Michael Tolo

Investment Stage

Focus Areas

About Investor

Michael Tolo is a Partner at Blackbird Ventures with prior investing experience at Playground Global and Future Fund and a focus on technically ambitious companies. Their firm focuses on very early-stage Australian and New Zealand startups across deep tech, AI, software, climate, healthcare, consumer technology, and frontier science. The Partner role indicates meaningful involvement in sourcing, diligence, investment decisions, portfolio support, or firm strategy depending on seniority and mandate. Founders should consider this investor when the company's stage, sector, geography, and technical depth align with the investor's direct experience and the firm's established investment thesis. Their background can be especially useful around product-market fit, go-to-market planning, hiring, fundraising, strategic partnerships, and the milestones required for the next financing round. They may also provide access to domain experts, experienced operators, prospective customers, co-investors, and later-stage capital through the firm's network. For founders comparing investors, the strongest fit is where the investor's sector knowledge, decision-making authority, and operating or investing background match the specific challenges the company expects to face after the round.