catapult from a
4-vehicle operation, to a 15-vehicle plumbing empire in just 4 years. This was a feat previously difficult to achieve
due to the stress and administrative burden associated with trying to expand a trades business.
“After I saw the success it brought to my business I realised I had tapped into something special and had to roll Fergus
out further.” Mr Pollard.
Mr Leibman also commented that he has seen first hand the extent to which Fergus helps its customers transform their
operations, with thousands of users crediting the software as a driving force to create the efficiencies and
profitability needed to grow their business.
He believes this unusual level of advocacy has helped Fergus achieve its significant early adoption, primarily through
word of mouth.
“Customers are telling us that Fergus has become a critical aspect to their own ability to manage their businesses.
We’re certain that Fergus has developed the best job management product for the mid-market trades sector and we look
forward to working with Dan and the team to help establish a dominant market position in Australia and beyond.”
Mr Pollard is excited to be working on the next phase of Fergus’ global expansion with the support of Microequities
Venture Capital Fund.
“The investors supporting this round are bringing decades of experience in helping technology companies scale. Having
such a strong sign of support gives our team real confidence about the path we’re taking.”
Interviews with CEO of Fergus, Dan Pollard, and Howard Leibman from Microequities Venture Capital Fund available on
request.
-ENDS