Episode Summary

Xavier Collins, London-born and New Zealand-raised, is no stranger to building marketplaces that scale. After early days at Uber, Xavier joined Nexus Notes before launching Deliveroo into dozens of UK cities and spearheading Turo’s growth across Europe. Now he’s applying his marketplace magic to the film industry with Wonder, an AI-native creative studio backed by Blackbird, LocalGlobe, and a host of world-class angels.

In today’s episode, Xavier takes us deep into the creative frontier of AI and storytelling, exploring how technology can unlock new levels of creativity, reshape entertainment financing, and give more filmmakers a voice. We cover:

• How AI is redefining storytelling and enabling more scripts to reach production

• Lessons from building successful marketplaces at Uber, Deliveroo, Turo, and Nexus Notes

• The keys to marketplace success: seeding liquidity, focusing on quality supply, and defining user experience

• Why the entertainment industry is overdue for disruption (and how Wonder is leading the charge)

• How filmmakers and creatives can harness AI to amplify their vision

We also dive into Xavier’s unique journey—from narrowly missing a consulting career to hustling his way through startups, and the unforgettable Cannes moment that launched Wonder.

Time Stamps

02:49 The Cannes moment: Realising AI will reshape filmmaking

07:18 Using AI to rescue stories that wouldn’t otherwise be told

10:56 The life-changing phone call that sent Xavier into startups

19:37 Early lessons on marketplace liquidity from Deliveroo and Turo

25:52 Price, selection, and service: The three pillars of marketplace success

32:16 Services vs SaaS: Rethinking business models in the AI age

41:05 Financing films 101: Inside Xavier’s other venture, Lumiere Ventures

48:26 Xavier’s advice to young people: Lean into AI now

Resources

🙋🏻‍♂️ Xavier Collins’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xaviercollins/

✨ Wonder – AI-native creative studio: https://www.wonder.inc

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