‘Billionaire Bunkers’ Peter Thiel bets millions on startup that offers ‘AI collar’ for Cows and is valued at $2 billion – The Times of India
Halter, the New Zealand-based startup specializing in artificial intelligence-powered cow collars, has secured $220 million in fresh capital to scale its technology globally. The global agtech company transforming cattle farming has announced that it has raised $220 million in Series E funding at a $2 billion valuation. The deal was spearheaded by American entrepreneur Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, coming on the heels of a $100 million round led by Mary Meeker’s Bond Capital and Australia’s biggest venture capital firm, Blackbird Ventures.The company’s primary offering consists of solar-powered collars integrated with a mobile app, allowing ranchers to track animal locations, monitor health and breeding cycles, and even move herds remotely via vibrations and audio cues. Halter positions its technology as a solution to these economic pressures by reducing labor costs and catching illnesses early, placing it at the forefront of the “precision farming” movement alongside heavyweights like Merck & Co.
Peter Thiel is a long time investor in New Zealand born, American startup Halter
Thiel is best known for being a member of the so-called “PayPal mafia” and defence intelligence company Palantir Technologies. He is also said to be one of the residents of Miami’s famous ‘Billionaire Bunkers’. Thiel received New Zealand citizenship in the year 2011 and has reportedly backed Halter since 2018. Incidentally, Thiel got New Zealand citizenship despite spending just 12 days in the country. His fast-tracked citizenship, bypassing the standard requirement of 1,350 days of residency, had sparked widespread debate then.
Halter has presence across New Zealand, Australia, and America
Halter claims to serve more than 2000 ranchers and farmers across New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S., with a million of its solar-powered collars now sold. Since launching in the U.S. in 2024, American ranchers using Halter have built 60,000 miles of virtual fencing as part of how they manage their land, with Halter working alongside them.“We started Halter because we believed technology could fundamentally change what it means to run a ranch, and enable ranchers to use innovation to build long-term futures on their land,” said Craig Piggott, CEO and founder of New Zealand-born Halter in a release. “Our ranchers need tools that work, and the fact that they’re using Halter tells us our technology has earned their trust. This raise lets us bring it to far more of them – and faster.”The deep tech company’s GPS-enabled collars use audio cues and gentle vibrations to contain and herd cattle within virtual boundaries, allowing ranchers to move herds from a smartphone – without breaking ground or stringing wire.“Agriculture is a multi-trillion-dollar industry that feeds the world, yet remains one of the least digitized sectors on earth,” said Founders Fund Partner Amin Mirzadegan. “Halter is changing that by bringing software, sensors, and AI directly into livestock operations in a way that ranchers actually adopt. Craig’s deep understanding of the ranchers he serves has enabled the company to build something that’s not just useful, but mission-critical to how ranches run.”Halter will deploy the new capital to grow its commercial and field operations across the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia, while expanding into other international markets, starting with Ireland and the U.K. later this year. The company already has early ranches in Canada and is also exploring further expansion in North and South America this year.Investment will continue across product development, including animal health monitoring and pasture management, shaped by how customers are using the system in the field. The focus remains on supporting the ranchers and farmers building their operations with Halter.Halter plans to hire more than 200 people – said to be its largest-ever hiring effort – with a focus on product, engineering, and customer roles at its Auckland headquarter.