Posted on 28 Mar 2025 in Featured
Host Paul Spain sits down with Grant Straker, the CEO and co-founder of Straker, a global leader in AI-driven language and translation technologies. From his early days growing up in New Zealand and his time as an elite paratrooper in the British Army, to his journey into entrepreneurship and eventual public listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, Grant shares a fascinating tale of innovation, perseverance, and growth. Tune in to hear about the challenges and triumphs of building a tech company from the ground up, the impacts of AI on the translation industry, and Grant’s insights into balancing business with personal life.
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Gorilla Technology
Paul Spain – LinkedIn
Paul Spain – CEO, Business & Tech Commentator, Futurist
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Posted on 10 May 2016 in Featured, Podcast
She calls herself Chief Bubble Blower, but PledgeMe’s young CEO now runs a very serious business indeed. Anna Guenther is this week’s guest and she talks about how it all started in Dunedin and how PledgeMe now funds companies as well as arts and charity projects. This episode is hosted by Paul Spain (@paulspain) and Johanna Bennett with the support of Gorilla Technology and is a production of Podcasts New Zealand.
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You can keep current with our latest NZ Business Podcast updates via Twitter @NZ_Business, the NZBusinessPodcast.com website and the NZ Business Podcast facebook page.
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Posted on 20 Dec 2013 in Featured, Podcast
We join Sir Stephen Tindall as he talks with Paul Spain about how he grew a $40,000 investment into one of New Zealand’s most successful businesses. Insights into The Warehouse Group’s history lead into current strategy including how the company is facing international competition from Amazon.com and others in the online world. Sir Stephen also talks about the Tindall Foundation, his K1W1 investment fund, KEA (the Kiwi Expat Association), Kiwi Landing Pad and more.
This episode produced in association with BNZ and hosted by Paul Spain of Global Voice Media.
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You can keep current with our latest NZ Business Podcast updates via Twitter @NZ_Business, the NZBusinessPodcast.com website and facebook page.
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Posted on 2 Dec 2013 in Featured, Podcast
Paul Spain visits The Epic innovation centre in Christchurch to talk with Shaun Ryan, Co-founder/CEO of SLI Systems. They discuss the SLI’s history, along with growth, funding, company culture, staff retention, using a tele-presence robot and listing on the NZX. Also mentioned in the discussion are Global Brain, NBCi, Pioneer Capital and Rakon.
This episode was produced in association with BNZ and hosted by Paul Spain of Global Voice Media.
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You can keep current with our latest NZ Business Podcast updates via Twitter @NZ_Business, the NZBusinessPodcast.com website and facebook page.
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Posted on 2 Sep 2013 in Featured, Podcast
A fascinating discussion where host Paul Spain talks with Lance Wiggs – entrepreneur, investor, advisor behind TradeMe’s $750-million sale to Fairfax in 2006, and now co-founder of the Punakaiki Fund which will invest in growth stage New Zealand businesses.
This episode hosted and produced by Paul Spain (@paulspain) and featuring Lance Wiggs (@lancewiggs) with thanks to Gorilla Technology.
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You can keep current with our latest NZ Business Podcast updates via Twitter @NZ_Business, the NZBusinessPodcast.com website and facebook page.
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