Startup Theatre Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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