Startup Theatre Podcast

Hosted by Talent Army Media

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111

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Jul 2026

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About the show

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.

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July 15, 2026Episode 91 hr 1 min

She Built & Sold an AI Startup in Under 2 Years for $34M

How do you build and sell an AI startup in under two years? In this episode of Startup Theatre, Troy Hammond, Serge Van Dam and Adrian Muir sit down with Jessica Venning-Bryan , CEO and Co-founder of Factor, fresh off the company's acquisition by NZX-listed Gentrack. Jessica shares the incredible journey from identifying a major problem in the global energy industry to building an AI-powered SaaS platform that was acquired in record time. She also opens up about founder relationships, raising capital, leadership, work-life balance, and why your career doesn't have to follow a straight line. In this episode we cover: How Factor was built and acquired by Gentrack The fastest startup exits in New Zealand Finding billion-dollar problems hiding in plain sight Building AI products for the energy sector How to prepare your startup for acquisition Due diligence lessons every founder should know Why founder relationships matter Raising venture capital as a female founder Leadership, motherhood, and entrepreneurship Why careers should be "jungle gyms", not ladders Critical thinking, AI, and the future of education What Jessica would build next Whether you're building a startup, investing in technology, leading a team, or dreaming of your first exit, this episode is packed with practical lessons from one of New Zealand's most impressive founders. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors and operators building the future. This podcast was brought to you by Oxygen Advisors Oxygen Advisors is New Zealand's leading outsourced finance partner for startups and high-growth businesses, providing accounting, bookkeeping, tax, CFO, payroll and revenue operations services to help founders scale with confidence. Learn more at www.oxygenadvisors.co.nz . #StartupTheatre #JessicaVenningBryan #Factor #Gentrack #Startup #AI #SaaS #Founder #Entrepreneurship #TechNZ #WomenInTech #StartupExit

May 22, 2026Episode 81 hr 23 min

The NZ Startup Trying to Save Music

Sacha Judd , Co-founder and COO of Lume Music , joins Startup Theatre to discuss the future of music, creator monetisation, and building a startup in one of the world’s toughest industries. We explore why the traditional music industry model is failing independent artists, how streaming platforms changed the economics of music, and why creator-owned communities could become the future. Sacha shares the story behind Lume Music and the company’s mission to help artists grow audiences, connect directly with fans, and build sustainable careers. Topics include: Music-tech startups Creator monetisation AI and the future of music Independent artists and streaming platforms Startup growth and entrepreneurship Fan communities and creator ownership Building disruptive technology businesses Hosted by Troy Hammond and Adrienne Muir on Startup Theatre .

May 6, 2026Episode 71 hr 23 min

Why New Zealand is Falling Behind

Jamie Beaton , founder of Crimson Education, joins Startup Theatre for a wide-ranging conversation on ambition, AI, education, startups, and the future of New Zealand. Jamie shares his journey from New Zealand student to Harvard and Yale, building Crimson Education into a global company, and why elite universities still matter in an AI-driven world. We discuss: Why top universities are becoming more competitive AI’s impact on careers and education Whether SaaS is dead Why New Zealand struggles with ambition Charter schools and fixing education Debate, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking The future of startups and talent in NZ Free speech and modern universities What parents should focus on right now One of the most intellectually honest and thought-provoking Startup Theatre episodes yet. Hosted by Troy Hammond and Serge Van Dam.

April 16, 2026Episode 61 hr 21 min

$2.8B in Insurance claims were denied last year: My AI is fixing it.

In this episode of Startup Theatre, Troy Hammond and Serge Van Dam sit down with Simon Archer, founder of PolicyCheck, to unpack one of the biggest untapped problems in global fintech: understanding insurance. Simon shares the story behind leaving a successful corporate career to build in the AI era, driven by a simple but powerful realisation. He had already missed one major wave and wasn’t going to miss the next. The conversation moves beyond the typical startup narrative into something more grounded. What actually happens when you leave corporate? Why most founders aren’t prepared, no matter how much theory they consume, and how building with AI is fundamentally changing how companies are created. At the core of the episode is a problem most people have experienced but rarely question. Insurance is a promise, yet billions in claims are denied each year because people don’t fully understand what they’ve signed up for . PolicyCheck is taking a data-first approach to fix that. They also get into: Why workflow products are becoming obsolete and data is the real opportunity The shift to lean teams and shared product ownership Building in New Zealand versus Australia The reality of incubators in an AI-first world What it actually takes to build a globally relevant company from NZ This is a conversation about timing, conviction, and solving problems that genuinely matter. Links: PolicyCheck: https://policycheck.com Simon Archer: https://linkedin.com/in/simonarcher

April 1, 2026Episode 51 hr 29 min

Software Engineering is DEAD: This is what replaces you.

Is software engineering already dead? In this episode of Startup Theatre, Troy & Serge sit down with Nik Wakelin the co-founder of Sterling . They unpack what AI is actually doing to engineering, startups, and how work gets done. This isn’t the usual “AI will replace everyone” narrative. Nik breaks down why we’re not seeing job collapse — we’re seeing something far more important: task collapse. We get into: • why software engineering is already changing • what “task collapse” actually means • why highly capable people are still doing low-value work • how AI creates massive leverage for builders • why the best operators will get exponentially better • what founders and engineers should be doing right now If you’re in tech, building a startup, or thinking about how AI impacts your role, this episode will change how you think about the future of work. Startup Theatre explores the real shifts happening in startups, technology, and how companies are being built today. Checkout Sterling 👉🏻 https://histerling.com/

March 25, 2026Episode 41 hr 1 min

I Almost Lost Everything Building This Startup

Building a startup isn’t what most people think. In this episode of Startup Theatre, Adrienne & Serge sit down with Martyn Bain to talk about the reality of building a global company from New Zealand — and the moments that nearly break you. From leaving corporate after a defining moment at home, to chasing international deals, to being days away from signing something that could have changed everything… only for it to fall apart. We get into: • the moment that pushed Martyn to leave corporate • why early customers say yes… but don’t commit • the brutal reality of enterprise sales • why “signed contracts” don’t mean what you think • how deals fall over at the last minute • what it actually takes to build and scale globally from NZ This is a raw look at the pressure, setbacks, and persistence behind building a real company. If you’re a founder, operator, or thinking about starting something, this episode will give you a far more honest picture of the journey. Startup Theatre explores the real stories behind startups — not just the wins, but everything in between.

March 11, 2026Episode 31 hr 19 min

How I’m Building a $1B AI Startup: Solo

AI is changing how startups are built. In this episode of Startup Theatre, Troy Hammond sits down with Toby Cox , founder of Geodde and former Partner & CTO of Paloma (Dovetail), to talk about why he walked away from leading large engineering teams to build an AI startup completely solo. After years scaling companies and managing teams of more than 100 engineers, Toby is now running an experiment: building a company with almost no team and using AI agents to do much of the work. We discuss: • Why experienced CTOs are leaving leadership roles to build with AI • How AI coding agents are replacing the work of junior engineers • Whether “solo unicorn” companies are now possible • How startups can influence what ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini say about their business • Why venture capital may not be required to start a company anymore Toby also shares the thinking behind Geodde, a platform helping companies monitor and shape how their brand appears inside AI tools. If you're a founder, builder, investor, or curious about where startups are heading next, this conversation explores how AI may reshape how companies are built. Startup Theatre explores the real stories behind startups, founders, and the evolving tech ecosystem.

February 25, 2026Episode 21 hr 6 min

How I went from sewing machines to building a global SaaS company

John Mitchell didn’t start in tech. He started with a sewing machine in his parents’ basement. In this episode of Startup Theatre, the Arlo founder shares the full journey from bootstrapped beginnings in Wellington to building a global SaaS platform operating in 70 countries and processing over half a billion dollars in training transactions each year. John talks openly about: • Raising his first $1M and then closing just one deal in three months• Hiring mistakes that nearly stalled growth• How Arlo survived when COVID shut down face-to-face training overnight• Why “being found” beat outbound sales• Building a team strong enough to step out of the CEO seat• What AI and vibe coding mean for the next generation of founders This is a practical, honest conversation about scaling SaaS from New Zealand to the world, navigating pressure after funding, and knowing when to evolve as a founder. If you're building, raising, pivoting, or questioning your next move, this episode is for you.

February 11, 2026Episode 11 hr 10 min

Strategy Isn’t a Slide Deck: Systems Thinking in Startups

Alexander Fala is the kind of leader who has seen the best and worst of startup life up close, and learned how to keep moving anyway. In this episode of Startup Theatre, Troy Hammond sits down with Alex, former Vend CEO, Rhodes Scholar, ex McKinsey, and a trusted coach to CEOs across Aotearoa. They unpack what happens when the stakes get real: a capital raise nearly collapsing, lawsuits landing mid deal, revenue shocks that threaten liquidation, and the loneliness that comes with being the person ultimately accountable. Alex shares hard-earned lessons on board dynamics, making the “right decision not the easy one”, building talent density, sharpening strategy after product-market fit, and why writing is still one of the most underrated leadership tools. They also talk about purpose, identity, and how we tell a better story about tech so more Māori and Pacific talent can see themselves in it. If you’re building, scaling, raising, or simply trying to lead with clarity under pressure, this one’s for you.

December 17, 2025Episode 211 hr 45 min

Fireside Chats from Queenstown – Founders, Operators, and the Ecosystem Behind Episode 100

Before the 100th episode of Startup Theatre with Rod Drury, we brought the community together in Queenstown for a live fireside series with founders, operators, investors, and ecosystem builders from across New Zealand. In front of a live audience, we explored what really happens behind the scenes of building companies – from validating an idea and surviving early mistakes, to scaling teams, raising capital, hiring well, and knowing when to step aside as a founder. You’ll hear from founders at different stages, SaaS and non-SaaS alike, alongside the people who quietly support the ecosystem every day – investors, advisors, operators, and community leaders. This episode captures the honesty, humour, and reality of startup life, complete with live reactions, tough lessons, and practical insights for anyone building, backing, or thinking about starting a company. Moderated by our own Adrienne Muir & Troy Hammond Fireside chat panel (Founders): Rob Stirling – Scannable Melissa Jenner – ACTVO Heidi Farren – Tourism Innovation Group (TIG) Stuart McLean – EverCommerce Ecosystem supporters panel: Peter Fullerton-Smith – Mountain Club Alison Meredith – Startup Queenstown Lakes Anand Reddy – PwC New Zealand Kimberley Gilmour – Sprinklr NZ Proudly supported by PwC, long-standing champions of New Zealand’s tech and startup ecosystem. Want a free discovery session with PwC? Head to 👉🏻 https://www.pwc.co.nz/services/private-business/startup-theatre.html Special thanks to our supporter sponsor in Startup Queenstown Lakes⁠