Best Startup Garage Podcasts (2025)

1
Zahin Razeen Participates in FII PRIORITY MIAMI 2025 15:00

26d ago15:00

15:00

Listen to FII PRIORITY coverage. In this episode, Adam Torres and Zahin Razeen, Founder & CEO at Hydroquo+, explore Hydroquo+ and FII PRIORITY. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podca…

1
Art or algorithm? Navigating the creative crossroads in the age of AI 35:22

1d ago35:22

35:22

If the novelty of seeing AI-generated videos popping up in our newsfeeds has started to wear off, Google has something new for you to feast your eyes on. Last week, the AI giant released Veo 3, the latest version of its AI content generator. Its claim to fame? Veo 3 not only generates short video clips based on prompts from users, but also audio, s…

1
EP 130 - Product Localization with Alexander Murauski 1:00:12

2d ago1:00:12

1:00:12

In this episode, we dive into the world of product localization with Alexander Murauski, CEO of Alconost. Alexander shares his journey building localization solutions and growing Alconost into a leader in the field, drawing from years of experience working with diverse clients and developing in-house tools. Whether you’re launching a new app or sca…

1
How to Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market | Bonus Episode 1:00:28

1d ago1:00:28

1:00:28

Episode Summary In this special live episode, Chris Whyte, founder of Kodu and host of Why Design, delivers an energetic and insight-packed session to design students on how to stand out in a competitive job market. Drawing from 12+ years of experience and dozens of podcast conversations with design leaders, Chris shares practical advice on everyth…

1
Ep. 154 - Learning on the Job - Confessions of a Serial Founder 45:20

4d ago45:20

45:20

In this week's episode of The Conference Room, host Simon Lader sits down with Jeremy Vaughan, an entrepreneur, investor, and CEO of Start Left Security. Jeremy shares his journey from graduating from the University of North Florida to becoming a successful entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of taking risks, the challenges of startup life, a…

1
How Litmaps is supercharging scientific research 32:55

9d ago32:55

32:55

Litmaps, a Wellington-based startup that’s just raised $1 million in a Series A funding round, is redefining how scientists navigate the sea of academic literature by merging citation network analysis with generative AI. Founded in 2016 by Axton Pitt and Kyle Webster, the platform now serves over 2 million researchers globally, including institutio…

1
Ep. 153 - Speak Up and Scale Up! 34:30

11d ago34:30

34:30

In this week's episode of The Conference Room, host Simon Lader sits down with Kimberly Crowe, an international inspirational public speaker, TEDx speaker, and authority on "speak to sell." Kimberly is a best-selling author, serial entrepreneur, and the dynamic host of the weekly online show, Speaker's Playhouse. As the founder of Entrepreneurs Roc…

1
EP 129 - Digital Transformation with Kiron Jones 53:15

14d ago53:15

53:15

Digital transformations are hard! But they are a necessary need in our era for any organization who wants to keep their competitive edge, adapt to changing environments, build moats against new disruptors, and grow their market share. And more complex the organization structure and ecosystem are, the more challenging said transformation, hence the …

1
Tech skills - upgrade now or fall behind 42:07

16d ago42:07

42:07

The Technology Users Association has issued a stark warning that New Zealand risks falling further behind in the global digital economy unless the government urgently reforms its approach to digital and technology skills, with a particular focus on vocational training. In a wide-ranging interview on this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, TUAN…

1
Ep. 152 -How Effective Marketing Can Scale Your Start-Up 34:11

18d ago34:11

34:11

In this week's episode of The Conference Room, host Simon Lader sits down with Gianna Whitver, CEO and co-founder of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society. Gianna Whitver shares her journey from working at IBM to founding a thriving community for cybersecurity marketers. She discusses the unique challenges of marketing in the cybersecurity industry, …

1
Labour: back Kiwi brains, don’t cut them 45:12

23d ago45:12

45:12

Reuben Davidson, Labour’s new spokesperson for science, innovation, technology, broadcasting and the creative economy, isn’t shy about the scale of the challenges facing New Zealand’s high-value sectors, or the damage he says the current government is doing. In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, the former TV producer, who won the Christc…

1
Why Nick Ford Drove a Lorry Over a Prototype (and What It Taught Him About Design) 54:19

23d ago54:19

54:19

“We weren’t going to prove durability with a spreadsheet — we needed to drive a lorry over it and watch what happened.” In this final episode of Series 2, I sit down with Nick Ford, founder of PipSqueak 3D and Patent Ferret, to explore how a nontraditional path — from sweeping workshop floors to designing urban furniture used across London — shaped…

1
Ep. 151 -The Life of a Chief Product Officer 40:34

25d ago40:34

40:34

In this week's episode of The Conference Room, host Simon Lader sits down with Uriel Cohen, VP of Product at cybersecurity vendor VMRay. Uriel shares his journey from the Israeli Air Force to becoming a leader in product management. He discusses the intricacies of product management, the challenges of prioritizing product development, and the uniqu…

1
Breaking Big Tech’s grip: Paris Marx on New Zealand’s digital future 43:28

30d ago43:28

43:28

New Zealand, like many smaller nations, has become deeply reliant on American technology platforms for everything from government operations to daily business functions. In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, Canadian journalist and author Paris Marx warns that this dependence is not just a matter of convenience, it’s a growing vulnerabili…

1
EP 128 - New Book: What do Product Managers Do? with Tami Reiss 52:11

30d ago52:11

52:11

Have you ever been asked by a non-product person “what is it that you actually do?” We are sure you have! We know we and many of our friends have been through this, and it’s never an easy task to explain. Moreover, don’t you sometimes feel that people you work with - your teammates, stakeholders, and even your boss - don’t always understand what a …

1
Why 97% of Hardware Startups Fail (and How to Avoid It) with Sera Evcimen 57:53

1M ago57:53

57:53

"97% of hardware startups fail. And a lot of the time, it’s the same mistakes repeated over and over again." In this episode of Why Design, I’m joined by Sera Evcimen, Founder of Pratik Development, Innovation Advisor at FORGE and Techstars Paris, and host of the hardware startup podcast The Builder Circle. Sera has built a career around one goal —…

1
How His Company Nearly Died - And What Saved It | David Cristello 48:21

1M ago48:21

48:21

Join Johnny Page as he sits down with David Cristello, founder of Jetpack Workflow, to unpack how he went from hating business to scaling a multi-million dollar SaaS company for accountants. David shares the story behind his first $2,500 pre-sale, the dangers of easy funding, and how he rebuilt his business by falling back in love with solving cust…

1
Ep. 150 -Scaling a Startup Inspired by Tom Cruise 45:54

1M ago45:54

45:54

In this week's episode of The Conference Room, host Simon Lader sits down with Luigi Lenguito, co-founder and CEO of Before.ai, a pioneering cybersecurity company specializing in predictive security solutions. Luigi shares his fascinating journey from being a Formula 3 racing driver to becoming a leader in the cybersecurity industry. With a rich ba…

1
How NZ startups can win in India’s giant market 30:57

1M ago30:57

30:57

As global trade becomes increasingly protectionist, New Zealand’s tech sector faces a welcome anomaly for now: digital exports are tariff-free. Unlike goods, software and digital services still move relatively freely across borders, and nowhere is this opportunity greater than in India—a vast, fast-growing market hungry for innovation. The story of…

1
Designing a Better Future with Seaweed: Georgios Gkotsis on Replacing Plastics at Scale 52:37

1M ago52:37

52:37

“There’s a huge amount of innovation in sustainable materials—but very few are truly built around the problem.” In this episode of Why Design, I’m joined by Georgios Gkotsis, CTO at Kelpi, a Bristol-based startup creating high-performance seaweed-based coatings to replace fossil plastics in long shelf life packaging. Georgios has built a career at …

1
From “That’ll Never Work” to $7M ARR | Tyler Smith 30:08

1M ago30:08

30:08

Tyler Smith never planned to be a founder - but a moment of frustration led to a product that now serves over 10,000 customers. In this episode, Johnny sits down with the accidental entrepreneur behind Text in Church, a SaaS platform that turned follow-up chaos into connection at scale. From running a photography company to managing $7M in ARR and …

1
Building a Million Dollar Business in College 15:12

1M ago15:12

15:12

What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur? In this episode, Adam Torres and Emil Barr, Founder and CEO at Flashpass, explore Emil's journey as an entrepreneur and Flashpass. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podca…

1
Dr. Arvind Gupta Participates in FII PRIORITY 14:38

1M ago14:38

14:38

Listen to FII PRIORITY coverage. In this episode, Adam Torres and Dr. Arvind Gupta, Founder of Digital India Foundation, explore fund of funds for startups and FII PRIORITY. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://…

1
Chainsaws vs scalpels: How to do DOGE properly 45:30

1M ago45:30

45:30

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative has sparked global debate about balancing disruptive reform with sustainable public sector innovation. In a panel discussion on this week's episode of The Business of Tech, former Te Whatu Ora chair Rob Campbell, futurist Ben Reid, and crypto expert Paul Quickenden critique Musk’s ap…

1
EP 127 - New Book: PRFAQ Framework with Marcelo Calbucci 46:59

1M ago46:59

46:59

You might have heard about Amazon’s 6-pages document, or PRFAQ. But have you tried it yourself? And why aren’t there many other successful companies who are following Amazon’s direction, and use the same method, one that seems to be winning Amazon some very big bets? Our guest today on the podcast worked for Amazon as a Director of Product & Tech, …

1
Why He Walked Away From Apple to Fix a Broken Business | Dean Curtis 21:42

1M ago21:42

21:42

What would make a former Apple exec sell the only part of his business making money? In this episode, Dean Curtis, CEO of Ingage, shares how he shut down a revenue-generating agency serving Fortune 500 clients to bet everything on SaaS - before finding product-market fit. From a near-collapse in the boardroom to the client that changed it all, Dean…

1
He Got Fired From His Own Startup... Then Built a Nine-Figure Company | Cody Barbo 37:20

1M ago37:20

37:20

What do you do when you get fired from the company you built? Cody Barbo, founder and CEO of Trust & Will, turned that moment into fuel. In this episode, Cody shares the rollercoaster path from losing his startup to building a nine-figure SaaS company that’s rewriting estate planning across the U.S. You’ll hear how a coffee chat sparked the idea, h…

1
How an Ex-DJ Built a $4M SaaS in His Parents' Garage | Roby Peñacastro 35:13

1M ago35:13

35:13

Roby Peñacastro was a broke DJ in a mariachi suit touring Europe when he stumbled into the tech world. After landing a job at Google, he started a side project in his parents’ garage to help his brother manage WhatsApp leads. That side project became Leadsales - a conversational commerce platform now doing $3.7M ARR and backed by Silicon Valley’s S…

1
Welcome to Titans of SaaS 0:37

2M ago0:37

0:37

Welcome to Titans of SaaS - a show about the real stories behind software that scaled. In this trailer, our host Johnny Page shares what the podcast is all about, who it’s for, and what you’ll take away from each episode. Whether you're building your first startup or scaling your next one, this show is your behind-the-scenes pass to how great SaaS …

1
Garage to global giant: Microsoft turns 50 33:32

2M ago33:32

33:32

Microsoft is marking its 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades since Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded what would become one of the world's largest technology companies. In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, the managing director of Microsoft New Zealand, Vanessa Sorenson, reflects on the company's journey and its vision for the futu…

1
Why Most Hardware Startups Fail (and What Damon Bonser, CEO of British Design Fund Looks for Instead) 1:03:16

2M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

"There’s a huge amount of design talent in the UK—we just need more founders brave enough to commercialise it." In this episode of Why Design, I sit down with Damon Bonser, founder and CEO of the British Design Fund—a team of operators-turned-investors backing early-stage product businesses with real-world impact. Damon knows firsthand why most har…

1
John Tauriac Participates in FII PRIORITY MIAMI 2025 10:15

2M ago10:15

10:15

Listen to FII PRIORITY MIAMI 2025 coverage. In this episode, Adam Torres and John Tauriac, Co-Founder & CEO at HydrokinetX, explore how marine energy powers oceanic intelligence and FII PRIORITY MIAMI 2025. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be…

1
AI policy under Trump - what it means for NZ 34:37

2M ago34:37

34:37

On this week’s episode of The Business of Tech, Sarah Box, a digital policy specialist at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, shares insights from her three-month Harkness Fellowship in the United States examining AI policy direction. While Trump's first term focused on innovation and capability development, Biden pivoted toward tru…

1
EP 126 - Product Experiment Garage Workshops with Chantal Botana 41:57

2M ago41:57

41:57

Our guest today on the podcast brings with her a wealth of product building experience, all the way from ideation to execution and beyond. Throughout her career, she implemented product validation through testing and experimentation at organizations such as AOL, The Weather Channel, Polar Steps, Mews and others. Meet Chantal Botana, Fractional CPO …

1
“You Quoted What?!” – Josh Valman on Pricing, Growth, and Painful Lessons 56:15

2M ago56:15

56:15

“We had no clue what we were doing. We quoted a massive job… way under… and then had to figure out how to deliver it without losing our shirts.” That’s how Josh Valman, CEO of RPDK, describes one of the earliest—and most painful—lessons from scaling his product development business. In this episode of Why Design, we dive into the unfiltered reality…

1
Strategic bets and happy accidents - the future of NZ Inc 40:33

2M ago40:33

40:33

The Government is busy pushing its growth agenda, but what’s the best way to pursue sustainable growth that produces higher-value jobs and more export earnings? A new report by Boston Consulting Group says it involves taking a more strategic approach to New Zealand’s economic future, identifying five key ecosystems that could drive the nation's gro…

1
The Missing Skill in Design? Tim Perry on Why Commercial Awareness Matters 1:00:13

2M ago1:00:13

1:00:13

In this live episode of Why Design, recorded at Blue Garage, I sit down with Tim Perry, a seasoned innovation and design strategy consultant with over 20 years of experience helping creative businesses sharpen their commercial edge. From scaling consultancies and steering agency acquisitions to guiding in-house teams at major brands like Nokia, McL…

1
The Māori-led effort to build private 5G networks 36:52

2M ago36:52

36:52

In 2022, the Government signed an historic agreement granting Māori a share of radio spectrum suitable for 5G mobile services and a 20% share of all future commercial radio spectrum rights. As the Chief Executive Officer of Tū Ātea, Antony Royal is putting that 5G spectrum to good use, with a major project underway to build and deploy the country's…

1
Making Space for Makers: How Michael Korn's Blue Garage is Empowering London’s Hardware Community 47:54

2M ago47:54

47:54

In this episode of Why Design, I sit down with Michael Korn, founder of KwickScreen, the modular screen company supplying every NHS trust in the UK, and Blue Garage, a unique makespace and creative hub in Lewisham built to support hardware entrepreneurs and product designers. We unpack Michael’s fascinating journey, from studying manufacturing engi…

1
Andy Hamilton's big dumb ideas to fix NZ's economy 1:02:40

3M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

NZ's economic woes are complicated and many-headed, but business guru Andy Hamilton has exactly 26 ideas for ways it could be improved. Some of them, like becoming part of Australia, are a bit dumb – but there are others that could have a lot of potential. Hamilton also looks back at what it was like going through the We Are Indigo and Manaaki v Ca…

1
How to Design for Everything from Pizza Ovens to Gas Safety Devices with Hugo Martin 57:00

3M ago57:00

57:00

In this episode of Why Design, I sit down with Hugo Martin, Director of Product Design at WMP Creative, where he has spent over 14 years building a multi-award-winning design division from the ground up. We dive into the balance between process and intuition in product design—when to trust your instincts and when structure is necessary. Hugo shares…

1
NZ risks 'riding cavalry into battle against tanks' without Aukus 1:09:35

3M ago1:09:35

1:09:35

New Zealand is not stranger to tectonic shifts, perched as it is on a volcanic belt, but the current geopolitical quakes may prove an entirely different matter. The University of Waikato's Dr Reuben Steff joins the podcast to argue that without joining the high tech-focused pillar two of the Australia, UK and US (AUKUS) agreement, NZ may find thems…

1
How to Get SBA Financing to Buy Your First Business 11:55

3M ago11:55

11:55

What are the advantages of the SBA loan program versus other bank loans? In this episode, Adam Torres and Beau Eckstein, Founder of Business Ownership Coach Inc., explore how aspiring business owners can use an SBA loan to buy their first business. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on bo…

1
From Sewage to Science: How Claire Trant and Untap Health Are Revolutionising Disease Detection 53:49

3M ago53:49

53:49

In this episode of Why Design, I sit down with Claire Trant, co-founder and CEO of Untap Health, a deep tech company using wastewater epidemiology to detect illnesses before symptoms appear. Claire’s journey from Imperial College to Rolls-Royce and then into entrepreneurship is as inspiring as it is challenging. She opens up about the highs and low…

1
Mind Spa Denver Focuses on the Mental Health of the Veteran Population 14:41

3M ago14:41

14:41

Mind Spa Denver is on a mission to help the mental health of the veteran population. In this episode, Adam Torres and Sam Peterson, Founder & CEO at Mind Spa Denver, explore Mind Spa Denver and mental health. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to …

1
The World's Largest Bed Building Charity 20:38

3M ago20:38

20:38

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is helping solve the "bedless" problem in the United States for Children. In this episode, Adam Torres and Luke Mickelson, Founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, explore the bedless problem in the United States for children. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book …

1
Will Bitcoin set us free? 57:03

3M ago57:03

57:03

Bitcoin advocate Cody Ellingham joins the podcast to explain why we he is advocating for everyone, everywhere to get into the cryptocurrency. Ellingham explains his vision for how Bitcoin could put people's financial power back into their hands, rather than under the control of financial institutions and governments. Plus, we talk AI language Gibbe…

1
From Meditation to Innovation: How Stefan Chmelik Designed a Breakthrough Stress-Relief Device 50:56

3M ago50:56

50:56

Listener discount! Get 10% off a Sensate using code WHYDESIGN or by visiting https://getsensate.com/WHYDESIGN In this episode, host Chris Whyte is joined by Stefan Chmelik, founder of Sensate – a revolutionary consumer product designed to reduce stress and improve well-being through sound and vibration therapy. Before Sensate, Stefan spent 30 years…

1
Mindset Over Money: How Your True Wealth Depends on Your Unshakeable Foundation and Resourcefulness 13:29

3M ago13:29

13:29

What role does failure play on the road to success? In this episode, Adam Torres and Damion Lupo, Founder & CIO at FrameTec, explore Damion's journey as an entrepreneur and FrameTec. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast:…

1
FitCEO:Be The Leader Of Your Life 14:18

3M ago14:18

14:18

New book alert! In this episode, Adam Torres and Rebecca Macieira-Kaufmann, Founder of RMK Group, LLC, explore RMK Group, LLC and Rebecca's new book, FitCEO: Be the Leader of Your Life. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podca…

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