Scaling from the Edge: NZ’s Global Champions | NZVC Portfolio Day
Thu Feb 05 2026
From challenging big banks with a $120M fintech to generating $2.2B in digital collectibles sales—this is how New Zealand founders are conquering the global stage.
In this power-packed panel from NZVC Portfolio Day, we sit down with three of New Zealand’s most successful modern founders: Leighton Roberts (Co-founder of Sharesies), David Yu (Co-founder of VeVe), and Penelope Barton (CEO of Crimson Global Academy).
They pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale from "the edge of the world" to global dominance. David Yu reveals how VeVe secured partnerships with Disney and Marvel without a physical headquarters, while Leighton Roberts shares the bold branding strategy of "wearing pink and giving the middle finger" to the big blue banks. Penelope Barton discusses how Crimson turned the COVID-19 crisis into a massive tailwind for online education. From fundraising horror stories (like getting sued by your only investor) to the unique advantage of Kiwi "generalist" talent, this is a masterclass in global scaling.
🦄 Hyper-Growth: Scaling to 900k users and $2.2B in sales.
🏦 Fintech Disruption: How Sharesies democratized investing.🦸♂️ IP & NFTs: VeVe’s journey with Marvel, Disney, and DC.🦠 Crisis Management: Using the pandemic as a catalyst for growth.
💸 Fundraising Realities: The difference between NZ, US, and Asian capital.
🌏 Remote Culture: Building billion-dollar companies with decentralized teams.
Connect with the Guests:
Sharesies: https://www.sharesies.nz/
VeVe: https://www.veve.me/
Crimson Global Academy: https://www.cga.school/
Connect with NZVC & Hosts:
🔗 Learn more about NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz
Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/
Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/
Timestamps:
00:37 - Introduction: Leighton Roberts & Sharesies
02:55 - David Yu: Building a $2.2B Business (VeVe)
04:19 - Penelope Barton: Scaling Crimson Global Academy
05:18 - The Biggest Challenges of Scaling from NZ
09:50 - Building a Fully Decentralized Company (No HQ)
13:49 - Turning the COVID Crisis into a Business Tailwind
17:11 - Founder Realities: Early Stage vs. Scale-Up
22:24 - Fundraising: From Getting Sued to Raising $120M
29:21 - Why US Investors View NZ Fintech Differently
36:44 - What’s Next: Launching NZ's First Online Charter School
40:52 - The Power of Community & Becoming an Industry Authority
43:20 - AI in Education: Replacing or Assisting Teachers?
45:23 - How to Build the Next Generation of Founders
47:39 - Sharesies' "Pink Middle Finger" Brand Strategy
If you enjoyed these insights on building global companies, please hit the Like button, Comment with your biggest takeaway, and Subscribe for more content from world-class founders!
#startups, #business, #NewZealand, #fintech, #edtech, #NFTs, #VeVe, #Sharesies, #CrimsonEducation, #entrepreneurship, #scaling, #venturecapital, #growthhacking, #investing, #founderstories, #tech, #innovation, #globalbusiness, #NZVC, #TechMates
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From challenging big banks with a $120M fintech to generating $2.2B in digital collectibles sales—this is how New Zealand founders are conquering the global stage. In this power-packed panel from NZVC Portfolio Day, we sit down with three of New Zealand’s most successful modern founders: Leighton Roberts (Co-founder of Sharesies), David Yu (Co-founder of VeVe), and Penelope Barton (CEO of Crimson Global Academy). They pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale from "the edge of the world" to global dominance. David Yu reveals how VeVe secured partnerships with Disney and Marvel without a physical headquarters, while Leighton Roberts shares the bold branding strategy of "wearing pink and giving the middle finger" to the big blue banks. Penelope Barton discusses how Crimson turned the COVID-19 crisis into a massive tailwind for online education. From fundraising horror stories (like getting sued by your only investor) to the unique advantage of Kiwi "generalist" talent, this is a masterclass in global scaling. 🦄 Hyper-Growth: Scaling to 900k users and $2.2B in sales. 🏦 Fintech Disruption: How Sharesies democratized investing.🦸♂️ IP & NFTs: VeVe’s journey with Marvel, Disney, and DC.🦠 Crisis Management: Using the pandemic as a catalyst for growth. 💸 Fundraising Realities: The difference between NZ, US, and Asian capital. 🌏 Remote Culture: Building billion-dollar companies with decentralized teams. Connect with the Guests: Sharesies: https://www.sharesies.nz/ VeVe: https://www.veve.me/ Crimson Global Academy: https://www.cga.school/ Connect with NZVC & Hosts: 🔗 Learn more about NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/ Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/ Timestamps: 00:37 - Introduction: Leighton Roberts & Sharesies 02:55 - David Yu: Building a $2.2B Business (VeVe) 04:19 - Penelope Barton: Scaling Crimson Global Academy 05:18 - The Biggest Challenges of Scaling from NZ 09:50 - Building a Fully Decentralized Company (No HQ) 13:49 - Turning the COVID Crisis into a Business Tailwind 17:11 - Founder Realities: Early Stage vs. Scale-Up 22:24 - Fundraising: From Getting Sued to Raising $120M 29:21 - Why US Investors View NZ Fintech Differently 36:44 - What’s Next: Launching NZ's First Online Charter School 40:52 - The Power of Community & Becoming an Industry Authority 43:20 - AI in Education: Replacing or Assisting Teachers? 45:23 - How to Build the Next Generation of Founders 47:39 - Sharesies' "Pink Middle Finger" Brand Strategy If you enjoyed these insights on building global companies, please hit the Like button, Comment with your biggest takeaway, and Subscribe for more content from world-class founders! #startups, #business, #NewZealand, #fintech, #edtech, #NFTs, #VeVe, #Sharesies, #CrimsonEducation, #entrepreneurship, #scaling, #venturecapital, #growthhacking, #investing, #founderstories, #tech, #innovation, #globalbusiness, #NZVC, #TechMates