Copyright farmersweekly
Reading Time: < 1 minute New Zealand agritech company Mindhive Global has secured funding to accelerate its development as a key player in global leather manufacturing. Mindhive’s technology transforms leather quality assessment from manual inspection – a process unchanged for millennia – into precision AI-driven grading that delivers verified hide data within seconds. The company says its machine vision technology transforms leather inspection into verified business intelligence, helping manufacturers optimise production, reduce waste, and make data-driven decisions across their operations. The Series A funding was led by agritech venture capital firm Cultivate Ventures, with strong participation from existing shareholders. Mindhive Global chair Debra Hall said the strong support from existing shareholders in this round reflects their confidence in the technology and the exceptional market opportunity ahead. “This funding enables us to capitalise on the momentum we’ve built with industry leaders worldwide and establish Mindhive as the global standard for leather-quality intelligence.” The funding will allow Mindhive to scale up on the back of a year of exceptional growth. The company’s staff expanded from eight to 37 across four countries. It established operations in nine countries, and secured a partnership with JBS Couros, the world’s largest leather processor. Mindhive’s growth trajectory has earned it recognition as a New Zealand technology leader, winning two NZ Hi-Tech Awards in 2025 and reaching finalist status in two NZ International Business Awards categories. The Series A funding will support expanded deployment of Mindhive’s technology across key markets including Brazil and Europe, and strategic opportunities in Asia, while accelerating product development and strengthening the company’s position as the leather industry transitions toward data-driven manufacturing.
