Aroa comes unstuck thanks to US partnership

A strategy of outsourcing sales may have come unstuck for Aroa Biosurgery. (Image: SUPPLIED))

Wed, 26 Mar 2025

It was a smart way for a cash-poor startup to tackle the all-important US market: outsource sales of a part of your product line-up, which would help save cash while driving quick revenue gains.But for Auckland-based Aroa Biosurgery, this strategy just may have come unstuck.Aroa, which cleverly uses material from sheep gut for wound closure products, teamed up with a US outfit, Tela Bio, to tackle the large US medical supplies market.Near-term prospectsDuring covid a few years back, Tela Bio shares were changing hands at around US$15 (NZ$26.18)...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets

Asian markets lift on US/Japan trade talks

Shares in Tokyo rose along with Hong Kong and others.

AFP 4:00pm

Economy

RBNZ assistant governor resigns

The announcement comes just weeks after governor Adrian Orr suddenly quit.

John Anthony 3:35pm

Markets

Trumpfugees? US investors top golden visa list

More than $300m in new investment could be NZ bound thanks to revamped visa programme.

Rebecca Stevenson 2:00pm

Trumpfugees? US investors top golden visa list

Sponsored

Bayleys Total Property Issue 3 out now

Backed by Bayleys’ national strength and global reach

Bayleys

Sponsored

Go beyond reporting zero emissions

Clean energy that helps businesses and communities thrive

Meridian Energy

More Markets

Markets

Asian markets lift on US/Japan trade talks

Shares in Tokyo rose along with Hong Kong and others.

AFP 4:00pm

Markets

Trumpfugees? US investors top golden visa list

More than $300m in new investment could be NZ bound thanks to revamped visa programme.

Rebecca Stevenson 2:00pm

Markets

Tourism Holdings says trade war to take a toll on net profit

Recent global geopolitical and tariff developments have significantly weakened the operating environment for Tourism Holdings (THL).In an update to the NZX, the business expects its underlying net profit after tax for the 2025 financial year to be “significantly under” the curren...

Staff reporters 10:20am

Markets

'Take some tariffs on the chin': the M&A outlook under Trump

How private equity firms and M&A experts are navigating through the market noise.

Rebecca Stevenson 5:00am

Aroa comes unstuck thanks to US partnership

More Markets

Your company has a subscription

Team