The Business of Tech

Mark Clare is the founding and managing partner at Clare Capital, a boutique investment bank that releases a regular tech insights newsletter.

We chose this conversation to feature because not only does Mark offer fantastic insights about listed companies and the public market, but goes wider than that.

He talks about the private capital market, about the value that a strong NZX can bring to the country, the benefits of selling to offshore companies, and what he sees as the industry’s biggest weakness.

Spoiler – it is not a lack of technical talent.

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Back in July of 2023, now last year, Rocket Lab finalised its plans for recovering and reusing engines for its rockets.

Founder and CEO Peter Beck spared some time to chat about what that means for the company.

Plus, he spoke about how he saw the space industry in Aotearoa New Zealand, and where he thought we stood on the global stage.

Since then, Beck hosted the National Party’s pre-election space policy announcement, and the industry has made some significant strides.

Listening back to the interview is a timely reminder of the value the industry can bring to NZ’s economy.

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In March of last year, Judith Collins was but a senior member of parliament for the opposition. Today, she is a senior member of the government, with more ministerial positions than any other member of the National Party government.

Collins spent a significant amount of her time in opposition learning about NZs tech sector, and wooing its members.

It was in March when Peter Griffin spoke to her to ask her thoughts on tech in NZ and what she would focus on if she made it into cabinet, which we played in our first-ever episode.

Listening back, one of the most interesting things is thinking about just how far we’ve come with artificial intelligence in less than a year. You can also hear the beginnings of one of Collins’ other portfolios – digitising government.

With the new Government’s first full year in power ahead, it’s a great time for us to replay this interview with the now-minister for space and see what could be in store for tech in 2024.

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What does it take to be a modern, competitive internet provider in 2024?

One NZ CEO Jason Paris has been focused on exactly that question for the last few years as he has transitioned Vodafone NZ into One NZ.

Now, one year since the official launch of the rebrand, Paris joins us to provide some insight into how the gears are turning inside one of Aotearoa's biggest technology companies.

Plus, more AI job displacement talk, and has Elon done enough with X to keep his own personality from sinking it?

Reading list

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Since 1998, there has been a global moratorium on charging tariffs for digital services but that may soon come to an end, depending on what happens at the World Trade Organisation conference later this month.

Ben talks to BusinessDesk senior correspondent Dileepa Fonseka about his research into the matter, and what it might mean for Kiwi software companies looking to go global.

Plus, Peter and Ben discuss the need for sovereign artificial intelligence infrastructure, the US’ plan to undermine Huawei, and Electric Kiwi’s criticism of broadband notice periods.

Links and reading list

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