WAIPĀ TECH MEETUP
Join us for our last Waipā Tech Meetup for the year!
Learn more and register for MeetUp #7 on 27th November
Waipā Tech Series 2 Meetup #7: Growth Models
So you've passed the start-up phase, and the next hurdle is growth. But what does that look like?
You’ve built the foundation, proven your concept, and survived the start-up grind, now comes the next big challenge: sustainable growth. But what does growth really look like in practice? What growth model should I adopt?
Get ready for a fast-paced, interactive event where our panel will share some real growth stories with a focus on the business models that fuel growth. No slides, no scripts, just authentic insights.
Each speaker will deliver a 3-minute growth story, followed by short breakout Q&A sessions, giving you the chance to connect, dive deeper, and exchange ideas.
Whether you’re leading a fast-growing tech company or preparing for your next leap, this session offers the insights and tools to help you grow with purpose and confidence.
Our panel of speakers include:
Emma Macfarlane - Exec coach and start-up / scale up advisor (ex Xero, Vend)
David Hallett - Company-X
Josh Starkey - BNZ
Grant Johnson - Rocketspark
Series 2 Meetup #7 event sponsor - BNZ
Thank you BNZ, our esteemed sponsor for Meetup #7!
A rising tide lifts all boats
In late 2024 Waipā District Council, Soda Inc and Rocketspark came together to plan a series of tech meetups in 2025.
Our mission for the Waipā Tech Meetup is to bring together the local tech community where we can learn from and help each other as we take on the world from the Waipā District.
Discover insights, build networks, and connect with local experts who are happy to share their knowledge and wisdom.
Series Two Meetup #6:
Free money? Avenues to Government funding and services for tech startups
This event was more than just a presentation from five government support agency representatives; it was a shared experience, strengthening genuine connections and practical learnings among the Waipā business community.
Five leading experts took the front of the room, each sharing their business elevator pitch in a lively “Dragons’ Den” style session.
Their insights ranged from the importance of targeted market research and refining business fundamentals to understanding export credit guarantees and the latest updates on R&D tax incentives.
Series Two Meetup #5:
From Tractors to Tech - here's what we learned
Our first meetup for Series Two began with a Q&A session featuring Andre Syben, Founder and Director of AgTechNZ, who shared his journey of founding an agricultural machinery company and expanding it globally by embracing agricultural technology.
Key takeaways:
Innovation can start anywhere - Andre’s journey from farming to global R&D shows how niche expertise can lead to world-class tech opportunities.
Relationships matter - Showing up in person, building trust, and persevering opened doors to long-term international partnerships.
Adaptability is essential - Pivoting during COVID led to a new training business, proving that agility fuels resilience.
Hire well, trust your team - Don’t micromanage. Empower the right people and make tough calls when needed.
Diversify to de-risk - Expanding into new ventures helped reduce reliance on a single client and build business stability.
Working together to bring you Waipā Tech Meetup
Building Waipā's tech community together
At Waipā Tech Meetup, we create a space for people in tech to connect and grow. Our events focus on collaboration and drawing in locally based experts to share their knowledge.
Whether you're new to tech or advancing your career, the meetups will provide opportunities for development in Waipā's tech scene.
Can't make the event? Sign up to be in the loop.
