Sterling Raises NZ$3.8 Million to Automate Finance Workflows

Sterling, founded by Nik Wakelin and Ludwig Wendzich and registered in New Zealand on Oct. 15, 2025, is building what it calls an AI assistant accountant for finance teams. Its software is designed to handle repetitive workflows including accruals, accounts-payable intake, approvals and reporting while leaving judgment and accountability with staff. The proposition reflects a broader shift from finance chatbots toward autonomous agents that execute tasks inside accounting systems, potentially reducing month-end bottlenecks and manual-process risk.

As of Aug. 14, 2026, Sterling had closed NZ$3.8 million in funding led by Australia-and-New Zealand venture capital firm Blackbird. The startup is developing a finance “autopilot” whose agents can connect with platforms including Xero, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations and Acumatica. The financing gives the young company additional resources to advance its product and broaden adoption among finance teams seeking to automate routine work without transferring final oversight to AI.