Onside, a New Zealand agtech company headquartered in Christchurch, announced on 22 September 2026 that it has acquired Assura, another Christchurch-based software business, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction expands Onside's platform for contractor management, biosecurity, health and safety, and quality assurance with Assura's configurable workflow software. The combined business now supports more than 60,000 users across New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Fiji.
Transaction Overview
Both companies were founded in Christchurch, and the acquisition brings together two established teams serving the agricultural sector with complementary product capabilities and shared market focus. Assura's software covers health and safety, risk management, compliance, contractor management, irrigation, and other business workflows that help agricultural operations run efficiently. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed, while the combined business now supports more than 60,000 users across six countries.
Strategic Rationale
Onside said the acquisition will help agricultural businesses connect operational data across the agriculture ecosystem, improving risk visibility, decision making, and compliance management. The company believes producers, service providers, and large multi-site enterprises face increasing pressure to manage compliance and risk across increasingly complex operations. By integrating Assura's workflow tools, Onside aims to give customers a single view of activity from farm gate check-ins to market access requirements.
Growth and Capital Plans
Onside reported that its annual recurring revenue grew by 114% over the past 12 months, although the company did not disclose a specific revenue figure. The business has begun a capital raising process to support expansion, recruitment, technology development, and growth in international markets, but it did not reveal a target amount. The acquisition adds an experienced team and established enterprise customer relationships, which Onside expects to strengthen its platform for continued international growth.
Leadership and Integration
Assura CEO Hamish Howard will join Onside's leadership team to support the company's growth following the transaction. Onside cofounder and CEO Ryan Higgs said customers have been asking for a more integrated way to run their operations, and Assura allows the company to move faster on that objective. Howard added that the businesses are complementary, the teams know the sector well, and there is a shared commitment to building software purpose-built for agriculture.
Company Background
Founded in 2015, Onside says its platform is used across 25,000 properties and has recorded more than eight million property check-ins. The company has a team of 60 people across Christchurch and Melbourne, serving customers in multiple agricultural segments. Its customer list includes poultry genetics businesses Cobb Vantress and Hendrix Genetics, meat processor ANZCO Foods, pig genetics company PIC, and farm management business FarmRight.
Market Context
The acquisition comes as agricultural businesses face growing regulatory and operational complexity across multiple countries. Onside's platform already supports customers in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Fiji, reflecting the international scope of modern agribusiness. Integrating Assura's configurable workflows could help Onside address a wider range of enterprise needs.
Onside's acquisition of Assura marks a significant step in consolidating operational intelligence tools for the agriculture industry. The move combines complementary Christchurch software businesses and positions Onside to serve a broader international customer base as it prepares for further capital raising. If the integration delivers on its promise, agricultural businesses could gain a more unified view of safety, biosecurity, compliance, and market access.