Meliora buys Backchat Media to expand into New Zealand

Meliora has acquired New Zealand digital consultancy Backchat Media, giving the business a presence in New Zealand.

As part of the transaction, Backchat founder Mel Lee will join Meliora as an equity partner. The deal adds a boutique digital strategy, performance and content business to Meliora's operations across the Asia-Pacific region.

Founded by entrepreneur Clive Dickens, Meliora describes itself as an advisory, ventures and creative business with hubs in Sydney, Los Angeles and London. The acquisition makes Auckland its latest base, extending its regional network.

Established in Auckland in 2015, Backchat has worked with clients including Seven West Media, Singtel Optus, Mediaworks NZ, the New Zealand Government, Les Mills International, NBC Universal and independent agencies. Its work has focused on digital strategy, content and marketing services across APAC.

The transaction marks another step in Meliora's international expansion strategy. It also broadens the services it can offer organisations in media, technology and digital markets, where companies are reassessing products, marketing and growth plans as artificial intelligence reshapes business models.

Regional Build-out

For Meliora, the acquisition provides a local foothold in New Zealand and adds specialist expertise in digital performance and strategy. Backchat will be integrated into Meliora's broader advisory and creative offering for clients in APAC and other markets.

Lee described the deal as the next stage for the Auckland business.

"Backchat has always focused on helping brands and organisations navigate the fast-moving digital landscape with smart strategy, strong storytelling and measurable outcomes," said Mel Lee, founder of Backchat Media and partner at Meliora.

"Joining Meliora allows us to scale that philosophy with an international team at the intersection of technology, creativity and product thinking. I'm incredibly excited to become a partner in Meliora, help establish its presence in New Zealand, and bring our digital and performance capabilities into the wider Meliora offering."

Her appointment also gives Meliora another senior operator with experience across media and communications businesses in Australia and New Zealand. That is significant in a market where advisory groups are seeking to combine consulting with product, content and growth expertise rather than rely on a single discipline.

Fund Activity

The acquisition follows the recent launch of Meliora Ventures Fund One, an AI-focused investment fund targeting chief technology officer-led startups developing artificial intelligence applications. The fund is focused on vertical AI companies, generative AI products and software-as-a-service businesses that use AI as a differentiator.

Meliora says the fund combines investment with advisory support in product development and commercial growth. It has already invested in IV.AI, Relevance AI and Source, and has also announced investments in Springboards.AI and StoryDesk.AI.

Strategic advisers to the fund include Shazam co-founder Chris Barton and former Singtel Optus and Seven West Media executive William Hedberg. Their involvement highlights Meliora's effort to link corporate advisory work, startup investment and creative services under one umbrella.

That model has become more common as firms seek to generate revenue from consulting, equity stakes and project work at the same time. In Meliora's case, the purchase of Backchat extends that approach into New Zealand while adding digital marketing and content expertise to the group.

Founder View

Dickens said the addition of Backchat would strengthen Meliora's work across the region.

"Meliora was built to help ambitious companies navigate the intersection of AI technology, creativity and human intelligence. Mel has built a fantastic business with Backchat, and bringing that strategy and digital performance capability into Meliora further strengthens what we can offer clients across APAC and beyond."

The deal also reflects continued consolidation among smaller specialist agencies and consultancies in Australia and New Zealand. Buyers are seeking niche firms with established client relationships and clear expertise in areas such as digital performance, strategy and content, particularly as clients demand closer links between marketing outcomes, product development and AI-led change.

With Auckland now joining its existing hubs in Sydney, Los Angeles and London, Meliora's operating footprint spans four cities. Backchat's client history includes Seven West Media, Singtel Optus, Mediaworks NZ, the New Zealand Government, Les Mills International and NBC Universal.