The Crimson Education Co-founder took the overall title at Shed 10 in Auckland, three years after winning the Young Entrepreneur award, and used his speech to remember a friend and credit the Kiwis who built the company with him.
Two founders who took Kiwi brands global, and a panel of sharp minds, on how to keep moving when the ground keeps shifting. Here’s what stuck from Ready to Rise.
Consumers want less plastic, regulators want more compliance, and food still has to arrive safe and fresh. AUT’s Dr Michelle Chen offers four ways through.
Evan Goldberg's advice is the right place to start. For sales-led Kiwi businesses, the next step is proving what AI earns.
More small businesses are putting AI to work. Far fewer know what it tells their customers, and the experts don’t agree on where to start.
I went to Las Vegas for SuiteWorld and AI World expecting big bets on AI. Behind the bright lights, the smartest ones turned out to be the least flashy.
In under two years, Dani Archer went from no clients to eight schools. Now the Tauranga sole trader has taken out the top prize at The David Awards 2026.
Kiwi innovation meets smart marketing. Telescopicgoal is transforming the way football is played and trained around the world, all with a clever, adjustable aluminium goal and a creative, targeted approach to reaching customers.
Taupō’s The Cozy Corner isn’t just a café, it’s a community hub where inclusivity, wellness, and sustainability meet. With a menu that caters to every dietary need, a great team culture, and a commitment to values-driven business, owner Camilla Baker has built an eco-friendly café that sets the standard for hospitality with heart.
Two years after leaving corporate life, Josh Burgisser built Burgs Digital into a full-stack marketing agency. He talks to David Nothling-Demmer about the attention economy, why video isn't optional for small businesses showing up online, and convincing his own father to become a client.
Full-scale loyalty programmes are expensive, complex and slow to roll out, but a gift card programme can deliver many of the same benefits in a fraction of the time, and customers pay you upfront for the privilege.
When consumers start watching every dollar, many businesses reach for familiar tactics: Bigger discounts, louder promotions and more urgent calls to buy.
Consumers want less plastic, regulators want more compliance, and food still has to arrive safe and fresh. AUT's Dr Michelle Chen offers four ways through.
We're told the economy and the environment are locked in a trade-off. Autex's Jonathan Mountfort says that's a false choice, and shows how circular thinking is already building a healthier version of both.
Discover practical tips to build trust through authentic sustainability communication, and examples of businesses leading the way.
The money’s out there, but getting it has rarely felt harder. Our October/November issue looks at who’s lending, what investors want and what rising rates mean for your next move. It also celebrates The David Awards 2026 winners, who backed themselves anyway.
Get practical insights, expert advice, and the latest from New Zealand’s SME community — delivered straight to your inbox in our fortnightly newsletter. Plus, access our latest digital issues anytime.
Wednesday 11 November 2026 | 7:00am – 9:30am
📍 New Zealand International Convention Centre, 101 Hobson Street, Auckland
One week after the election, Ready to Rise returns for ‘After the Result’ to help Kiwi SME owners plan ahead for their next bold move, and hard-won growth. Get your tickets for this must-attend business breakfast.
Inside the issue
When floods plunged Nelson Tasman into darkness, one couple’s home became a refuge. It was also proof of the technology Lance and Alex Double have spent years persuading people to trust.
Frank Witowski spent eight years listening to cyclists gripe about bike racks. Then he spent 18 months and a seven-figure investment building the answer.
They give much of it away free, and still drive strong sales. Charlotte Young and Teresa Wong explain how trust became their marketing strategy.
Up to 80 percent of women in high-impact sport deal with it, yet hardly anyone talks about it. Jane Bogust got tired of searching for a fix and designed her own.
From international advertising to architectural interiors, Susannah Matheson, a Founder of Island Interiors, has built a name at the top end of New Zealand’s design scene.
Denise Bellingham launched Go Cover in 1998 after recognising a major gap in the market. Here's her story.
A bold pivot to NZ wool has led Autex Acoustics to create Embrace - a regenerative, carbon-negative acoustic wall system reshaping sustainable design.
New Zealand natural health brand Tracel is taking its wellness mission global, showcasing innovation and transparency at CIIE.
Cleanery is proving that local production can compete globally while dramatically reducing environmental impacts.
Gen Z entrepreneurship isn’t just about tech start-ups or chasing scale. For young Kiwis like Stuart Savage, it’s about creativity, culture, and community – building ventures that carry meaning, craft, and legacy.
A hygienist troubled by the volume of plastic waste in the dental sector, Laura Nixon founded Solid with her husband Adam McConnochie.
Ho Lee and Mark Callan are reinventing Korea’s iconic soju with Jagiya Soju, a carbonated RTD that sold out its first batch in weeks.
In this powerhouse episode, Lilah McDonald sits down with Brianne West, celebrated Founder of Ethique and now the brains behind Incrediballs.
The founder of Got A Gap, a brand-new online platform aimed at filling last-minute appointment gaps for small businesses, shares her vision for a helping businesses with limited marketing budgets.
Leading a multi-national company takes guts, hard work and determination but without good governance, structure, and processes there is risk for shareholders - no matter how hard you work.
From international advertising to architectural interiors, Susannah Matheson, a Founder of Island Interiors, has built a name at the top end of New Zealand’s design scene.
Kiwi entrepreneur Greg Chapman has transformed a personal passion project into one of New Zealand’s most trusted bullion businesses.
What started as a Napier bakery’s idea has grown into Lunchonline, delivering 3.3 million school lunches nationwide while supporting local food providers.
Queenstown-based Magic Memories has emerged as the leading global player in the personalised digital experience market. Founder John Wikstrom shares a snapshot from 30 years of business.
The Crimson Education Co-founder took the overall title at Shed 10 in Auckland, three years after winning the Young Entrepreneur award, and used his speech to remember a friend and credit the Kiwis who built the company with him.
Franz Josef's West Coast Wildlife Centre has been named the West Coast's top business for 2026, winning the Development West Coast Supreme Award at the Leading Light Business Excellence Awards.
New Zealand's longest-running sustainability awards programme is calling for entries, with expanded categories and a direct pathway to a global million-pound prize.
Christchurch's Tait Communications has been named PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year at the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, capping a record-breaking night for New Zealand's third-largest export sector.
Over 300 entries mark another milestone year for the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards, with the Gala Dinner set for May in Auckland.
The Crimson Education Co-founder took the overall title at Shed 10 in Auckland, three years after winning the Young Entrepreneur award, and used his speech to remember a friend and
Core retail spending through the Paymark network fell 1.0 percent in October compared with a year earlier, with only groceries and petrol ahead of 2025. Ten of 17 regions went
BusinessNZ wants a stable government with a clear economic programme once special votes are counted. Pre-election research suggests the country’s smallest businesses will take some convincing that policy works for
Get practical insights, expert advice, and the latest from New Zealand’s SME community — delivered straight to your inbox in our fortnightly newsletter. Plus, access our latest digital issues anytime.
Spare capacity sitting idle? It could be paying for your next marketing campaign while your cash stays where you need it.
The uncertainty isn’t going anywhere. ScotPac’s Lindsay Fisher says the businesses that grow are the ones that stop waiting for it to.
Kiwibank’s General Manager of Business Banking Rod Morris tells NZBusiness, Kiwibank has stepped up to change the game for early-stage business founders with its new funding pathway, built to unlock opportunity and foster sustainable business growth.
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business run better, or is it just another shiny tech distraction?
After a punishing economic cycle Kiwi businesses are emerging into something of a stabilisation period. Cautiously optimistic, past the worst, but with operating costs still biting and reinvestment held back. Why the next six months will define the recovery, and what business owners need to be doing in that period.
New Zealand’s productivity gap with countries like Finland isn’t about effort, it’s about clarity. Elliot Royce argues that as businesses grow, complexity quietly crowds out a shared understanding of what actually creates value, turning productivity into a symptom rather than the real problem.
Evan Goldberg’s advice is the right place to start. For sales-led Kiwi businesses, the next step is proving what AI earns.
I went to Las Vegas for SuiteWorld and AI World expecting big bets on AI. Behind the bright lights, the smartest ones turned out to be the least flashy.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has argued that artificial intelligence presents New Zealand with more opportunities than threats. However, coming into the election, business leaders aren’t on the same page.
More than 80 percent of people don’t independently verify AI-generated information. As AI becomes the first place customers go for answers, that trust is creating a new challenge for New Zealand businesses.
As SMEs navigate tight margins and rapid change, investing in leadership development is proving to be one of the most reliable drivers of productivity, capability, and long-term growth. EMA’s Nick Sheppard explains how to measure the real return on training, and why upskilling is no longer optional.
The world-class Waikato MBA is designed for aspiring and seasoned managers who are ready to excel in senior leadership roles.
Leadership training comes in all shapes and sizes but the University of Canterbury’s MBA programme has doubled down on leadership training.
Why good governance goes a long way in developing SME directors in a rapidly changing business environment.
The thriving Māori economy and workforce are shaping New Zealand’s future, with professional development, leadership, and Māori values driving transformative opportunities across industries.
As SMEs navigate tight margins and rapid change, investing in leadership development is proving to be one of the most reliable drivers of productivity, capability, and long-term growth. EMA’s Nick Sheppard explains how to measure the real return on training, and why upskilling is no longer optional.
The world-class Waikato MBA is designed for aspiring and seasoned managers who are ready to excel in senior leadership roles.
Leadership training comes in all shapes and sizes but the University of Canterbury’s MBA programme has doubled down on leadership training.
Why good governance goes a long way in developing SME directors in a rapidly changing business environment.
The thriving Māori economy and workforce are shaping New Zealand’s future, with professional development, leadership, and Māori values driving transformative opportunities across industries.
New data from Employment Hero shows New Zealand's small and medium business sector continuing to add headcount in May, even as wage growth stalled completely on an annual basis, highlighting a labour market where businesses are growing cautiously rather than competing hard for talent on pay.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept or a futuristic experiment, it’s here, reshaping the way businesses operate and hire talent.
Stratalign Managing Director Matthew Prestige on how the company is leading the charge on smarter and safer lifting technology as it eyes international growth.
James Stevenson, MD at Grada Recruitment talks navigating economic uncertainty, internal business culture, and what job seekers and businesses need to know for the year ahead.
Recruiting firm: AI can be used to aggregate large sets of data, to support people to be able to be more human-led.
Where are they now? Brolly Sheets Founder Diane Hurford on 20 years of bed-wetting, bandanas and building a business that stuck.
After 13 years of growth, Heart Saver’s Helen and Mike Mander are scaling new heights in 2025 - expanding into training, mental health support, and Australia.
Since equity crowdfunding was given the green light in New Zealand in 2013, PledgeMe’s ‘chief bubble blower’ Anna Guenther has been one of the country’s strongest advocates for the highly successful business fundraising platform.
Wendy Thompson is a highly successful entrepreneur and business owner with ambitious goals and an enviable track record for building brands across the globe.
Where are they now? Brolly Sheets Founder Diane Hurford on 20 years of bed-wetting, bandanas and building a business that stuck.
Leading a multi-national company takes guts, hard work and determination but without good governance, structure, and processes there is risk for shareholders – no matter how hard you work.
New Zealand’s leaders are shrinking their own ambitions in isolation. Revved Co-founder Rochelle Moffitt wants to put them in a room together instead.
More small businesses are putting AI to work. Far fewer know what it tells their customers, and the experts don’t agree on where to start.
Eric Clark, CEO of Manhattan Associates, believes complexity is becoming a permanent part of the operating environment. Clark discusses why that can create opportunity, what other industries can learn from retail, and how technology and AI can help businesses manage it.
Most of the AI conversation right now is about what the technology will eventually do for everyone. Not much of it covers what you should actually start doing, this week, to make sure your business can use any of it. Let’s change that.
Acron Plastics, a New Zealand thermoforming manufacturer, had been running as a fully paper-based business before adopting MRPeasy. We sat down with Business & Sales Manager Mark Wong to see how the company uses the system to structure orders, manage purchasing and inventory, and reduce the risk of missed jobs.
As AI rapidly shifts from experimentation to operational reality, AI start-up founder Dave Howden says the businesses that move first – and rethink how work gets done – will hold the advantage.
Nyssa Waters explains where SMEs are missing out on AI gains, and how to turn funding support into measurable business impact.
Consumers want less plastic, regulators want more compliance, and food still has to arrive safe and fresh. AUT’s Dr Michelle Chen offers four ways through.
We’re told the economy and the environment are locked in a trade-off. Autex’s Jonathan Mountfort says that’s a false choice, and shows how circular thinking is already building a healthier version of both.
Discover practical tips to build trust through authentic sustainability communication, and examples of businesses leading the way.
A bold pivot to NZ wool has led Autex Acoustics to create Embrace – a regenerative, carbon-negative acoustic wall system reshaping sustainable design.
Aotearoa’s sustainability pioneers are already reshaping our future, and now we need to back them writes Rachel Brown.
As household budgets tighten, food rescue app Foodprint is helping Kiwis save money and reduce waste.
Two years after leaving corporate life, Josh Burgisser built Burgs Digital into a full-stack marketing agency. He talks to David Nothling-Demmer about the attention economy, why video isn’t optional for small businesses showing up online, and convincing his own father to become a client.
Full-scale loyalty programmes are expensive, complex and slow to roll out, but a gift card programme can deliver many of the same benefits in a fraction of the time, and customers pay you upfront for the privilege.
When consumers start watching every dollar, many businesses reach for familiar tactics: Bigger discounts, louder promotions and more urgent calls to buy.
As AI changes how customers research and choose brands, traditional marketing is being upended. Auckland’s The Optimisers highlights the rise of AI answers, agent-led recommendations, and the need for “machine legibility” to stay visible and relevant.
Customer loyalty programmes are not just for retail and hospitality. Here’s why your service or trade businesses should consider it.
Coalition loyalty schemes promise scale and savings, but in reality they erode brand identity, dilute data advantages and lock retailers into costly, restrictive models.
Looking for new suppliers? Sri Lanka Expo 2027 is bringing 750+ exporters and 2,000 international buyers together in Colombo this January.
As New Zealand businesses face mounting productivity pressure, new research from 2degrees shows AI is already delivering measurable gains for SMEs. From streamlining operations to unlocking new growth opportunities, the
As more Kiwi businesses gear up for expansion, KiwiSpan is delivering future-ready commercial builds that go far beyond basic sheds.
CEO Mark Callander shares how 2degrees is supporting SMEs around New Zealand with reliable, cost-effective telco services.
Get practical insights, expert advice, and the latest from New Zealand’s SME community — delivered straight to your inbox in our fortnightly newsletter. Plus, access our latest digital issues anytime.
