Growth models - So you've passed the start-up phase, and the next hurdle is growth. What does that look like?
Thursday 27 November 2025, 5pm - 6:30pm - BNZ Partner Centre, Level 1 55 Victoria Street Cambridge
Growth models
So you've passed the start-up phase, and the next hurdle is growth. 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?
Get ready for a fast-paced, interactive event where our panel of expert speakers share their growth stories and key milestones. No slides, no scripts, just authentic insights.
Each speaker will deliver a 3-minute story, followed by 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:
Emma Macfarlane - Expert in SaaS and marketplaces
David Hallett - Growing via enterprise and government channels
Josh Starkey - Fuelling your growth, growth models that work
Grant Johnson - Growing via partner and self service channels
See speaker bios below.
Enjoy drinks and nibbles while connecting and networking with other founders, operators, and support providers.
Thanks to our sponsors
A huge shout out to BNZ Cambridge for hosting us, and of course, our regular sponsors: Waipā District Council, Rocketspark, Soda INC., and Belle PR.
Meetup #7 is sponsored by BNZ
Emma Macfarlane - Executive coach, Startup / scale up advisor
Emma is an executive coach and startup/scale-up advisor who partners with founders, CEOs, and senior leaders navigating the demands of rapid growth. Drawing on deep experience with fast-growing ventures and teams, she helps leaders sharpen focus, strengthen trust and culture, and evolve their leadership capability to scale in-step with the growth they’re chasing.
With a background spanning roles in telco (Spark / Skinny Mobile) and SaaS (Vend / Xero), Emma has operated in diverse, high-growth environments. Most recently as General Manager of Growth & Marketing at Xero, she led the commercialisation of Xero’s ecosystem - launching the Xero App Store and standing up the global team and operating model to grow this revenue channel.
Emma advises leaders through the messy bits that come with scaling - where speed creates complexity, harder decisions, and new expectations of leadership. She believes businesses don’t stall because of a lack of strategy, but because leadership needs to evolve, and that growth accelerates when leaders do.
David Hallett - Co-founder and Director, Company-X
David Hallett is a visionary in New Zealand's technology scene and the co-founder and director of Company-X, a multi-award-winning software development business. Since 2012, Company-X has been dedicated to creating bespoke software and simulation solutions that run the world better.
Born and raised in the Waikato region, David is a proud University of Waikato alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Science degree. His passion for advancing New Zealand's tech industry is also reflected in his role as a founding trustee of the Cultivate Trust and his service on advisory boards for various academic and professional organisations within and beyond the Waikato.
David is deeply committed to building Waikato's reputation as a technology hub, actively seeking ways to strengthen its global presence. When he's not pushing boundaries in the tech world, David enjoys life at home in the rural Ngahinapouri countryside with his wife and four children.
Josh Starkey, Technology Industries Manager, BNZ
Josh supports BNZ’s Technology Industries’ portfolio, proposition, and community across New Zealand. He has a passion for the technology industry which stems from the belief that technology improves the way we live and work. He’s always on the lookout for new technologies that could help to shape our future.
Starting his career in banking at BNZ in 2015, Josh has spent time working in frontline services, investments, and pricing. He has a Masters in Finance and an MBA from Oxford University, giving him a well-rounded background to help develop and support BNZ’s Technology Industries.
Grant Johnson - CEO and co-founder at Rocketspark
Rocketspark is a website platform that empowers non-technical people to create websites. With their HQ in Cambridge, New Zealand, Rocketspark has customers based in 30+ countries.
Prior to founding Rocketspark Grant had a varied career in business across accounting, marketing, app/online, and customer experience roles in NZ and abroad.
Rocketspark connects with customers via a direct self service channel and through a growing community of designers and marketers who use Rocketspark to design for their clients. Grant is happy to share insights on partner and community led growth.
