Onside announces board changes and $1.1m capital raise

PRESS RELEASE

 

3 March 2025, Christchurch, New Zealand – Onside announces changes to its Board of Directors as the company continues its rapid growth and expansion.

 

After 10 years on Onside’s board, Co-founder and Chairman Michael Falconer and Co-founder and Director Juliet Maclean are stepping down. Onside extends its gratitude to Michael and Juliet for their leadership and contributions, which have been instrumental in the company’s early-stage success.

 

Michael and Juliet have played a foundational role in shaping Onside’s vision and success. As early champions of the company, they have guided Onside from a startup to a high-growth agritech business. Their leadership, governance, industry expertise, and passion for innovation have been instrumental in establishing Onside as a market leader.

 

“Michael and Juliet’s contributions to Onside have been immense,” said Ryan Higgs, Onside’s co-founder and CEO. “Their vision and leadership have not only shaped our company but also driven meaningful change in agritech. We’re incredibly grateful for their impact and look forward to carrying their legacy forward as we enter our next chapter.”

 

In their place, Onside is pleased to welcome two new directors:

 

Steve Howse (Chairman) brings a wealth of experience in commercial science, agribusiness, and corporate governance, with a strong track record in entrepreneurship and business leadership. With a degree in Agricultural Science, Steve has divided his executive career between agribusiness (LIC) and the commercial laboratory sector (GM of Hill Laboratories, co-founder of Analytica Laboratories, and currently with ALS (ASX-listed)). Steve actively invests in early-stage companies through Purpose Capital, Enterprise Angels, and Icehouse Ventures. In addition to Onside he has governance roles with Virscient and NZ Animal Evaluation. His deep industry knowledge, governance expertise, and investor mindset make him an ideal Chair for Onside’s next phase of growth.

 

Mark Tisdel (Director) an experienced CFO and advisor in high-growth SaaS, based in the United States. Mark has held both public and private leadership roles at PeopleSoft, Model N, and Mineral, and has deep ties to New Zealand from his time as CFO of Orion Health. His expertise in scaling SaaS businesses internationally and his strong financial and operational acumen will be invaluable as we expand globally. Mark also advises Aportio Technologies, bringing a powerful mix of global insight and local presence.

 

Steve and Mark join existing board members Nick Fogarty (ex-Seequent), Fallon Savery (Timely, ex-Auror and Vend), and Ryan Higgs (Onside co-founder and CEO).

 

“These appointments come at a pivotal time for Onside,” said Ryan Higgs. “As we expand our product offering to the agri-enterprise market and scale internationally, Mark and Steve’s strategic expertise will be invaluable in driving our next phase of growth.”

 

This leadership transition follows Onside’s recent $1.1 million capital raise, which will fuel ongoing product innovation and development while supporting the company’s global market expansion efforts. With a strong focus on enhancing its offering for agri-enterprise customers, Onside is well-positioned to scale its impact and explore new opportunities in international markets.

 

Onside remains committed to transforming agribusiness through delivering solutions that improve safety, and biosecurity for rural communities worldwide.