Buildkite raises $US21m, third tech company this week

Buildkite has become the third tech company with strong Perth connections to announce a major capital raising this week following ULUU $8.6 million and Advanced Navigation $108 million.

The software developer worked with Australian investors OneVentures and AirTree to raise $US21 million ($A31 million) to expand operations and launch new products.

Chief executive and founder Keith Pitt started the business in 2013 to develop an autonomous tool to remove software blocks and create a platform for international software developers to build, test and deploy software.

Buildkite has worked with several US software giants, including Wayfair, Shopify, Canva and Lyft and has recently launched on Amazon Web Services.

“[Our products are] used by some of the best software development teams on the planet,” Mr Pitt said in a statement.

“It’s clear that many of the other tools [our customers] use block them from doing their best work.

“With this next round of funding, I’m excited to invent new tools for the software being developed today and for the software that hasn’t even been written yet.”

OneVentures managing director and co-founder Dr Michelle Deaker said the company had strong ambitions for its Buildkite investment of $US15 million ($A20 million).

“OneVentures is delighted to back Buildkite after following its business for a number of years," Dr Deaker said.

“We were impressed by the strength of the CEO and the company’s ability to generate its quality customer base through a product-led growth approach.” 

AirTree Ventures partner James Cameron said the company was eager to support Buildkite.

“Not only has Buildkite been quietly building one of the most impressive set of developer tools in the world, they have also been building one of the most enviable customer bases we’ve ever seen,” Mr Cameron said.

Keith Pitt won Business News 40under40 award in 2022.