Blackpearl Signs a US Referral Deal With No Upfront Customer Cost

Blackpearl Group has turned its US data partnership into a binding revenue share agreement that sends it new customers with no upfront acquisition cost.
By Josua Ferreira -
  • Blackpearl Group's US data partnership is now a binding revenue share agreement, moving on from the earlier plan that was not locked in.
  • The partner refers US small and mid-sized businesses outside its own customer group, so Blackpearl pays no upfront cost to win each one.
  • Referred customers sign directly with Blackpearl, which owns the customer relationship.
  • The deal builds on record growth of 114% in yearly subscription income last financial year, with no data customers lost.
  • Blackpearl will report progress in its quarterly updates, as revenue builds with each referred customer.
Summarise with AI:

Blackpearl Group signs binding US revenue share agreement

Blackpearl Group (NZX/ASX:BPG) has signed a revenue share agreement with a leading US provider of B2B buyer signal data, formalising its US data partnership.

The deal converts the non-binding heads of agreement first announced in the Q2 FY27 trading update into a binding agreement. For investors, it moves a previously flagged opportunity from intention to contract.

Key highlights from the 29 October 2026 announcement:

  • Binding agreement: the US distribution partnership is now a signed revenue share agreement
  • Referral model: the partner refers US SME businesses outside its own customer profile to Blackpearl
  • Customer ownership: Blackpearl owns the customer relationship

How the referral model works

Who the partner is and what it refers

The partner is a private equity-held company serving a large enterprise customer profile, including Fortune 500 companies, across the United States.

It refers US SME businesses outside that profile to Blackpearl.

Why the structure favours Blackpearl

Referred customers contract directly with Blackpearl for data and platform as a service under a revenue share. Blackpearl owns the customer relationship.

Because the partner originates each relationship, there is no upfront customer acquisition cost for Blackpearl.

Blackpearl US Partnership Referral Model

A partner-sourced channel adds to an already efficient go-to-market engine, with Blackpearl having reported a 3.5-month CAC payback in Q4 FY26, a 33% year-on-year improvement.

Feature What the agreement states Investor relevance
Referral source The partner refers US SME businesses outside its own customer profile The partner originates each relationship
Customer relationship Referred customers contract directly with Blackpearl under a revenue share Blackpearl owns the customer relationship
Acquisition cost The partner originates each relationship No upfront customer acquisition cost for Blackpearl

Nick Lissette, CEO

“This partnership is a strong endorsement of our data and platform strategy… Partnering with a leading US data provider gives us a direct route to that demand and builds on our momentum in the US market.”

What Data-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service mean for investors

Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) refers to selling data intelligence to customers. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) allows other companies’ products and revenue systems to run on a provider’s platform.

The agreement validates the Group’s DaaS and PaaS strategy, where Blackpearl’s data intelligence powers other companies’ products and revenue systems.

Blackpearl is powered by the Pearl Engine, a proprietary AI platform processing over 32 billion buyer signals daily. The Group operates three ventures: Pearl Diver, B2B Rocket and Bebop.

The proprietary engine behind the data offering also underpinned record FY26 ARR growth of 114%, with zero DaaS churn and a fixed-cost data supply model that supports expanding gross margins as volumes rise.

Founded in 2012, Blackpearl is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, with offices in Phoenix, Arizona, and is dual-listed on the NZX and ASX.

What happens next for Blackpearl’s US build-out

Two items follow from the agreement:

  1. Revenue build: revenue from the agreement will build as referred customers are contracted.
  2. Market updates: the Group will update the market on this progress through its quarterly updates.

For investors, the agreement represents a signed, low-acquisition-cost channel into the US SME market that builds on the Group’s momentum in the US market.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Blackpearl Group US data partnership?

It is a binding revenue share agreement with a leading US provider of business buyer data. The partner refers US small and mid-sized businesses to Blackpearl, which signs them directly.

What is a revenue share agreement?

It is a deal where two companies split the income from customers they win together. Here, referred customers contract directly with Blackpearl under a revenue share.

Who owns the customer in the Blackpearl US partnership?

Blackpearl owns the customer relationship. Referred customers sign contracts directly with Blackpearl for data and platform services.

What does Blackpearl do and where is it based?

Blackpearl is a data and platform company founded in 2012 and based in Wellington, New Zealand, with offices in Phoenix, Arizona. It is listed on both the NZX and ASX.

When will Blackpearl update investors on the US partnership?

Blackpearl says it will report progress through its quarterly updates. Revenue from the deal will build as referred customers are signed.

Josua Ferreira
By Josua Ferreira
Partnership Director
Josua Ferreira holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Advertising and brings a background in publication, business development, and ASX market storytelling. He has worked with listed companies across the resource sector and broader market, combining sharp commercial instincts with a genuine commitment to keeping investors informed.
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