Startup Theatre Podcast

Asantha Wijeyeratne QSM provides us with our most emotional and uplifting episode to date. From founding Smart Payroll, the most successful SMB payroll company in NZ above a bakery in Lower Hutt. To then selling it to Datacom and now re-upping and founding Paysauce to now be the best in the world. In 2013 he was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for his duty to NZ business and community. We talked with Asantha to learn how he has decided he could not retire and is now building a product that is bigger than ever. Follow Asantha - linkedin.com/in/asanthawijeyeratne Follow Paysauce - ⁠https://www.paysauce.com/ Thank you to our sponsor: Talent Army - ⁠⁠https://www.talent.army/

Mahesh Muralidhar has done it all. From helping to take Canva globally as employee number 25, to launching PhaseOne Ventures in New Zealand and even running for Auckland Central in politics. We talk with Mahesh to learn how he has been helping founders to take on the world from NZ and listen to his sage advice from being so early at Canva and now sharing this with his home in NZ. Follow Mahesh - linkedin.com/in/maheshmuralidhar Follow PhaseOne - https://www.phaseone.ventures/ Thank you to our sponsor: Talent Army - ⁠https://www.talent.army/

Creative HQ recently released their 20 years of Impact report where they provide insights on the 1029 founders they’ve worked with. We wanted to share the learnings of this highly impactful organisation who has helped create $1.3B in total valuation for the startup industry. Catherine Jones is the highly talented CEO of Creative HQ and we discuss the opportunity of wealth that the startup ecosystem has for us all. For the founders, investors and more importantly for the NZ Government and us tax payers. Watch how some 1029 founders have provided Creative HQ with the compounding knowledge over 20 years to help you on your journey today! Follow Catherine: http://linkedin.com/in/catherine-jones-431213b Follow Creative HQ: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-hq/ Thank you to our sponsor: Talent Army - https://www.talent.army/

Entrepreneur Tim Boyle shares insights on taking Whip Around to the US to find product market fit. Discusses global expansion, team challenges, key performance indicators, and the creation of Health Now. Emphasizes the importance of seizing opportunities, understanding local markets, and building a sustainable venture in the SaaS business.

Healthcare is broken. We all know it, though too many were scared to take on the behemoths who have owned this space forever. Enter Vital.io the product built by kiwi Te Riu Warren as their founding CTO. Hear how Te and Founder & CEO Aaron Patzer formally of Mint.com got together and Decided to take on the United States healthcare tech industry from New Zealand. Our host Troy Hammond talks with Te about his journey. They discuss the challenges of not being able to just build an MVP in healthcare and how they’ve been able to succeed. Follow Te - https://www.linkedin.com/in/teriu Follow Vital - https://vital.io/ Thank you to our sponsor - ⁠https://www.talent.army/⁠ Talent Army is NZ's premier startup recruitment company.

50% of marriages end in divorce and 75% of those divorces cite "quality time" as the killer. Enter Erika Palmer, a Kiwi tech founder with the app Cupla on a mission to help relationships flourish. Hear how over 70% of users say Cupla is reducing stress and friction in their relationship. Try the app here https://cupla.app/the-app/ Our host Troy Hammond talks with Erika about her journey. There are extreme highs and extreme lows in the pit of despair. Follow Erika - linkedin.com/in/erika-palmer-b709a836 Follow Cupla - https://cupla.app/ Thank you to our sponsor - https://www.talent.army Talent Army is NZ's premier IT recruitment company for growing teams.

How has marketing changed and why has Tracksuit just raised $22m to help customers understand their brand? In this episode, we talk with Conor Archbold who talks us through his journey and the explosion of Tracksuit. Connor Archbold is the co-CEO and Co-founder of Tracksuit, a Kiwi startup creating the world's best brand tracker. Connor founded Tracksuit in 2021 alongside his co-CEO Matt Herbert. GUEST LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-archbold https://www.instagram.com/connorfranklinarchbold SPONSOR INFO: https://www.oxygenadvisors.co.nz

In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Samantha Wong⁠ 🔔 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬? 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞. Sam is a Partner at Blackbird. Originally from Australia, she now heads up the office in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), where she raised its inaugural $60M New Zealand fund in 2020 and is continuing Blackbird’s Kiwi adventure! Sam has broad investment interests including digital healthcare, robotics, IoT and B2B software. Sam sits on the boards of Halter, FirstAML, Foundry Lab, Partly, Harrison AI and Workyard. Sam is passionate about diversity in technology and venture capital and spear-headed the release of the Model Code of Conduct for the Startup Community as well as a venture capital internship program for women. Prior to joining Blackbird she was a legaltech startup founder, an e-commerce product and strategy manager, and practiced in corporate and litigation teams at Minter Ellison before career-pivoting into startups in 2010. She is a proud mother of an energetic toddler and on weekends can often be found at a local park running after a scooter or coming down a playground slide. She loves exploring the beautiful Aotearoa whenua with her family as well as yoga when her schedule allows. GUEST LINKS:  Sam's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthawong/ Sam's Blog: blog.blackbird.vc/@holasammy  PODCAST INFO:  Podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/wefuckinlovestartups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/g8Ae8czg⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ RSS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tr.ee/E4yOBnw-OW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ YouTube Full Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/dq6ZsuZD⁠⁠ YouTube Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/4tnxp2ze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT & CONNECT:   Check out the sponsor above, it's the best way to support this podcast Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/WFLSPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Justin Teo 🔔 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬? 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞. Justin or 'JT' as he is known to us mates, sits within Euc's Launch team who are responsible for building new capabilities, and revenue streams for the business. Since joining ~ 2 years ago, JT has built out the People & Talent function, as well as launched Euc's offices in the Philippines, Germany, Japan and Brazil. JT started his career in management consulting at Bain & Company. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: Blackbird VC: https://www.blackbird.vc/ Talent Army: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.talent.army⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GUEST LINKS:  JT's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jongelsey/ PODCAST INFO:  Podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/wefuckinlovestartups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/g8Ae8czg⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ RSS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tr.ee/E4yOBnw-OW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ YouTube Full Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/dq6ZsuZD⁠⁠ YouTube Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/4tnxp2ze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT & CONNECT:   Check out the sponsor above, it's the best way to support this podcast Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/WFLSPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with ⁠⁠Jon Gelsey 🔔 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬? 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞. Jon Gelsey started his career as an IC designer and supercomputer architect at Convex Computer, which was acquired by HP to be the high end of their server line. After multiple product management and marketing roles he became a VC at Intel Capital, was responsible for strategy and M&A at Microsoft, and then became founding CEO of Auth0 Inc (acquired by Okta for US$6.5B) and later CEO of Xnor.ai (acquired by Apple for a publicly reported US$200M). Jon is currently unemployed and enjoying his time. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: Blackbird VC: https://www.blackbird.vc/ Talent Army: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.talent.army⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EPISODE LINKS:  Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jongelsey/ Jon's X: https://twitter.com/jgelsey?lang=en PODCAST INFO:  Podcast website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/wefuckinlovestartups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/g8Ae8czg⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ RSS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tr.ee/E4yOBnw-OW⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ YouTube Full Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠https://lnkd.in/dq6ZsuZD⁠⁠ YouTube Clips: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/4tnxp2ze⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SUPPORT & CONNECT:   Check out the sponsor above, it's the best way to support this podcast Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/WFLSPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠