Selling It: Three Roads to Startup Success

Revenue is the lifeblood of every startup, but sales strategies are as diverse as founders themselves. This session dives into three distinct sales approaches, traditional, referral-based, and marketing-led, offering tactical insights and lived experience from startup leaders.

Gain tactical insights into how different sales approaches work in real-world startup contexts, what’s required to make them successful, and how to evolve your strategy as your business grows.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, this session is for founders, marketers, investors, and anyone who wants a grounded, honest look at the art of startup sales, over good coffee and even better conversations.

🎤 Speakers

• Gau Kurman – Co-Founder Supahuman AI
  Gau is a visionary marketer and entrepreneur redefining how brands harness AI, storytelling, and strategy. With over a decade in digital marketing and brand leadership, she has built her career at the intersection of creativity and innovation. In 2023, she co-founded SupaHuman AI, now recognised as one of ANZ’s most progressive AI companies, where she serves as Chief Marketing Officer, leading global marketing and brand strategy. A storyteller at heart, Gau shapes how SupaHuman transforms compliance-heavy industries and education through intelligent automation. Beyond her executive role, she champions women in tech, mentoring female entrepreneurs to embrace AI and scale their ventures with confidence and clarity.

• Jody Cruttenden – Marketing and Growth Lead at Emerge

  Jody is the Marketing and Growth Lead at Emerge, a digital-first alternative to traditional business banking in Aotearoa. Emerge is on a mission to make banking faster, simpler, and more transparent for Kiwi businesses - without being a bank (yet). Jody leads growth across brand, campaigns, and partnerships, helping founders discover tools that put them in control. His work is all about cutting through the noise with bold, customer-first ideas that back New Zealand businesses from day one.

• Paul Zaruchevsky – Fractional CMO at NO BS MKT and founder of Wedge GTM

  Paul is a Fractional CMO at NO BS MKT and founder of Wedge GTM, New Zealand's first Clay-powered GTM agency. With 12+ years at high-performance tech companies including Xero, Tradify, and Pushpay, he specialises in engineering go-to-market systems to scale revenue. Paul helps tech companies build repeatable growth engines through data-driven experimentation and customer-centric strategy.

🎙 Facilitator

• Colart Miles – Managing Partner, Praxxis Group
  Colart will be facilitating the session and guiding the conversation. As a leader in innovation delivery, he helps startups, corporates, and public agencies turn ambition into real, measurable outcomes, with clarity, focus, and a touch of fun.

📌 Please note:
By attending Auckland Startup Week events, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for everyone.

🎥 Filming & Photography:
Events will be photographed and recorded. Footage and images may be used for promotional purposes. If you have concerns, please let our team know on the day.