Business Is Boring

What started as a conversation between three friends in Whakatāne became a new category in drinks - a premium sparkling Mānuka honey beverage rooted in kaupapa Māori. In this episode, Joseph Harawira shares the Wai Mānuka journey - from army discipline and sports high performance to launching at the America’s Cup and landing the brand in New York. We talk about staying true to cultural values, sharing the story of Aotearoa, and building a business that’s as ambitious as it is grounded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your meetings, interviews, or coaching sessions could turn themselves into structured insights, ready-to-go content, or instant action points? That’s what Contented AI - a Christchurch-based startup led by Lucy Pink and Hannah Hardy-Jones - is building. In this episode, we talk about the journey from early idea to functioning product, bootstrapping vs raising, building with intention from Aotearoa, and how the Contented team has carved out a distinctive wedge in the AI space. We also dig into what it means to build a tool that listens and suggests - not just takes notes - and how their users are shaping what comes next. Join us for a conversation about product-market fit, AI possibility, founder grit, and building global software that still feels human. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rowan Simpson has helped shape some of Aotearoa’s most iconic startups - from Trade Me and Xero to Vend and Timely - usually from behind the scenes. But with the release of his new book How to Be Wrong, he’s stepped into the spotlight to share some hard-earned lessons about success, leadership, and the quiet people who build great companies. In this episode, we talk about what startup culture still gets wrong, how stories are told and who gets left out, and why the real impact of startups should be measured far beyond headlines and valuations. Rowan opens up about the mistakes he’s made, the decisions that still stay with him, and the power of doing the right thing even when it’s hard. We dig into ideas he hasn’t been asked about elsewhere - from capital gains tax and the role of government, to the inside story of one of the stories he shares in the book that host Simon Pound was working on with him, the restructure of Vend after a funding round failed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Lisa King, founder of AF Drinks, shares her journey building a fast-rising alcohol-free beverage brand. She reveals the strategic steps taken to penetrate the U.S. market, landing in 4,000 retail outlets. The conversation dives into the growing trend of non-alcoholic drinks and how consumer preferences are shifting, especially among younger generations. Lisa also discusses the challenges of scaling a consumer goods company while maintaining strong values and brand credibility in a competitive landscape.

What if maths class looked more like Roblox than a workbook? In this episode, Sophie Silver - co-founder and CEO of Polymath - joins us to talk about building a game-based learning platform that kids actually want to use. From her background in psychology and tutoring to launching through Startmate and now reaching students across the world, Sophie shares how Polymath is reimagining education through adaptive algorithms, immersive gameplay, and real-world problem solving. We explore what it takes to build a new category in edtech, why focusing only on maths has been a strength, and what others can learn from how Polymath balances fun and rigour. Plus, insights on product design, parental trust, and why sometimes the best way to teach is to play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kat Lintott and Ben Forman helped build Wrestler into one of Aotearoa’s most forward-thinking creative and production studios – fusing storytelling, technology and culture in work for brands like Allbirds, and pioneering bold new spaces like the Web3 project Soul Aether. After scaling the studio and building a vibrant creative community, they sold Wrestler to UFORodeo – a move that opened the door to a new phase, where they are still supporting projects.In this episode of Business is Boring, they join us to reflect on the full journey: what it takes to build a studio from scratch, the lessons learned through success and challenge, and what it means to evolve your identity and work while staying connected to your creative roots.Today, Ben is building Ongoing Theory, helping people and businesses reconnect with their natural rhythms and unlock better ways of working. Kat led Rewiring Aotearoa, and is now exploring business ideas aimed at solving problems in women’s health – particularly for those overlooked by traditional research and medicine.This conversation spans creativity, transition, responsibility and possibility – and offers a glimpse into what comes after “success”, when you’re ready to build something new again, on your own terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pals is the pastel-coloured RTD that somehow made ready-to-drink drinks cool for the first time. But it wasn’t always assured to be a success, in fact, it started with a wine brand that was very hard to make a business from, a lot of learning, and a sense that there had to be a better way. This week on Business is Boring, we sit down with Nick Marshall and Mat Croad, two of the co-founders of Pals, to unpack how they turned an overlooked, over-sugared category into a cultural icon. We go deep on what it takes to build a brand people love, how they’ve resisted the typical “grow fast, sell out” script, and why category creation is the new brand advantage.From first sell-outs in the Mount, to Halloween costumes and B Corp ambitions—this one’s a masterclass in modern brand building, from two pals who just knew there had to be a better way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you think of premium feature timber for cladding, decking or façades, your mind likely goes to cedar -  that rich, beautiful wood loved by architects and homeowners. But there’s a cost. Cedar and other prized timbers are often harvested from ancient, irreplaceable forests. Logging them disrupts ecosystems, accelerates climate risk, and destroys biodiversity -  all to meet demand for aesthetic and performance expectations from people who don’t often know the true cost of their choices. Daniel Gudsell saw the problem. And rather than telling people to stop using beautiful timber, he set out to build a better option. His company, Abodo, is pioneering a new category of rapidly renewable, high-performance wood - grown in sustainable forests, thermally modified to stand up to the elements, and positioned to win hearts as well as specs. It’s part science, part supply chain, and a lot of brand - building a better future for timber by changing not just the product, but how we perceive it. After more than 20 years in the space, Abodo is gaining global traction. But as Daniel shares in this episode, in many ways they’re just getting started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Dold and Mike Mandis, co-founders of Oxygen Advisors, are behind the financial success of numerous startups in Aotearoa. They dive into the critical role of virtual CFOs, discussing how structured financial accounts and key metrics like ARR and MRR drive business success. Emphasizing the balance between optimism and realism, they share insights on capital raising and the emotional challenges founders face. Their expertise not only empowers clients but also propels economic growth, making their advice invaluable for any aspiring entrepreneur.

In a world drowning in plastic waste, Jon Reed of Compostic is pioneering a revolutionary approach to everyday kitchen products. Through sheer determination and innovative thinking, Jon transformed a personal frustration with single-use plastics into a thriving business that now sits on the shelves of major US retailers like Whole Foods and Target. His home compostable cling film and kitchen bags represent more than just a product - they're a bold challenge to the traditional plastics industry. He has expanded Compostic from a small New Zealand startup to a brand distributed across thousands of stores. 2025 has thrown a few tariff-shaped curveballs at founders like Jon - and the going has been tough - but he’s still dead-set on his goal of banishing single-use plastic. How is he navigating the chaos of today's international trade landscape? Listen now to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices