TechMates

Emily Blythe skipped university to launch a quad-bike accessory business, spent years trying to clear airport fog with drones, and eventually pivoted to solve aviation’s biggest headache through data.In this episode of TechMates, we sit down with Emily Blythe, the New Zealand tech entrepreneur and CEO of Pyper Vision. Coming from four generations of pilots, Emily seemed destined for aviation—but instead of flying planes, she’s saving them from being grounded. She shares the incredible story of her first startup "Flatpak," the brutal reality of deep tech R&D, and the gut-wrenching decision to pivot Pyper Vision from fog dispersal (using chemicals and drones) to fog forecasting after discovering a flaw in the fundamental science.This is a masterclass in resilience, "missionary" founder mindsets, and how to build a global deep tech monopoly from New Zealand. If you are interested in aviation, hard pivot stories, or the reality of building hardware and software for high-stakes industries, this episode is for you.✈️ A 4-generation legacy in aviation 🚜 Skipping uni to build "Flatpak" (her first exit) 🌫️ The "Fog Factory" myth & early experiments 🚁 Trying to clear fog with drones & chemicals 📉 The painful pivot: When the science doesn't work 🔮 How Pyper Vision now predicts fog with 84% accuracyConnect with Emily Blythe:Pyper Vision: https://www.pypervision.com/Emily’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-blythe-2b4125156/Connect with NZVC & Hosts: 🔗 Learn more about NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/ Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:55 - Emily's deep aviation family history 08:49 - Launching "Flatpak" & skipping university 15:36 - Lessons from bootstrapping a hardware business 20:39 - The "Fog Factory" lie & discovering weather modification 29:15 - How airports & pilots actually handle low visibility 46:37 - Early experiments: Fog chambers & modified leaf blowers53:14 - Testing drones in Australia during COVID 55:09 - The Big Pivot: Why dispersal didn't work 1:00:19 - Shifting to high-accuracy forecasting 1:10:18 - Advice for New Zealand founders going globalIf you found value in this story of resilience and innovation, please hit the like button, leave a comment with your thoughts on deep tech pivots, and subscribe for more conversations with world-class founders!#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #aviation, #deeptech, #entrepreneurship, #EmilyBlythe, #PyperVision, #founders, #pivot, #tech, #innovation, #airlines, #flightdelays, #weathertech, #NZVC, #venturecapital, #success, #motivation, #techmates

Jamie Beaton managed a hedge fund portfolio at Tiger Management while simultaneously taking maximum course loads at Harvard and building a startup that now generates over $300M in revenue.In this episode of TechMates, we sit down with Jamie Beaton, the New Zealand tech entrepreneur and CEO of Crimson Education. Jamie’s story is nothing short of relentless; he breaks down the massive cultural shift from New Zealand’s "tall poppy syndrome" to the "capitalism cubed" ambition of Manhattan. He reveals how he turned a dorm-room consulting hustle into a global education empire, all while working under legendary investor Julian Robertson.We dive deep into the mechanics of scaling a service business to 20+ countries, the controversial truths about elite college admissions, and Jamie's bold take on the future of schooling in the age of AI. Whether you are interested in EdTech, high-stakes investing, or just want to know what it takes to build a unicorn from a corner of the world, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.🇳🇿 New Zealand vs. USA: Ambition & Mindset 🎓 Building a $300M business from a Harvard dorm 🐯 Lessons from Tiger Management & Julian Robertson 📈 Global expansion strategies & hiring "unicorns" 🤖 The role of AI in the future of education 🏫 Launching New Zealand’s first online charter schoolConnect with Jamie Beaton:Jamie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiebeaton/Crimson Education: https://www.crimsoneducation.org/Connect with NZVC & Hosts: 🔗 Learn more about NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/ Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:37 - Growing up in a "hustle" household 07:11 - The train ride that changed his life 12:12 - Arriving at Harvard: "Capitalism on Steroids" 17:10 - New Zealand vs. Manhattan Mindset 20:37 - Launching Crimson from a dorm room 23:51 - Doing $300k revenue in Year 1 32:45 - Raising capital from Julian Robertson 37:57 - Working at Tiger Management while studying 46:58 - The formula for Ivy League admissions 51:44 - How to launch a business in 20+ countries 54:29 - Reaching $300M in sales 58:25 - New Zealand’s Online Charter School 01:06:00 - Alpha School, AI, and the future of learning 01:23:24 - Will AI destroy white-collar jobs?Support the Channel: If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the like button, leave a comment with your thoughts on the future of education, and subscribe for more deep dives with world-class founders!#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #JamieBeaton, #CrimsonEducation, #Harvard, #entrepreneurship, #investing, #TigerManagement, #EdTech, #scaling, #growth, #founders, #venturecapital, #education, #success, #motivation, #techmates, #NZVC, #economy

In this live NZVC Portfolio Day panel, Jovan Pavlicevic (Emerge & SquareOne), Dermot Butterfield (Wych), and Steven Zinsli (Extraordinary) join hosts Mark Pavlyukovskyy and Hendrik Remigereau to show what it actually looks like to build fintech in New Zealand. They talk candidly about lobbying for access to ESAS and Payments NZ, designing products around tax law to make public transport salary-sacrifice eligible, and navigating an industry where four Aussie banks still control the vast majority of the market. Along the way you’ll hear very human origin stories—firefighting, Intel R&D, healthcare reform—and why they still think New Zealand is one of the best places on earth to build fintech startups if you’re willing to play the long, regulated game.🔗 Learn more about NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz🔗 Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/🔗 Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/00:00 – Intro: why NZ’s fintech scene is bigger than people think.00:37 – Jovan on SquareOne & Emerge: kids’ banking, business accounts, and launching personal accounts.02:00 – From 6–7 months to 6–7 minutes: fixing business onboarding.03:15 – Dermot on Wych: “plug and socket” for data and payments.04:25 – Steven on Extraordinary: 34k active cards and making public transport tax-free.05:49 – Are regulators friends or enemies for fintech?07:49 – When regulators ask for your “recipe” and why that’s risky.09:14 – Lobbying to build New Zealand’s first digital challenger bank.12:42 – Why it’s so hard to start a new bank in New Zealand.14:14 – Designing NZ’s only pre-tax public transport benefit.17:29 – Unique access to MPs and policy writers in New Zealand.20:15 – Fighting “toll booths” on open banking and unfair pricing.23:29 – Getting bank-grade licenses with a team of one-and-a-half people.25:02 – Why Emerge is focused on New Zealand first, not “world by next week.”27:08 – Founder origin stories: firefighter, Intel engineer, healthcare operator.31:59 – Financial inclusion, socially capitalistic fintech, and lived experience.36:05 – Why SquareOne and Emerge went card-first; prepaid vs debit vs credit.40:09 – How each startup would handle another GFC-style shock.44:39 – What transaction data says about NZ’s real economy.47:17 – Sponsor plans, $4.99 subs, and cost-of-living pressure.49:32 – Closing reflections and applause.If this gave you a new lens on fintech, regulation, and startups in New Zealand, hit 👍, drop your questions or takeaways in the comments, and subscribe for more founder and investor deep-dives from the NZVC ecosystem.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #fintech, #openbanking, #payments, #regulation, #banking, #SaaS, #NZTech, #futureofmoney, #financialinclusion, #employeebenefits, #cards, #venturecapital, #founders, #australasia, #startupstory, #TechMates, #podcast

Four founders: tackling milk without cows, carbon-free composites, AI farming, and plant-grown proteins—only in New Zealand could this panel exist.This special Portfolio Day panel brings together four New Zealand innovators building companies that literally couldn’t have been born anywhere else: Nicole Freed (Daisy Lab, precision-fermented dairy proteins), Ben Scales (KiwiFibre, high-performance Harakeke composites), Jeremy Bryant (Aimer Farming, AI pasture insights), and Amos Palfreyman (Miruku, plant-based molecular farming).Hosted by Mark Pavlyukovskyy and Hendrik Remigereau of NZVC, the conversation dives deep into why New Zealand’s agricultural legacy, dairy infrastructure, talent pools, native plants, and high-trust ecosystem create uniquely fertile ground for breakthrough agtech and bio-innovation. From barbecued plastic prototypes to growing milk proteins in yeast and plants, this episode shows exactly how Kiwi founders go from grassroots to global.🥛 Dairy without cows — precision fermentation (Daisy Lab).🌿 Harakeke → carbon-free composites — KiwiFibre’s indigenous-led materials.🤖 AI for pasture — Aimer’s farm-scale measurement & insights engine.🌱 Molecular farming in plants — Miruku’s dairy proteins grown via photosynthesis.🇳🇿 Why NZ is uniquely suited for agtech — dairy infrastructure, native plants, talent.🔬 Deep-tech with no shortcuts — labs, pilots, and long R&D cycles.🧪 Origin stories — barbecue prototyping, student-lab MVPs, and prophetic patents.🌍 Global scale — UK/Ireland rollouts, EU materials demand, talent pipelines.🧭 Founder resilience — near-empty payrolls, naivete as superpower, and obsession with the mission.Connect with the Guests:Ben Scales (KiwiFibre): https://www.linkedin.com/in/benscalesNicole Freed (Daisy Lab): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-nikki-freed-phd-86b63630Jeremy Bryant (Aimer Farming): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-bryantAmos Palfreyman (Miruku): https://www.linkedin.com/in/amos-palfreyman-58841579Learn more about NZVC & Hosts:🔗 NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz🔗 Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/🔗 Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps:00:00 — Intro01:10 — Nicole (Daisy Lab): precision-fermented dairy proteins.02:38 — Ben (KiwiFibre): Harakeke composites & NZ’s first industry.04:20 — Amos (Miruku): molecular farming—proteins grown in plants.06:17 — Jeremy (Aimer): AI pasture insights for farmers.07:50 — Why NZ dairy roots shape founder journeys.09:54 — How traditional dairy is reacting to deep-tech.11:31 — Leveraging NZ’s dairy infrastructure for new proteins.13:30 — KiwiFibre: building a new materials industry from zero.15:26 — Talent challenges: wet labs, molecular biology, bioprocessing.17:11 — Attracting overseas scientists to NZ.19:05 — Daisy Lab on using NZ dairy experts in precision fermentation.20:04 — Government subsidies & why tech must stand alone.22:07 — Selling to farmers; NZ reputation abroad.24:47 — KiwiFibre’s stolen snowboard story (Munich).28:01 — Origin stories: barbecues, student labs, prophetic patents.34:11 — Aimer: replacing 8-hour farm walks with AI & camera vision.36:24 — Miruku: founding during COVID & pitching with zero cash.38:10 — Founder resilience: pay-run courage & obsession.40:42 — KiwiFibre: beer experiments, byproduct uses, cultural roots.42:16 — Policy change & gene-tech reform in NZ.43:00 — Closing: Kiwi innovation from soil to global scale.If this expanded your view of what New Zealand startups can build, hit 👍, drop your questions for the founders below, and subscribe for more deep-tech conversations.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #agtech, #biotech, #dairy, #precisionfermentation, #molecularfarming, #AI, #farmtech, #sustainability, #deeptech, #climate, #materials, #syntheticbiology, #engineering, #NZTech, #venturecapital, #founderstory, #TechMates

SAP’s youngest hire at 19, Dominic Pym went on to build Up—Australia’s first cloud-hosted bank—and sold three companies during COVID.Dominic Pym is an Australia-based, New Zealand-minded tech entrepreneur, builder, and investor behind products used by millions—from Up (the mobile bank he co-created and later sold to Bendigo & Adelaide Bank) to Buildkite (CI/CD rails powering top tech companies). In this episode, Dom unpacks his path from early internet projects at SAP and Toyota kiosks to bootstrapping fintech, scaling a digital bank, and designing hardware + OS for expert builders.We also get Dom’s ecosystem thesis for New Zealand + Australia: keep IP local, go global (“go big, grow home”), and create multi-generational startup “turns” by seeding founder mafias after meaningful exits—exactly what he’s now doing with Euphemia and the Triple Bubble fund.🧒 SAP at 19 → ABAP → SAP Markets “speedboat” for the web.🧰 Early web builds: kiosks at Toyota, MySAP.com → NetWeaver.🎧 Record-label detour → iTunes aggregator → first iPhone apps (WordPress, Lonely Planet).🏦 Up: frustration with banks → infinite activity feed, merchant logos, instant wallets; kept independent post-acquisition.📈 1.5M+ customers, billions in deposits & home loans; why he sold and how staff shared the win.🧱 Buildkite originated inside Pin Payments → now powers teams at companies like Airbnb, Shopify, Slack, Lyft.🌏 NZ as launchpad: meeting Emerge, Dosh; the case for regional fintech and keeping IP at home.🧠 Euphemia & Triple Bubble: backing regulated fintech + secondaries/publics across AU/NZ/Pacific.🖥️ Caligra: new expert OS + hardware (retro-inspired, distraction-free) for engineers & researchers.Connect with the GuestDom Pym — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dompymEuphemia: https://www.euphemia.comTriple Bubble: https://triplebubble.comUp: https://up.com.auLearn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps:00:00 — Intro & why Dom’s story matters now01:23 — Early years, curiosity, Apple IIe → DOS → QBasic08:43 — Building PCs after school; first OEM Windows installs09:59 — Meeting Steve Wozniak; a spark for starting up12:12 — SAP: first undergrad hire; youngest at 1916:05 — “Titanic & speedboat”: SAP Markets and the browser era19:36 — Toyota kiosk & early e-commerce UX24:03 — Side projects → CMS → Band Manager31:02 — iTunes aggregator; first iPhone apps (WordPress, LP)37:16 — Clear Interactive → Clear Grain Exchange38:42 — 22 companies built; hits and misses41:11 — Pin Payments → the Buildkite spin-out origin49:51 — Why Up had to exist; building for love & engagement55:20 — Infinite feed, merchant logos, instant wallets58:05 — Up x Bendigo: first cloud-hosted bank in AU59:32 — Selling Ferocia; keeping Up independent01:01:40 — NZ visit: Emerge, Dosh, and the fintech wave01:07:37 — Three COVID-era exits; why timing matters01:12:15 — Euphemia & Triple Bubble: thesis and structure01:17:47 — Caligra: expert OS + retro-inspired hardwareEnjoyed Dom’s playbook for startups and business in and beyond New Zealand? Smash 👍, drop your questions, and subscribe for more founder deep-dives.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #fintech, #banking, #payments, #Buildkite, #software, #venturecapital, #entrepreneurship, #cloud, #design, #UX, #AI, #Australia, #NZTech, #SaaS, #founderstory, #TechMates, #podcast

How founders, investors, and institutions are shaping the next decade of ANZ innovation.Live on stage with TechMates (hosts Mark Pavlyukovskyy & Hendrik Remigereau), three heavyweight voices dive into the state of the NZ startup ecosystem: Shaun Quincey (rowed the Tasman; now building Simfuni for insurers), Janine Grainger (co-founded Easy Crypto; exited earlier this year), and Jacques Richter (Investment Director at NZ Growth Capital Partners, managing the Aspire seed fund). They get specific on what’s great here—access, trust, regulators who take meetings—and what’s hard: under-capitalization, distance, and the cultural “tall poppy” tax on big ambition.This panel strips out the fluff: how to use New Zealand as a sandbox then go global, why “enterprise infiltration” is a real skill, what investors actually fund at seed, and why exits, mafias, and more diverse founders are the next unlock. You’ll also hear hard numbers on ecosystem growth (6× since 2019) and a challenge to scale from ~1,000 to 5,000 startups in the pipeline.🌏 NZ as incubator → world as market: high-trust access, global translation is the test.🏛️ Regulation: open-door chats vs “regulation by enforcement” overseas.🧭 Enterprise infiltration: find the real buyer, ask for money early.💸 Capital & culture: the comfy $10M plateau, under-capitalization, and fund size reality.🌿 Tall poppy & ambition: cheer louder, tell a bigger story, survive the pivots.👩‍💻 Diversity matters: “stop funding the same founder mold”; women still under-funded.🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Talent & bravery: remote-first teams, culture as hiring edge, lower the barrier for movers.📊 Ecosystem math: 6× EV since 2019; aim for ~5,000 startups, not ~1,000.Connect with the GuestsShaun Quincey — https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-quincey-53548132Janine Grainger — https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-graingerJacques Richter — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacques-richter-a216b324Learn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/If this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍 and subscribe for more New Zealand founder deep-dives.00:00 – Intro02:59 – Would you build again in New Zealand?04:21 – Working with regulators in New Zealand vs. abroad05:18 – Investor perspective on scaling beyond NZ06:28 – Comparison with building companies in Germany06:50 – Pros and cons of building from NZ (Sean on access and ambition)08:17 – The $10M lifestyle business trap in NZ08:40 – Under-capitalization and growth of local VC ecosystem10:12 – The importance of startup “mafias” in NZ11:01 – Janine on exiting and mentoring new founders12:28 – Investor view: learning from exits and spinouts12:52 – Mark and Janine on founder culture in Silicon Valley14:25 – Developing startup culture and access for new founders15:29 – Underselling ambition: the Kiwi mindset16:41 – Sean on Tall Poppy syndrome17:57 – Janine on selling to an Australian company and founder ambitions19:53 – Jacques on VC fund maturity and exit sizes20:46 – How investors decide which founders to back22:19 – What investors look for: meaningful problems and narratives23:18 – What needs to change in the NZ startup ecosystem?23:47 – Sean’s vision: capital, education, and share options reform26:00 – Janine: Stop investing only in “Mark Zuckerberg types”26:53 – Jacques: NZ’s VC growth and what’s next28:22 – Audience question: Where do the best startup ideas come from?30:15 – The role of passion in solving problems31:03 – Human capital and building great workplaces32:00 – Sean on attracting global talent to NZ33:10 – Discussion: Is NZ talent density enough?#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #venturecapital, #founders, #regulation, #talent, #ESOP, #globalexpansion, #womenintech, #innovation, #fintech, #crypto, #AI, #robotics, #ecosystem, #SaaS, #NZTech, #TechMates, #podcast

Five New Zealand–linked founders drop hard-won truths!This highlight episode brings together five New Zealand tech entrepreneurs at very different stages—Shaun Quincey, Liam Kampshof, Nick Damiano, Steven Zinsli, and Anna Henwood. It’s a punchy reel of what actually moves the needle in startups: selling into enterprise, building brutally simple products, and staying alive long enough for the compounding to kick in.You’ll hear why enterprise sales is a “dark art” that starts by finding the real buyer, the founder mindset of “stop what’s not working and don’t die,” the moment a recap turns an engineer into a founder, and why loving uncertainty can keep you in the game for 15 years.🕸️ Enterprise infiltration: map budget cycles, find the true decision-maker, ask for money early.🧰 Prototype grit: shower tests, mastitis milk samples, and a raincoat-and-laptop cowshed setup.🔁 Pivot discipline: “stop doing the wrong thing,” survive, and let time create trust.🧠 Founder trigger: when a recap pushes a product-first engineer to build their own company.🎢 Roller-coaster reality: loving uncertainty, community, and autonomy in startups.🤖 AI & robotics: software-first medtech, simple sensors over dashboards, and pragmatic adoption.💼 Go-to-market: from field demos to enterprise programs that actually close.Connect with the Guests:Shaun Quincey — https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-quincey-53548132Nick Damiano — https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdamianoLiam Kampshof — https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kampshofSteven Zinsli — https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-zinsli-💳-aa813184Anna Henwood — https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-henwoodLearn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps:00:00 — Intro00:30 — Shaun on “enterprise infiltration” and finding the buyer03:31 — Liam’s prototypes and cowshed data04:32 — Steven: stop what’s wrong, don’t die, play the long game06:26 — Nick: a recap, a product plan, and the founder decision08:00 — Anna: the roller coaster, autonomy, and loving uncertaintyIf this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions for the founders below, and subscribe for more New Zealand founder deep-dives.#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #AI, #robotics, #agtech, #fintech, #insurtech, #SaaS, #venturecapital, #productmarketfit, #founderstory, #enterprise, #B2B, #medtech, #marketresearch, #dairy, #compliance, #innovation, #podcast

🐄 Engineer Liam Kampshof turned an early milking-shed prototype into a simple, low-cost sensor now used on 145+ New Zealand farms, catching mastitis early to protect milk quality and payouts!Liam is a New Zealand tech entrepreneur and founder of Bovonic, makers of QuadSense—a snap-in, battery-powered sensor that measures each teat’s conductivity in real time, compares quarters, and throws a red light in ~30 seconds if mastitis is likely. It retrofits into the short milk tube, has no moving parts, a ~3-year battery life, and costs ~5× less than legacy lab systems—so farmers actually install it. 🐄 Mastitis 101: why manual “stripping” fails at scale and how quarter-level conductivity catches it earlier.📈 Adoption: ~145 farms (≈2% NZ) in year one; near 5% in early regions; hardware + profitability.🧭 NZ edge: no subsidies → ruthless ROI; “number-8 wire” practicality meets biomedical chops.🥛 Macro: NZ = #1 dairy exporter (not producer); EU cell-count standards and antibiotic rules shaping demand. Connect with the Guest:Liam Kampshof — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kampshofCompany (Bovonic / QuadSense): https://bovonic.comLearn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/00:00 — Intro & NZ dairy roots01:11 — Farm childhood in Waikato & Bay of Plenty07:16 — Choosing Biomedical Engineering at Auckland10:16 — London deep-tech: DNA Electronics sepsis project21:10 — Back to NZ during COVID; MIQ and reset23:41 — The mastitis problem & why manual checks fail31:17 — Why quarter-level conductivity is the unlock37:47 — First prototypes; cowshed raincoat + laptop tests41:07 — Fieldays validation: 110–120 signups; pre-orders45:56 — QuadSense demo: sensor in the short milk tube48:38 — Red-light alerts in ~30s; 3-year batteries; self-install54:22 — 145 farms live; ~2% market; ~5% in early regions01:01:27 — NZ collar adoption shows ROI-driven uptake01:03:41 — Global fit: UK/Ireland → EU → US plan01:10:52 — Founder moving to UK to open markets01:19:02 — NZ: top dairy exporter; 95–96% exportedIf this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions for Liam below, and subscribe for more New Zealand founder deep-dives.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #AgTech, #dairy, #dairyfarming, #animalhealth, #mastitis, #sensors, #hardware, #biomedicalengineering, #precisionagriculture, #farmtech, #veterinary, #robotics, #AI, #Fieldays, #NZTech, #founderstory, #TechMates

He rowed solo across the Tasman, later sold his BNPL startup—now he’s rebuilding life insurance with AI from New Zealand.Our guest, Shaun Quincey, is a New Zealand tech entrepreneur who went from a 54-day solo ocean row to exiting a services-focused BNPL company—and now leads Simfuni, an AI-first operating platform for life insurers. He breaks down how a payments “wedge” became a full policy-admin + automation stack, and why eight insurers are already on the platform.We go deep on enterprise sales inside legacy insurers, using AI agents for real self-service (move payment dates, policy changes, docs), and the ethics of data, wearables, and genetics in underwriting. Plus: the early NZ accelerator days, a 7-figure exit with an earn-out, and what it really takes to survive 300 metaphorical “uppercuts” in startups.🧭 From Singapore birth & military family → New Zealand childhood → resilience through constant change.🚣 Rowing Australia→NZ solo at 23; 54 days, capsizes, a bestselling book—and startup lessons.💳 BNPL in services (5k merchants) → strategic sale to Latitude; why timing beat ego.🧠 Simfuni: payments wedge → policy admin OS → AI agents for customer ops.🏢 “Enterprise infiltration”: who decides, budget cycles, and asking for money early.🤖 What AI does today: automate common requests, cut FTEs, boost compliance.📈 Eight life insurers live; AU/NZ focus with South Africa interest next.🧬 Wearables & genetics: pricing fairness vs. privacy—where regulation lands.🧱 Founder mindset: pivots, patience, and building for 5–10 years.Connect with the GuestShaun Quincey — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-quincey-53548132Company (Simfuni): simfuni.comLearn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps00:00 – Introduction & welcome01:20 – Shaun’s childhood in Singapore and New Zealand03:30 – Growing up with constant change and resilience06:00 – Family background and his father’s solo Tasman row08:40 – Shaun’s own Tasman Sea adventure (rowing from Australia to NZ)12:00 – Storms, setbacks, and pushing through challenges15:00 – Writing a book and lessons learned from the row19:00 – Transition into career and first job at Debit Success28:30 – Exposure to startups and move to San Francisco31:30 – Founding his first fintech startup (buy now, pay later)35:30 – Growth, competition, and acquisition41:00 – Reflections on exiting and lessons from competition43:20 – Coming up with new startup ideas during earn-out46:00 – Entering the insurance industry50:30 – Cracking enterprise sales with insurers53:00 – Building Simfuni: modernizing life insurance systems56:00 – How AI transforms insurance operations59:00 – Understanding life insurance and underwriting1:03:00 – Risk, reinsurance, and margins1:05:30 – The future of AI in insurance1:08:00 – Vision for Simfuni and closing thoughtsIf this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions for Shaun below, and subscribe for more New Zealand founder deep-dives.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #AI, #insurtech, #lifeinsurance, #enterprise, #SaaS, #automation, #fintech, #BNPL, #payments, #dataprivacy, #actuarial, #regtech, #customerexperience, #founderstory, #productmarketfit, #NZTech, #TechMates

He’s turning an iPad into a surgical cockpit—and launching semi-autonomous surgery from New Zealand to the world.Nick Damiano is a Bay Area deep-tech founder with strong New Zealand ties: after building medtech across pacemakers, tele-presence OR support, and implantables (YC alum twice), he co-founded Andromeda to bring autonomous surgical robotics to market—faster and cheaper than the traditional medtech playbook. The bet: software-first robots that learn like self-driving cars, starting with urology and HOLEP (pioneered in Tauranga), guided on an iPad with “Google Maps for the prostate.”This episode gets real about why most medtech financing is broken, how to avoid co-founder minefields, what the FDA actually cares about, and why New Zealand is a killer launchpad for clinical studies and first-in-market deployments. It’s a masterclass in building deep tech with startup speed—plus bold takes on Intuitive (Da Vinci), disposables-free business models, and taking world-class surgery global.🧠 From surgeon family → Stanford → engineering → startups.🫀 Leadless pacing & ultrasound targeting algorithms at EBR.🛰️ Avail/NewRep: remote OR support and the COVID tailwind.🧩 Co-founder fit, intensity alignment, and conflict habits.🧪 Zenflow (BPH): YC medtech, trials, and NZ clinical beachhead.🤖 Andromeda: software-first surgical robots with iPad control.🗺️ HOLEP + “Google Maps for the prostate” to de-risk learning.🏥 FDA pragmatism, NZ fast-track launches, and global access.💼 Business model: no disposables, subscription + partnerships.🥊 Startups vs incumbents: where Da Vinci stops and autonomy starts.Connect with the GuestLinkedIn (Nick): www.linkedin.com/in/nickdamianoCompany (Andromeda): https://www.andromedasurgical.comLearn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:07 – Nick’s medical family roots02:53 – Stanford & switch from medicine to startups07:38 – Early jobs & pacemaker innovation11:47 – Founding Avail (NewRep)17:39 – Medical device reps explained20:33 – Lessons on co-founders & teams27:29 – Company #2: ZenFlow29:19 – Getting into Y Combinator34:34 – Why MedTech is so hard40:25 – ZenFlow outcome & NZ connection45:15 – Founding Andromeda: autonomous surgery48:19 – What the Da Vinci robot does52:34 – Andromeda’s unique approach57:32 – Starting with prostate surgery (HoLEP)1:00:26 – Navigating FDA approval1:05:45 – Future of autonomous surgeryIf this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions for Nick below, and subscribe for more New Zealand-powered deep-tech stories.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #robotics, #AI, #medtech, #surgery, #urology, #HOLEP, #FDA, #YC, #YCombinator, #DaVinci, #autonomoussystems, #healthtech, #deeptech, #venturecapital, #founderstory, #Andromeda, #TechMates #healthtech

From 15 clinics and 105,000 patients to a fintech rebrand and a tax ruling with IRD—this New Zealand founder turned “HealthNow” into Extraordinary, a benefits-payments platform winning banks, telcos, and airlines.Steve is a New Zealand tech entrepreneur who scaled an allied-health group to ~$12M revenue at 17–24% EBITDA before exiting at 27, then founded HealthNow—a healthcare BNPL/savings/employer-aid play that evolved into Extraordinary, a modular platform that lets companies control where benefits dollars get spent (travel, meals, gifting, health, more). This episode is a masterclass in ruthless iteration: kill the feature that doesn’t work, follow customer pull, then reprice and reframe until it clicks.What’s wild (and useful): how investor pushback killed the double-sided marketplace, why “breakage” beats “load fees,” and how a binding IRD ruling unlocked pre-tax public transport benefits—turning a compliance headache (FBT/PAYE) into a business moat. We also get candid about the emotional cost of a pivot, Darwinism for founders (“adapt or die”), and going enterprise (yes, sometimes… wear the suit).Key Topics🩺 From clinics to fintech: scaling 15 sites, 120 staff, 105k patients—then exiting to build software.💳 Why BNPL for healthcare didn’t pencil out—and the pivot to employer-funded benefits.🧩 Modular platform & pricing psychology: per-employee + fixed “breakage,” not “card fees.”🧾 Compliance moat: controlling spend categories, FBT vs PAYE, and audit-friendly rails.🚌 IRD binding ruling: pre-tax public transport for employees (and why that matters).🏢 Enterprise sales: telcos, banks, an airline—why credibility (and suits) count.🔁 Founder mindset: grief of a pivot, “persist more than resist,” and 10-15 year time horizons.Connect with the GuestSteve — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-zinsli-💳-aa813184Company (Extraordinary): https://www.extraordinarypay.comLearn more about NZVC & Hosts NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:14 – Steve’s upbringing in Auckland04:13 – Childhood experiences shaping healthcare passion06:19 – Early lessons about healthcare costs07:17 – School years and university path10:26 – First steps in healthcare and scaling clinics13:28 – Building a multi-clinic business15:14 – Growing revenue and why Steve exited17:14 – Shift from clinics to fintech in healthcare26:45 – First concept of HealthNow28:23 – Buy Now, Pay Later for healthcare30:28 – Health savings accounts & employer aid34:56 – Core problem: healthcare affordability37:31 – Pivoting from healthcare to broader benefits42:00 – Advice for founders facing pivots45:39 – Startup persistence and survival48:29 – Birth of Extraordinary from customer demand50:01 – Modularizing the platform & pricing learnings53:03 – Breakage and gift card economics55:23 – Public transport benefit opportunity58:41 – Outlook: next 1–5 years for Extraordinary1:02:03 – Market size, competition, and growth potential1:04:34 – Role models and inspiration1:05:31 – Advice for founders in New Zealand1:06:59 – Closing remarksIf this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions for Steve below, and subscribe for more New Zealand founder deep-dives.#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #fintech, #payments, #employeebenefits, #HRtech, #compliance, #FBT, #publictransport, #BNPL, #founderstory, #productmarketfit, #SaaS, #pricing, #B2B, #enterprise, #NZTech, #TechMates, #podcast

Ari Tulla built, pivoted, exited, and is now using AI to rewire preventative health.Ari Tulla is a Finnish-born, SF-based tech entrepreneur who started in gaming and Nokia’s early app ecosystem, founded doctor-finder startup BetterDoctor (later rolled into a 500-person PE platform), and now leads Elo Health, a nutrition company turning biometrics + AI into real-world outcomes. He shares the gritty founder path: consumer → API pivot, exit, then the hard jump from software to atoms (supply chains, tariffs, fulfillment).This conversation gets unusually candid about what actually scales in healthtech: why “prevention” needs business-model innovation, where AI beats human pattern-recognition, and why even die-hard remote founders end up craving one room for speed and trust. We also roam from wearables and privacy to CRISPR, cloning ethics, and what he teaches his kids about building in an AI world.🧊 Finland roots ➜ Nokia’s app era ➜ Silicon Valley leap.🎮 From MUDs to mobile: early internet, world-building, and dev culture.🏢 Nokia lessons: platform bets, Symbian/MeeGo, and timing risk.🔁 Startup pivots: BetterDoctor—consumer → API/SaaS → PE roll-up.🧪 Elo’s thesis: AI + biomarkers + nutrition as preventative medicine.🤖 AI vs. doctors: pattern recognition, triage, and the “QB” model.💤 Sleep, stress, movement: building real-time feedback loops with wearables.🧬 Bio/ethics: cloning, CRISPR, and data rights in health.🏗️ Why you shouldn’t “recreate Silicon Valley.”🧑‍🍳 Team dynamics: remote reality vs. “one room” excellence.Connect with the GuestAri Tulla — LinkedIn: Company (Elo): Learn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/00:00 Intro01:50 Ari — Finland & early internet07:00 Gaming (MUDs) & early dev connections12:20 Nokia / Ovi Store & mobile apps36:40 Entrepreneurship → BetterDoctor (growth & pivot)44:10 Sale to PE & running bigger company48:40 Elo.Health origin — nutrition & prevention52:00 Product experiments: blood tests, wearables, supplements57:00 Sleep, stress & health-span discussion01:17:00 Future plans & wrap-up. If this sharpened your startup/business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions for Ari below, and subscribe for more founder deep-dives.#startups, #business, #AI, #healthtech, #preventivemedicine, #nutrition, #wearables, #dataprivacy, #biotech, #NewZealand, #SiliconValley, #founderstory, #productmarketfit, #APIs, #PE, #longevity, #sleep, #stress, #wellness, #TechMates

From $5 stamp packs on Queen Street to ~$1.5B in VeVe marketplace GMV—New Zealand entrepreneur David Yu built one of the world’s biggest digital collectibles businesses!David Yu—founder/CEO of VeVe—grew up in Taipei, moved to Auckland, and turned a teenage collecting habit into a retail chain, a global licensing career, and ultimately VeVe, the NFT platform behind 3D, AR-ready drops from top studios and car brands. He explains how years of community-building in hobby stores and a nose for IP deals translated to landing Marvel/DC/Disney, while making onboarding “frictionless” for mainstream collectors.We dig into real numbers and roadmap: ~600k funded/holding accounts, ~250k MAU, ~$1.45–1.5B+ secondary GMV, $300–400M primary sales, 4.5M+ digital comics, the launch of VVverse, and why the next wave is a creator economy built on fandom + AI. Plus: the first 3D Steamboat Willie, how to pitch licensors when the category “doesn’t exist,” and why Gen Z will value digital scarcity like previous generations prized paper comics.🌏 From Taipei to New Zealand: retail → licensing → VV founder journey.🧪 “Frictionless” onboarding and why Web3 UX has to feel Web2.🤝 Pitching Disney/Marvel/DC when NFTs “sounded like a scam.”📊 VV by the numbers: users, GMV, comics, brands, and AR features.🏗️ VVverse and the rise of creator-built shops, galleries, and car dealers.🚗 Licensing playbook: from Pokémon cards to Maserati/Lamborghini in AR.🧠 AI’s role in content generation, NPCs, and smarter collecting.Connect with the GuestDavid Yu – LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidyunzCompany (VeVe): https://www.veve.meLearn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/00:00:00 — Intro00:02:26 — Origin: Taipei → Auckland; collecting → first businesses00:09:39 — Pokémon boom & the power of community00:19:04 — Expanding to Asia: China exports (WFOE) & licensing lessons00:22:01 — Bentley stroller case — fighting grey-market/daigou00:36:55 — From blockchain to CryptoKitties: the spark for VeVe00:41:40 — Why digital collectibles win (space, logistics, Gen Z)00:47:34 — App Store onboarding: no crypto hurdles00:54:11 — Pitching Disney/Marvel with mockups & AR demos00:58:24 — VeVe today: product verticals, key metrics, VV-Verse vision01:12:43 — Beyond the 2021 hype: NFT recovery & outlook01:18:55 — 5–15 years ahead: skills & asking AI better questions01:21:31 — Favorite digital collectible (Steamboat Willie) & wrap-upIf this sharpened your startup/business brain, smash 👍, drop your questions for David below, and subscribe for more New Zealand founder stories.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #NFTs, #digitalcollectibles, #VeVe, #VVverse, #blockchain, #web3, #AI, #augmentedreality, #comics, #Marvel, #Disney, #licensing, #creatorEconomy, #gaming, #venturecapital, #TechMates, #podcast

🎙️ Rural Kiwi roots, global marketing leadership, and now startup innovation — Anna Henwood helps brands get real consumer truth in just 48 hours with Stickybeak.Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4is21QIApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/42KZ2x1Anna Henwood is a New Zealand tech entrepreneur and co-founder/CEO of Sticky Beak, a fast, affordable, global consumer-testing platform that recruits real people via social and panels to help marketers validate names, packs, claims, and ads—before they burn media dollars. She shares how leading Les Mills’ marketing through COVID’s chaos (and a rocket-ship D2C pivot) primed her for startups, why “test ingredients, not the cake,” and how tariffs and export shifts are reshaping where brands grow next. 📈Sticky Beak just passed 100 customers and leans into hard-to-reach markets (Africa, Eastern Europe, SE Asia) while expanding in the UK and Australia. We dig into defensibility, platform-agnostic recruiting (Meta, TikTok, research panels), and smart ways founders can use AI as an “expert co-pilot,” not a synthetic audience replacement.🤝 From corporate CMO to startups: lessons from the jump📲 How Sticky Beak recruits real people globally (Meta/TikTok/panels)🧪 “Test ingredients, not the cake” — pre-testing creative & packs📈 COVID’s D2C surge at Les Mills and agile marketing pods🧭 Tariffs, exports, and why UK/EU/Asia are hot for NZ/AU brands🤖 Using AI for expert guidance vs. synthetic audiences🛡️ What makes the model defensible beyond simple A/B adsConnect with Anna HenwoodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-henwood/Sticky Beak: https://www.stickybeak.co/Learn more about NZVC & HostsNZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/00:00 – Intro00:47 – What Sticky Beak does (fast, global consumer testing)01:00 – Rural NZ roots → marketing career02:04 – Waikato Uni, marketing path (sports focus)09:16 – First roles, overseas stints, London vs. ANZ work styles11:32 – Les Mills: brand story & global scale21:25 – COVID hits: daily taskforce & D2C app surge24:48 – Tens of thousands → hundreds of thousands subs25:25 – Equipment sold out; LTV and CAC math33:52 – Why Anna joined Sticky Beak; what changed36:37 – Re-platforming; hyper-global reach (incl. Africa/E.Europe)42:54 – Pre-testing vs. ad A/B; “test ingredients, not the cake”48:42 – Where AI helps (expert co-pilot)51:10 – Competitors, agencies, legacy panels53:48 – Defensibility & platform-agnostic recruiting57:10 – How respondents are sourced; charity option with Oxfam1:10:59 – Vision: 100 customers, UK/AU expansion over US1:16:37 – Tariffs, exports, and consumer sentiment1:19:29 – Founder life: what Anna loves about startupsIf this helped your startup or business brain, hit 👍, drop your questions in the comments, and subscribe for more New Zealand founder stories and global growth tactics.#startups, #NewZealand, #business, #FMCG, #CPG, #marketing, #marketresearch, #consumerinsights, #AI, #SaaS, #D2C, #LesMills, #StickyBeak, #export, #ecommerce, #branding, #advertising, #productmarketfit, #founder, #TechMates

From building websites in high school to revolutionizing Australia's defense capabilities—Vu Tran is redefining what tech entrepreneurship means. 🔥Join us in this insightful conversation with Vu Tran, co-founder of Go1—one of Australia's most successful EdTech startups—and now Black Sky Industries, an ambitious Australian defense tech startup. Vu shares his incredible journey from growing up in an immigrant household, running entrepreneurial ventures from a young age, to scaling Go1 into a global platform and now pivoting into the defense industry to address critical national security challenges. ⚙️Discover Vu's candid insights into the importance of grit, risk-taking, and resilience gained from years of entrepreneurial struggles and triumphs. We explore how Vu approaches deep tech startups, the critical thinking behind pivoting from education tech to defense, and his compelling vision to enhance Australia's defense capabilities to ensure peace through strength and innovation. 🚀 Key Topics:🌍 Growing up as a second-generation immigrant in Australia💡 Why Vu transitioned from EdTech to Defense🔥 The importance of grit, pain tolerance, and resilience🤖 How tech innovation impacts national security🎖️ Defense as a force for peace and stability📈 Maintaining core values amidst startup growth🌐 Global threats and Australia's strategic role🧩 The intersection of AI, autonomy, and defense🤝 Connect with Vu Tran:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vutrango1Black Sky Industries: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsaero🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction 02:28 - Growing up in an Immigrant Family05:34 - Balancing Medicine Studies & Entrepreneurship09:32 - Pivoting to EdTech with Go113:02 - Importance of Risk and Resilience17:12 - Challenges & Learnings from Scaling Go123:13 - Why Vu Pivoted from Go1 to Defense Tech27:20 - Understanding Australia's Defense Needs32:26 - Global Threats & Defense Preparedness35:44 - Black Sky Industries: Defense Innovation41:09 - Why Defense is Vital for Australia47:47 - Future of Warfare and Drone Technology53:11 - AI & the Future of Global Security56:21 - Australia's Strategic Defense Role01:02:00 - Final Reflections & Advice for Entrepreneurs🙌 Enjoyed this episode?Hit like 👍, drop your thoughts 💬, and subscribe 📲 for more visionary startup insights!#️⃣ Hashtags:#startups, #business, #Australia, #EdTech, #DefenseTech, #innovation, #entrepreneurship, #BlackSkyIndustries, #nationalsecurity, #techpodcast, #resilience, #grit, #AI, #autonomy, #VuTran, #AustralianStartups, #globalsecurity, #futuretech, #Go1, #venturecapital

He’s building a startup to beam power through lasers — transforming how we access energy!Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Billy Jeremijenko, the visionary Australian entrepreneur behind Aquila, a groundbreaking startup focused on wireless energy transmission through advanced laser technology. Billy shares his extraordinary journey—from his imaginative childhood, deep fascination with physics, to overcoming massive engineering and regulatory hurdles in launching Aquila.Discover how Aquila aims to solve global energy distribution challenges by beaming energy via lasers to drones and beyond, unlocking potential for infinite drone flight, enhanced defense applications, and even global energy transmission. In this episode, Billy offers candid insights into the bold future of wireless energy, his contrarian beliefs on transmission versus storage, and why lasers are poised to transform how humanity accesses and uses energy.Key Topics:⚡️ Revolutionizing Energy Transmission with Lasers🌌 Sci-Fi Inspiration Turned Startup Reality🚀 Achieving Infinite Drone Flight🛰️ Scaling Wireless Energy Networks Globally🛠️ Navigating Engineering & Regulatory Challenges🔋 Energy Transmission vs. Energy Storage🌏 Empowering Global Energy Access💡 Startup Lessons from Deep Tech Entrepreneurship🪐 Lasers & the Future of Energy Infrastructure🎯 Strategic Insights on Building Hard Tech Startups🤝 Connect with Billy:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billy-jeremijenko-a31399183Aquila: https://www.aquila.earth🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction01:05 - Growing Up in Australia and Early Inspirations06:11 - From Student Side Hustle to Tech Innovator13:02 - Early Entrepreneurship and Tech Projects17:47 - How Sci-Fi Inspired Aquila’s Mission27:13 - Founding Aquila: From Concept to Reality33:00 - How Aquila Uses Lasers for Energy Transmission38:40 - Pivoting Aquila to Solve Energy Distribution42:04 - Solving Global Energy Problems with Laser Tech45:26 - Aquila’s 10-Year Vision for Global Energy Networks52:57 - Scaling Aquila's Wireless Energy Globally54:30 - Lasers in Defense and Energy: Aquila's Big Picture01:01:45 - Essential Advice for Hard Tech Founders🙌 Enjoyed this episode?Hit like 👍, share your thoughts 💬, and subscribe 📲 for more visionary startup stories and insights!#️⃣ Hashtags:#startups, #business, #Australia, #EnergyTech, #Aquila, #lasertech, #renewableenergy, #deeptech, #futuretech, #entrepreneurship, #innovation, #globalenergy, #techpodcast, #startupfounder, #climatetech, #AustralianStartups, #physics, #energystorage, #energytransmission, #venturecapital

He turned a side hustle fixing walls into a quarter-million-dollar student business—and he's now reshaping the food insights industry.Join us as we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Toby Hilliam (Skilton), a seasoned entrepreneur from New Zealand and founder of Appetise, a cutting-edge platform that provides consumer insights for some of the world’s leading food and beverage brands. 🌱Starting from humble beginnings fixing holes in student flats, Toby Hilliam (Skilton) grew his entrepreneurial skills through ventures across various industries, ultimately recognizing an opportunity in the underserved market of consumer insights for grocery brands. 📈Key Topics:💡 Launching Multiple Startups & Key Lessons📈 Turning Side Hustles into Serious Businesses🥘 How Appetise Revolutionizes Food Insights🧠 Achieving Real Product-Market Fit🌏 Scaling from New Zealand to Global Markets🔍 Secrets of Consumer Data & Behavior🤖 Leveraging AI to Predict Food Trends💸 How He Bootstrapped & Exited Ventures🥑 The Future of Food Brands & Fusion Cuisine🚧 Avoiding Common Startup Pitfalls🤝 Connect with Toby:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tobyskiltonAppetise: appetiseinsights.io🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction & Background01:05 - Growing Up in Small Town NZ02:35 - Early Entrepreneurial Experiences06:11 - How a Side Hustle Became a $250K Business09:39 - Selling His First Business: Lessons Learned13:02 - Traveling and Discovering New Startup Ideas17:47 - Building MUTU & The Pivot That Changed Everything23:04 - Knowing When to Exit Your Startup27:13 - The Inspiration Behind Appetise (formerly MenuAid)33:00 - Using AI to Revolutionize Recipe Creation38:40 - Pivoting from Consumer to B2B Insights42:04 - Solving Food Brands' Biggest Pain Point45:26 - The 10-Year Vision for Appetise52:57 - How Appetise Plans Global Expansion54:30 - The Future of Food Brands56:38 - Standout Brands Leveraging Consumer Insights🙌 Enjoyed this episode?Hit like 👍, drop your thoughts 💬, and subscribe 📲 for more behind-the-scenes startup stories and insider business insights!#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #FoodTech, #entrepreneurship, #innovation, #Appetise, #consumerinsights, #marketresearch, #productmarketfit, #globalexpansion, #AI, #StartupLessons, #SideHustle, #FounderStory, #NZTech, #dataanalytics, #foodindustry, #startupadvice, #growthstrategy

She started her first business selling sherbet at age five—now she runs a revolutionary global online school.🎧 Listen On:👉 Spotify – https://spoti.fi/4is21QI👉 Apple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42KZ2x1Join us as we dive into the remarkable journey of Penelope Barton, CEO of Crimson Global Academy, an innovative online education platform transforming the traditional schooling model globally. Join us as we dive into the remarkable journey of Penelope Barton, CEO of Crimson Global Academy, an innovative online education platform transforming the traditional schooling model globally. Penelope shares her inspiring entrepreneurial journey, starting from selling sherbet at age five, overcoming unique challenges, and eventually leading one of the most cutting-edge education startups originating from New Zealand. 🌏 In this episode, Penelope provides deep insights into the future of education, how Crimson Global Academy empowers students through personalized, globally accessible schooling, and how emerging AI technology is reshaping education. 🎓 Listen in to discover her unique perspective on fostering critical thinking, enhancing personalized education, and the importance of entrepreneurial resilience and adaptability. 🎯Key Topics:🎓 Reinventing Education with Tech🌏 Scaling a Global Online School🤖 The Role of AI in Future Education🚀 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Resilience📚 Personalized and Accelerated Learning💡 Key Lessons from Entrepreneurship🌱 EdTech and Education Innovation📈 Scaling Global Market Expansion🏫 Transforming Traditional Schooling Models🌟 Building an Innovative Learning Community🤝 Connect with Penelope Barton:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelopebarton/Website (Crimson Global Academy): https://www.crimsonglobalacademy.school/uk/🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction & Penelope’s Early Life02:42 - Entrepreneurial Spirit from Childhood05:57 - Early Entrepreneurial Ventures and Learnings09:54 - Transition to Tech and Startups13:21 - Crimson Education and Launching Markets17:25 - Joining Crimson Global Academy22:18 - How Online Schooling Models Work27:33 - Crimson Global Academy's Unique Approach31:30 - Use of AI in Education and Its Implications35:59 - Importance of Physical Interaction in Online Education38:02 - The Evolution of Schooling42:41 - Advice for Young Entrepreneurs47:45 - Thoughts on University Education51:43 - Purpose of Education in Modern Society54:15 - Crimson's Vision for Global Expansion56:52 - Navigating Government Partnerships in Education58:49 - Final Reflections on New Zealand Startup Ecosystem🙌 Enjoyed this episode?Hit the like button 👍, comment your key takeaway 💬, and subscribe 📲 for more insightful startup journeys!#️⃣ Hashtags:#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #EdTech, #CrimsonGlobalAcademy, #Innovation, #Entrepreneurship, #Education, #OnlineSchool, #FutureOfEducation, #TechPodcast, #StartupLessons, #AIinEducation, #PersonalizedLearning, #SchoolInnovation, #GlobalEducation, #CriticalThinking, #LearningCommunity, #EducationTech, #StartupStories

Winning hackathons at 16 and launching satellites by 26—meet the founder revolutionizing Australia's space tech.Join us as we chat with Shoaib Iqbal, the dynamic founder behind Esper Satellites, a groundbreaking Australian startup that leverages hyperspectral imaging technology to monitor Earth’s resources and environmental conditions from space. 🛰️ Shoaib’s entrepreneurial journey began as a teenager winning hackathons in Saudi Arabia, eventually propelling him to build a pioneering space tech company in Australia. 🌍Discover how Shoaib transitioned from simple DIY electronics to sophisticated hyperspectral sensors, the critical lessons learned from pivoting use-cases, and how his company is on track to deploy a constellation of satellites designed to significantly impact mining, agriculture, and global climate monitoring. 🌱 This episode offers deep insights into space entrepreneurship, innovation at the cutting edge of Earth observation, and the powerful role young innovators play in shaping the future of technology. 🛰️ Launching a Space Tech Startup🌍 Revolutionizing Earth Observation🔬 Hyperspectral Imaging Technology🚀 Lessons from DIY to Deep Tech🔥 Climate Monitoring Innovations🌱 AgTech and Environmental Solutions🪨 Transforming Mineral Exploration🎯 Achieving Product-Market Fit🤖 Future of AI in Earth Observation📡 Scaling Global Satellite Networks🤝 Connect with Shoaib Iqbal:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoaib-esper/Website (Esper Satellites): https://www.espersatellites.co🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction & Shoaib’s Background01:40 - Growing Up in Saudi Arabia03:39 - Early Entrepreneurial Experiences05:25 - Shoaib’s First Hackathon Win08:03 - Moving to Australia and Exploring Tech10:19 - Building Innovative Solutions from DIY Tech13:01 - Choosing Australia and Adjusting to a New Life16:55 - Developing the Idea Behind Esper Satellites20:12 - Understanding CubeSats23:03 - Transitioning from Gaming to Satellite Tech28:25 - The Genesis of Hyperspectral Imaging31:17 - Initial Customer Discovery and Early Traction36:49 - Challenges and Lessons in Building Tech for Space40:06 - Future Applications of Hyperspectral Imaging42:57 - Finding Initial Customers and Early Investors48:46 - Australia’s Advantage for Space Tech Startups50:31 - Esper’s Vision for Global Satellite Coverage52:19 - Regulations and Challenges in Space Tech54:02 - The Process of Launching a Satellite55:28 - Use Cases in Mining, Agriculture, and Defense58:49 - Shoaib’s Advice for Young Entrepreneurs🙌 Enjoyed this episode?Hit the like button 👍, comment your key takeaway 💬, and subscribe 📲 for more visionary startup journeys!#️⃣ Hashtags:#startups, #business, #Australia, #SpaceTech, #HyperspectralImaging, #EsperSatellites, #Innovation, #Entrepreneurship, #EarthObservation, #ClimateMonitoring, #SatelliteTechnology, #AgTech, #DeepTech, #TechPodcast, #StartupStories, #FutureTech, #SpaceExploration, #YoungInnovators, #TechInnovation, #Aerospace

From programming on punch cards in rural New Zealand to leading a multi-million dollar EdTech success story. 💻🎧 In this inspiring episode, we speak with Bob Drummond, a visionary New Zealand entrepreneur who navigated from humble beginnings programming with punch cards in a tiny rural school to pioneering Kami, one of the world's leading digital education platforms. 🌐 Bob shares his fascinating journey of early innovation, international entrepreneurial adventures, significant tech breakthroughs, and critical lessons learned from both remarkable successes and challenging setbacks. 📚Discover how Bob Drummond’s varied experiences—from video stores to billion-dollar software exits—shaped his entrepreneurial philosophy, his thoughts on leveraging AI in education, and his insights into what makes startups succeed or fail. This episode is packed with candid stories, deep reflections on the evolving tech landscape, and powerful advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. 🙌 Key Topics:💻 From Punch Cards to Digital Revolution🌐 Scaling Global EdTech Success📚 The Future of Education with AI📉 Lessons Learned from Business Failures🚀 Secrets Behind Building Billion-Dollar Startups🏫 Revolutionizing Classroom Learning🤝 Importance of Mentors and Advisors🇳🇿 Entrepreneurship and Innovation in New Zealand🌟 Maintaining Focus in Startups🔮 Predictions for the AI-Powered Future🤝 Connect with Bob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdrummond/Website (Kami): https://www.kamiapp.com🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: https://www.nzvc.co.nzMark Pavlyukovskyy – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/Hendrik Remigereau – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/⏰ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction & Bob’s Background02:43 - Early Days Programming with Punch Cards05:50 - Entrepreneurship Lessons from Video Stores07:17 - Adventures in Europe: Startup Struggles09:56 - Building and Scaling a Telecom Software Startup12:53 - Major Startup Setbacks and Lessons Learned16:53 - Recognizing the Internet’s Potential Early21:30 - The Journey Back to New Zealand25:22 - Pivoting into Education Technology31:17 - Focusing on Teacher-Driven Product Development36:15 - Massive Growth During the Pandemic42:19 - Kami’s Impact and Scaling Strategy48:40 - Importance of User-Led Adoption52:33 - AI’s Role in the Future of Education56:45 - Advice for Young Entrepreneurs1:06:20 - Choosing Education as a Startup Focus1:08:45 - Kami’s Competitive Advantages1:10:33 - Retaining Customers Post-Pandemic1:13:08 - Kami’s Sales Strategy1:16:45 - Future of Education with AI1:18:34 - Advice for EdTech Entrepreneurs1:22:28 - Kami’s Future Vision1:25:33 - Reflections on Entrepreneurship Journey🙌 Enjoyed this episode? Hit the like button 👍, leave your favorite insight 💬, and subscribe 📲 for more inspiring startup journeys!#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #EdTech, #Kami, #Innovation, #Entrepreneurship, #AI, #Education, #TechPodcast, #StartupLessons, #DigitalEducation, #FutureOfWork, #ClassroomTechnology, #ScalingStartups, #BusinessStrategy, #TechRevolution, #StartupStories, #Leadership, #GlobalEducation