Workplace wellness start-up Sonder has raised $35 million in Series B funding.

The round was led by existing lender Blackbird Ventures with SEEK Investments and SecondQuarter Ventures as new investors. Blackbird’s Niki Scevak will join the company’s board of directors.

The new capital is earmarked for product improvements in safety, medical and mental health as the five-year-old company plans to expand beyond Australia and New Zealand into other international markets.

Sonder previously raised $16 million in June 2021 in a round led by existing shareholder Perennial, backed by Tidal Ventures and former LinkedIn MD Cliff Rosenberg.

Sonder’s clients include Woolworths, PwC, the University of Sydney, Toll Group, NRMA and NSW Government

There, co-founder and CEO Craig Cowdrey said: are currently too many barriers when employees seek support.

“This is despite record productivity losses caused by mental health issues in the workplace and the fact that employees increasingly expect their employers to make well-being a priority in the workplace,” he said.

“Sonder plays a role in helping organizations and their people navigate the unique safety and wellbeing challenges in their lives that are exacerbated by the new world of work and study.”

SEEK Investments managing director Damien Wodak said: “Sonder’s unique, holistic proposition helps organizations reimagine wellness support to drive healthier, happier and more productive employees and students and to meet the evolving needs of today’s hybrid workforce.”

The company has built out its C-suite, appointing former Intuit head of product Mindy Eiermann as Chief Product Officer and DocuSign APAC GM Brad Newton as Chief Sales Officer.