Letβs be honest, survival mode has had a long run for business owners. Global noise, economic pressure, a challenging election cycle β Kiwi SMEs have weathered all of it, and thereβs no sign itβs about to ease up. But growth doesnβt wait for perfect conditions. Itβs made by the businesses bold enough to go after it anyway.
One week after New Zealand goes to the polls, Ready to Rise returns for round three. Not to relitigate the result, but to unpack what the next three years might hold for SMEs. No political spin, no wait-and-see. Just the sharp thinking, hard-won stories and real strategy you need to make your next bold call.
Because nobody else builds your business for you. The SMEs who pull ahead from here are the ones who back themselves, and this is where you find your people to do it alongside.
Get 10% off tickets with our special early bird rate, valid until October 11.Β
Speakers
Complete list of speakers to be announced soonβ¦
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- Grant Taylor is the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of MOXX Brands, a fast-growing New Zealand consumer goods start-up building award-winning brands sold across the USA, Canada, Australia and NZ, including home fragrance brand Maison&Muse and hair care brands DoseTheory & Everblue, among others. Grant is an experienced FMCG entrepreneur, having previously founded Rascal+Friends, the hugely successful nappy brand now sold around the world and which secured Grant EY Entrepreneur of the Year-Product as well as Coles Non-Food Supplier of the Year. MOXX was recently awarded Excellence in International Business at the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards, following its Best Emerging Business win in 2024 and an outstanding third place in the 2025 Deloitte Fast 50, where it was also named New Zealandβs fastest-growing consumer products and export business. Grant is passionate about building high-performing brands, taking Kiwi businesses to the world and creating products that genuinely deliver for consumers.
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- Angus Brown is the founder of Δrepa, a New Zealand brain food technology company creating clinically researched nutrition products designed to support mental performance and brain health. More recently the company has discovered a new molecule that has a world-first position in food. Under Angusβs leadership, Δrepa has grown into one of Australasiaβs leading brain health brands, combining food science, neuroscience, brand storytelling, and human clinical research to build consumer trust and market demand. Angus has firsthand experience navigating health claims, regulatory scrutiny, product innovation, IP development, and the commercial realities of building a science-led food brand.
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- Andrew Fairgray was appointed Chief Business Officer at 2degrees in September 2019. Andrew is an industry veteran, having formerly run his own business JETA Group. Previous to that he was the head of corporate and government sales at Vodafone. He has also held a range of executive roles in New Zealand and overseas with multi-national operators such as Alcatel Lucent, Nokia, and IBM. Andrew joined 2degrees in its 10th year, with a strong brand and a significant opportunity to grow market share and Fight for Fair for Kiwi Businesses. Most recently, through the merger with Vocus, he continues to lead the 2degrees Business team to improve the overall productivity of New Zealand Inc. through leveraging 2degrees world class mobile and fixed networks.
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Why you should be in the room
- Real stories, not theory. SME leaders on how theyβve turned hard calls into hard-won growth.
- Strategy you can use the next day. Practical, no-fluff takeaways for the year ahead.
- A panel that says the quiet part out loud. Straight talk on whatβs next for business, without the politics.
- A room full of your people. Connect with SME owners facing the exact same conditions β and figure it out together.
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