Kai & Kōrero is a business lunch series bringing together leaders, entrepreneurs, and curious minds for honest conversation over a good meal.

This time we're joined by Rowan Simpson — employee #3 at Trade Me, where he led the software team as it grew into an iconic Kiwi brand and sold to Fairfax for $750 million. He was an early investor in Xero and part of the original executive team at NZX listing, chairman of Vend, and the first investor in Timely. Few people have been closer to the centre of New Zealand's technology success stories.

Rowan's book, How To Be Wrong: A Crash Course in Startup Success, does something unusual — it takes the mistakes, the misreads, and the things he got badly wrong, and turns them into the most useful material he has. He challenges a lot of the conventional wisdom about how businesses get built in this country.

This is not a polished keynote. It's an open, intimate conversation where you'll hear real stories, real lessons, and have the chance to ask the questions that matter to you.

What to expect:

A light lunch at B:HIVE, Smales Farm
An hour of genuine, unscripted conversation
Practical wisdom you can take straight back to your business

Whether you're leading a team, building something of your own, or simply hungry to learn from someone who's done it — this one's for you.

📅 Tuesday 20 October | ⏰ 11:00am – 1:00pm | 📍 B:HIVE, Smales Farm, Takapuna

Lunch included. Proudly sponsored by Insurance Design. This event supports the wonderful work of E Tū Tāngata.

Contact the host of Kai & Korero with Rowan Simpon