Startup Theatre Podcast
Talent Army Media
Exploring the wins, challenges, & lessons from startups. Honest conversations, real insights, and everything in between.
Troy Hammond & Serge van Dam, with deep roots in the startup ecosystem in New Zealand and beyond, explore the world of startups, tech, markets, and media. They break down industry trends, uncover the realities of scaling companies, and share expert insights through candid conversations. Each episode features top founders, operators, investors, and innovators, offering lessons, perspectives, and stories from the frontlines of business and technology.
Troy Hammond & Serge van Dam, with deep roots in the startup ecosystem in New Zealand and beyond, explore the world of startups, tech, markets, and media. They break down industry trends, uncover the realities of scaling companies, and share expert insights through candid conversations. Each episode features top founders, operators, investors, and innovators, offering lessons, perspectives, and stories from the frontlines of business and technology.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 10, 2024 • 58min
Meet the NZ tech founder revolutionising how busy couples connect.
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.
Apr 2, 2024 • 1h 6min
Out with Mad Men suits, in with Tracksuits: How Conor Archbold is helping to bring brand back.
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
Nov 22, 2023 • 35min
The compounding snowball is the only way to grow the New Zealand tech ecosystem.
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
Nov 15, 2023 • 32min
Shaping the future of healthcare globally is 'Nervciting'
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
Nov 9, 2023 • 32min
We sold our AI company to Apple for $200m before we even released the product
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
8 snips
Nov 1, 2023 • 31min
The lighthouse tech companies are showing the path to the rest of the eccosystem
In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Niki Scevak
🔔 Are you subscribed to us? Only half of our regular listeners are subscribing and we are hoping all of you will subscribe.
Niki is a co-founder of Blackbird, a venture capital firm with the mission to be a partner to the greatest business stories born from Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to Blackbird Ventures, he founded Startmate, an accelerator that helps nerds with ideas become great CEOs and build global startups. Earlier, he co-founded two software companies.
Blackbird partners with founders at the very beginning and surrounds them with a community of other founders who have built successful technology companies before. The firm was founded in 2012 and currently manages $1.3 billion dollars.
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
Blackbird VC: www.blackbird.vc
Talent Army: www.talent.army
EPISODE LINKS:
Niki's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/niki-scevak-15856
Niki's X: www.twitter.com/nikiscevak
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
Oct 25, 2023 • 50min
We built a $39B company in Canva, but we are only 1% of the way there
In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Cameron Adams
🔔 Are you subscribed to us? Only half of our regular listeners are subscribing and we are hoping all of you will subscribe.
Cameron Adams is co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva, the only all-in-one visual communication and collaboration platform with a mission to empower the world to design.
Since launching in 2013, Canva’s global community has grown to over 135 million monthly users in over 190 countries who have collectively created more than 15 billion designs.
Cameron is responsible for heading up the design and product teams, playing a key role in future product directions and innovations.
Prior to Canva, he ran his own design consultancy before joining Google, where he worked closely with Lars and Jens Rasmussen (co-founders of Google Maps) to develop Google Wave.
He then moved on to build email startup Fluent, before meeting Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht and deciding to bring Canva to the world.
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
Blackbird VC: www.blackbird.vc
Talent Army: www.talent.army
EPISODE LINKS:
Cameron's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/themaninblue
Cameron's Instagram: www.instagram.com/themaninblue2
Cameron's X: www.twitter.com/themaninblue
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: www.instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod
Oct 24, 2023 • 26min
Sometimes rockets blow up, so we are helping founders with a tractor.
In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Jodie Imam
🔔 Are you subscribed to us? Only half of our regular listeners are subscribing and we are hoping all of you will subscribe.
Jodie is the CoFounder and Co-CEO at Tractor Ventures and is passionate about helping businesses start and grow sustainably.
Prior to Tractor, Jodie was at SBE Australia where she led the team in accelerating some of Australia's most innovative female leaders. Jodie set up the Innovation Bay community in Melbourne, is an advisor to multiple startups and a mentor at Startmate.
Previously, she cofounded two-sided marketplace, Occasional Butler, which was acquired by rival Airtasker and depo8 coworking. At the Wade Institute she was a mentor, lecturer and Director of Startups.
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
Blackbird VC: www.blackbird.vc
Talent Army: www.talent.army
EPISODE LINKS:
Jodie's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jodieimam
Jodie's X: www.twitter.com/jodieimam
Tractor Ventures: www.tractorventures.com
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: www.instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod
Sep 6, 2023 • 1h 3min
My second time founding a successful SaaS company is Joyous
In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Mike Carden
🔔 Are you subscribed to us? Only half of our regular listeners are subscribing and we are hoping all of you will subscribe.
Mike is an entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Joyous, a platform that unlocks expertise in large workforces.
The world's largest employers use Joyous to gather knowledge in their teams, identify actionable themes, and solve critical challenges.
Joyous is at Series A, venture-funded, and has offices in Auckland, Sydney, and Dallas.
This is Mike's second time founding a successful company after Sonar6 which was a Human Resources Software as a Service company founded in 2006. By 2012 Sonar6 had customers all around the world and was well known as the innovator in Human Resource software. In 2012 Sonar6 was acquired by Cornerstone OnDemand (NASDAQ: CSOD).
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor:
Talent Army: www.talent.army
EPISODE LINKS:
Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarden
Joyous's Website: https://www.joyoushq.com/
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://linktr.ee/wefuckinlovestartups
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://tr.ee/E4yOBnw-OW
YouTube Full Episodes: https://lnkd.in/
YouTube Clips: https://tinyurl.com/4tnxp2ze
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WFLSPodcast
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod
Aug 28, 2023 • 55min
Current startups have a real advantage as we've never known anything but famine
In this episode of the WFLS podcast, we chat with Harry Wilde
🔔 Are you subscribed to us? Only half of our regular listeners are subscribing and we are hoping all of you will subscribe.
Harry Wilde is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Cotiss. He previously worked at Publicis Emil as a Planner. Harry attended The University of Auckland.
Cotiss aims to make the tender process easier with intuitive software designed to make the process more efficient, saving time and money for small to medium sized procurement teams who work in high regulation and compliance industries.
Cotiss has launched with the support of $2.2m investment in a round led by Blackbird Ventures, supported by Icehouse Ventures, Phase One, Co-Ventures and AfterWork Ventures. In its first weeks it has commitments from more than 40 customers including a small bank, a healthcare provider and local and central governments departments in New Zealand and Australia.
Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor:
Talent Army: www.talent.army
EPISODE LINKS:
Harry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-wilde
Cotiss's Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cotiss/
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://linktr.ee/wefuckinlovestartups
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://tr.ee/E4yOBnw-OW
YouTube Full Episodes: https://lnkd.in/
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: www.instagram.com/wefuckinlovestartups
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wflspodcast
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WeFKINLoveStartups
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@wefukinlovestartupspod
