Grant Straker – Co-Founder and CEO of Straker
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.
Listen to the Podcast Here:
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Paul Spain – CEO, Business & Tech Commentator, Futurist
You can keep current with our latest NZ Business Podcast updates via Twitter @NZ_Business, the NZ Business Podcast website.
Samsung Update + Smartphone privacy at Borders, AI concerns and Meta dramas
Host Paul Spain is joined by Jens Anders (Samsung NZ) as they delve into the exciting and ever-evolving world of technology. They discuss the expansive product portfolio Jens oversees at Samsung New Zealand, including everything from mobile phones to home appliances and more. They also dive into tech news, exploring topics like AI regulation, online safety, Military AI and the impact of technology in healthcare. Plus, privacy issues for travellers to the US, and Meta’s legal dramas. Join us as we navigate these subjects and discover how technology is shaping our lives today.
Special thanks to our show partners: One NZ, 2degrees, Spark NZ, HP, and Gorilla Technology.
Recession-Proof Investment Strategy? Ep 462 Robbie Paul
Early-stage investing is putting money into new companies with big ideas but not a lot of history. If they make it, even a small investment can yield significant returns. The best part of these returns, however, is that it has nothing to do with global trends but the company’s ability to solve a problem and generate revenue. Read more
Robbie Paul is the CEO of Icehouse Ventures.
Book in a free 15-min phone call with Darcy Ungaro (financial adviser).
Sign up to the fortnightly newsletter!
Brought to you in partnership with: Icehouse Ventures is a Kiwi Venture Capital firm investing in Kiwi startups since 2001.
Affiliate Links*!
The Bitcoin Adviser: Plan for intergenerational digital wealth.
Hatch: For US markets.
Sharesies: For local, and international markets.
Easy Crypto: To buy and sell digital assets.
Sharesight: For tracking and reporting on your portfolio
Exodus: Get rewards on your first $2,500 of swaps
Revolut: For a new type of banking.
*Some links create a financial benefit.
Online courses:
The Home Buyers Blueprint: Get a better home; Get a better mortgage.
The KiwiSaver Millionaire Roadmap: Get a Rockstar Retirement!
New Wealth Foundations: Personal finance from a wealth-builder’s perspective.
Take the free, 5-part online course Crypto 101: Crypto with Confidence
Get Social:
Check out the most watched/downloaded episodes here
Follow on YouTube , Instagram, TikTok: @theeverydayinvestor, X (@UngaroDarcy), LinkedIn.
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Disclaimer: Please act independently from any content provided in these episodes; it’s not financial advice, because there’s no accounting for your individual circumstances. Do your own research and take a broad range of opinions into account. Ideally, engage a financial adviser / pay for advice!
________________________
Listen to NZ Everyday Investor Podcast:
Oh, behave! The real reason for overshoot – Joseph Merz
In September 2023, a group of scientists and writers had a paper published in a niche academic journal. The paper “World scientists’ warning: The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot” might have quietly retired in a graveyard along with a thousand other important but forgotten tomes – except it didn’t. At last count the paper has had 70,000 downloads and ranks in the top 1% of academic papers. In short, the paper describes how our modern human behaviour means we consume too much and waste too much. That’s called overshoot – as terrible as it is, it’s now new news. What’s novel, is the paper’s proposition that it’s human behaviour – not technology, not law, not economic systems not even our values – that are the drivers: it’s human behaviour. And just as our maladaptive behaviours got us here, so too can better behaviours get us out.
To expand on the paper and to explain its popularity, Vincent was joined by the lead author, Joseph Merz of the Merz Foundation.
New Paper Identifies ‘Behavioural Crisis’ Driving Overshoot – Merz Institute
Listen to the Podcast Here:
Straker’s Journey from Translation to AI Innovation
Join host Paul Spain and Grant Straker, CEO of Straker.AI, as Grant shares insights into Straker’s journey from building early websites to a leading provider of AI-driven content automation, verification, and translation services. With operations spanning ten countries and more than 150 staff, Straker’s innovative approach leverages both human and machine collaboration to navigate the complexities of AI. Join us as we discuss Straker’s commitment to innovation and how they are pioneering technologies that are shaping the future of translation and AI verification.
Special thanks to our show partners: One NZ, 2degrees, Spark NZ, HP, and Gorilla Technology.
Will Trump’s Tariffs Kill The Markets? Ep 461 Tom Deacon
Tom Deacon is a senior investment analyst at Mint Asset Management, who focuses on stock research for New Zealand and Australian-listed companies in the healthcare and technology sectors. Read more
Book in a free 15-min phone call with Darcy Ungaro (financial adviser).
Sign up to the fortnightly newsletter!
Brought to you in partnership with: Icehouse Ventures is a Kiwi Venture Capital firm investing in Kiwi startups since 2001.
Affiliate Links*!
The Bitcoin Adviser: Plan for intergenerational digital wealth.
Hatch: For US markets.
Sharesies: For local, and international markets.
Easy Crypto: To buy and sell digital assets.
Sharesight: For tracking and reporting on your portfolio
Exodus: Get rewards on your first $2,500 of swaps
Revolut: For a new type of banking.
*Some links create a financial benefit.
Online courses:
The Home Buyers Blueprint: Get a better home; Get a better mortgage.
The KiwiSaver Millionaire Roadmap: Get a Rockstar Retirement!
New Wealth Foundations: Personal finance from a wealth-builder’s perspective.
Take the free, 5-part online course Crypto 101: Crypto with Confidence
Get Social:
Check out the most watched/downloaded episodes here
Follow on YouTube , Instagram, TikTok: @theeverydayinvestor, X (@UngaroDarcy), LinkedIn.
________________________
Disclaimer: Please act independently from any content provided in these episodes; it’s not financial advice, because there’s no accounting for your individual circumstances. Do your own research and take a broad range of opinions into account. Ideally, engage a financial adviser / pay for advice!
________________________
Listen to NZ Everyday Investor Podcast:
NZ Satellite to Mobile competition heats up, Ransomware via Webcam plus more
Hear from host Paul Spain and business advisor Jason Langley, as Jason shares insights into business leadership, reflecting on his experiences and evolving role as an independent business advisor. They also delve into various topics and tech news including:
- 2degrees and Spark satellite-to-mobile news
- Ambitious plans for a power cable linking New Zealand and Australia
- Allstate car insurer sued for tracking drivers
- Webcam and IOT vulnerabilities
- Auckland’s EV Vandalism
- Skinny’s AI brand Ambassador
Special thanks to our show partners: One NZ, 2degrees, Spark NZ, HP, and Gorilla Technology.
Why Did Orr Resign? Ep 460 Michael Reddell
Check out YouTube version here, or read an article about this chat here.
Michael Reddell is a former senior official at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). He was Head of Financial Markets from 2000 to 2003 – he was an economic adviser to the central banks of Papua New Guinea and Zambia and served on the Board of the International Monetary Fund – although being semi-retired he writes regularly on central bank issues and New Zealand’s economic performance.
Check out the blog of Michael Reddell here.
Book in a free 15-min phone call with Darcy Ungaro (financial adviser).
Sign up to the fortnightly newsletter!
Brought to you in partnership with: Icehouse Ventures is a Kiwi Venture Capital firm investing in Kiwi startups since 2001.
Affiliate Links*!
The Bitcoin Adviser: Plan for intergenerational digital wealth.
Hatch: For US markets.
Sharesies: For local, and international markets.
Easy Crypto: To buy and sell digital assets.
Sharesight: For tracking and reporting on your portfolio
Exodus: Get rewards on your first $2,500 of swaps
Revolut: For a new type of banking.
*Some links create a financial benefit.
Online courses:
The Home Buyers Blueprint: Get a better home; Get a better mortgage.
The KiwiSaver Millionaire Roadmap: Get a Rockstar Retirement!
New Wealth Foundations: Personal finance from a wealth-builder’s perspective.
Take the free, 5-part online course Crypto 101: Crypto with Confidence
Get Social:
Check out the most watched/downloaded episodes here
Follow on YouTube , Instagram, TikTok: @theeverydayinvestor, X (@UngaroDarcy), LinkedIn.
________________________
Disclaimer: Please act independently from any content provided in these episodes; it’s not financial advice, because there’s no accounting for your individual circumstances. Do your own research and take a broad range of opinions into account. Ideally, engage a financial adviser / pay for advice!
________________________
Listen to NZ Everyday Investor Podcast:
Coffee prices and climate – Richard Goatley, Altezano Brothers
Just three years ago, the average price of a takeaway coffee was $4.33. Since then prices have marched north with Stats NZ officially recording the average to be $4.85 but good luck finding that in Auckland or Wellington. The reason: coffee beans. The price of the most popular bean, arabica, soared 70% in 2024 and nearly 20% so far this year to an all-time high.
What’s going on – is someone skimming a profit here, is it climate change? To help us through this bitter news Vincent was joined by Richard Goatly, one of the brothers from Altezano Brothers coffee roasters.
https://altezanobrothers.co.nz/
Listen to the Podcast Here:
AI Advances, Autonomous Wayves, and the Future of Mobile Connectivity
Join Paul Spain and Ryan Ashton (A Few Quiet Yarns – AFQY) as they delve into the dynamic landscape of AI, autonomous driving technology, and the MWC 2025. They look autonomous vehicles and Kiwi-founded Wayve’s expansion in Europe, Meta’s apology for Instagram feeds displaying graphic content, the Mobile World Congress 2025 and the evolving role of AI in areas like browsing, mobile networks and the latest Samsung S25+.
They also shine the spotlight on the importance of showcasing innovation through events like the NZ High Tech Awards, Te Hapori Matihiko, the Māori Tech Awards, and AFQY gatherings. Tune in to hear insights on the New Zealand’s tech ecosystem and beyond.
Special thanks to our show partners: One NZ, 2degrees, Spark NZ, HP, and Gorilla Technology.
The 7-Question Retirement Strategy, Ep 459 Ben Brinkerhoff
Recent research shows the average New Zealander spends about $3k per month in retirement, on top of government superannuation.
The question we should consider here, is, where is it going to come from?
From a house sale? From investment returns? Inheritance?
What about, from your investment strategy.
Book in a free 15-min phone call with Darcy Ungaro (financial adviser).
Sign up to the fortnightly newsletter!
Brought to you in partnership with: Icehouse Ventures is a Kiwi Venture Capital firm investing in Kiwi startups since 2001.
Affiliate Links*!
The Bitcoin Adviser: Plan for intergenerational digital wealth.
Hatch: For US markets.
Sharesies: For local, and international markets.
Easy Crypto: To buy and sell digital assets.
Sharesight: For tracking and reporting on your portfolio
Exodus: Get rewards on your first $2,500 of swaps
Revolut: For a new type of banking.
*Some links create a financial benefit.
Online courses:
The Home Buyers Blueprint: Get a better home; Get a better mortgage.
The KiwiSaver Millionaire Roadmap: Get a Rockstar Retirement!
New Wealth Foundations: Personal finance from a wealth-builder’s perspective.
Take the free, 5-part online course Crypto 101: Crypto with Confidence
Get Social:
Check out the most watched/downloaded episodes here
Follow on YouTube , Instagram, TikTok: @theeverydayinvestor, X (@UngaroDarcy), LinkedIn.
________________________
Disclaimer: Please act independently from any content provided in these episodes; it’s not financial advice, because there’s no accounting for your individual circumstances. Do your own research and take a broad range of opinions into account. Ideally, engage a financial adviser / pay for advice!
________________________
Listen to NZ Everyday Investor Podcast:
Sky TV’s Rugby Rights Dilemma, Crypto Safety and the Future of Telecommunications
Host Paul Spain is joined by seasoned tech and telecommunications journalist Bill Bennett. Together, they dive into the evolving landscape of tech, telecommunications and media, including:
- Sky TV’s potential loss of All Blacks rights to DZAN
- Robotics Plus acquired by Yamaha Motors
- Some Chinese apps blocked on MP devices
- Financial health of Spark and Chorus
- The Future of satellite and mobile networks
- AI breach in NZ court name suppression law
- Microsoft AI partnership with Spark
- Kidnapping over cryptocurrency password
- UK’s order to access Apple’s encrypted user data
Special thanks to our show partners: One NZ, 2degrees, Spark NZ, HP, and Gorilla Technology.