Reece Group, the Australian supplier of plumbing and bathroom products, has announced the acquisition of Melbourne-based venture studio Shadowboxer and web design agency Southpaw. This move is part of Reece's innovation strategy, aimed at enhancing its capacity to fund, drive, and build innovation in-house.

Shadowboxer and Southpaw's senior teams will join Reece Group’s Breakthrough Innovation Group (BIG), alongside its venture capital arm Superseed Ventures, creative agency Trout, and innovation consultancy Next. Konrad Spilva, founder and managing partner of Shadowboxer, will take on the role of Reece’s Chief Digital Officer for Australia & New Zealand. Stephen Graham will become the General Manager of Shadowboxer and Southpaw.

"Technology and innovation are key pillars driving Reece’s 2030 vision, and the future of our industry. We’re excited to welcome Shadowboxer and Southpaw to the Group. Their teams will give BIG the skills to build world class digital products, while accelerating Reece’s strategy to be the trade’s most valuable partner," said Jeremy Crow, Reece Group Innovation Director.

Shadowboxer, founded in 2020, has built 55 products, assisted their partners with successful raises and exits to the collective value of $100 million AUD, and reinvested more than $1.9 million back into Australia’s startup ecosystem. Southpaw will play a crucial role in delivering Reece Group’s digital strategy, providing scalable and flexible web solutions for clients both locally and in the US.

"Shadowboxer and Southpaw, with their proven digital product and web building capabilities, will bolster our ability to execute on our strategy and drive change, taking ideas from prototypes into fully launched digital products. They are the perfect fit to work alongside Next and Trout," Crow added.

Konrad Spilva, founder and managing partner of Shadowboxer, said, "In four years we have been fortunate to build a world class product team, and worked with many incredible startups and corporate ventures. This acquisition is both strategic and heartfelt, honouring the legacy of our late co-founder, friend and technology Partner, Tom Ashmor who tragically passed away earlier in the year."

"We’re looking forward to doubling-down and building a long-term strategy with Reece’s global business advancing innovation in construction and trade. We’ll continue to do what we set out to do, which is work with founders and innovators to build great digital products," said Stephen Graham.

Reece's Breakthrough Innovation Group (BIG) is the company’s innovation arm with a team of over 100 people and a global mandate to drive innovation in the trade, home and built environment.