Draft:Craig Piggott
New Zealand engineer and entrepreneur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Craig Piggott is a New Zealand engineer and entrepreneur, best known as the founder and chief executive officer of Halter, an agritech company that develops livestock management technology using virtual fencing systems.[1]
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Craig Piggott | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1994 New Zealand |
| Education | St Peter's School, Cambridge |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland (BE(Hons)) |
| Occupations | Engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Developing virtual fencing technology |
| Title | Founder and chief executive officer of Halter |
| Awards | New Zealand Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award (2020) Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2021) EY Entrepreneur of the Year New Zealand (2024) New Zealand Innovator of the Year (2026) |
He has been recognised as one of New Zealand’s emerging technology entrepreneurs, with Halter becoming one of the country’s fastest-growing companies and expanding into international markets.[2]
Early life
Piggott grew up on dairy farms in the Waikato region, where he was exposed to the routines and demands of farm life from an early age.[3] His parents worked as sharemilkers, often working long hours, before purchasing their own farm.[4]
During this time, he developed practical skills and an understanding of livestock behaviour, alongside an early interest in automation and problem-solving.[3]
He attended St Peter's School in Cambridge as a boarding student and later studied mechanical engineering at the University of Auckland. He initially struggled academically before improving his performance and graduating with First Class Honours.[5]
While at university, he participated in Formula SAE and the Velocity entrepreneurship programme, developing an interest in tackling complex engineering challenges.[5]
Career
Early career
Piggott joined Rocket Lab as a mechanical engineer during his final year of university.[5]
He later described the experience as formative, particularly exposure to a high-performance start-up environment and the process of raising capital to build a new industry.[3]
After approximately nine months, he left Rocket Lab to start his own company focused on applying engineering and automation to agriculture.[5]
Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck supported the venture and became an early investor and board member.[4]
Halter
Piggott founded Halter in 2016 at the age of 22, with the aim of improving how farmers manage livestock.[5]
Early prototypes were developed and tested on his family farm, with the product evolving through extensive on-farm experimentation and feedback from farmers.[3]
Under his leadership, Halter developed a system using GPS-enabled collars and software to enable farmers to manage livestock and grazing remotely without physical fencing.[1]
The company expanded from New Zealand into Australia and the United States, supported by multiple funding rounds and rapid growth.[1]
Halter has grown to employ several hundred staff and has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in investment as it scaled internationally.[2]
In 2024, Halter ranked first on New Zealand’s Deloitte Fast 50 index, recording revenue growth of 1,539 per cent over three years.[6]
In 2025, the company raised US$100 million at a valuation of approximately US$1 billion.[1]
Subsequent reporting indicated that Halter was in discussions to raise additional funding led by Founders Fund at a valuation of more than US$2 billion, with some reports suggesting valuations of up to US$3.3 billion.[7][8]
Approach and leadership
Piggott has been described as a hands-on founder who remains closely involved in product development.[2]
He has emphasised resilience in building Halter, noting that several years of development and substantial investment were required before the product proved viable.[2]
His leadership approach has focused on team performance and collective outcomes, with an emphasis on autonomy and decision-making within the organisation.[2]
His background in farming has also influenced his approach, with a focus on developing technology that integrates into real farm environments and responds to feedback from farmers.[3]
Views on agriculture
Piggott has argued that agriculture has historically been underserved by technology, and that there is significant opportunity to improve productivity and sustainability through innovation.[3]
He has emphasised that technology should support farmers’ knowledge rather than replace it, particularly in areas such as grazing management and animal health.[3]
Honours and awards
Piggott received the New Zealand Hi-Tech Young Achiever Award in 2020.[9]
He was included in the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list.[10]
In 2024, he won the Technology and Emerging Industries category at EY New Zealand's Entrepreneur of the Year awards.[11]
In 2025, he was named Young Alumnus of the Year by the University of Auckland.[12]
In 2026, he was named New Zealand Innovator of the Year at the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards.[3]
He was also shortlisted in the startup category of the BusinessDesk CEO Index.[2]