Kiwi Startups Betting Big: From Skateboards to Math Ed and the latest on Musk’s AI Power Play

PLUS: AWS dives into AI’s business edge, NZ’s shrinking economy and what’s next, Wellington’s Startup Weekend kicks off, health leadership under fire, and the future of NZ media live on stage.

Good morning, startup land.

Much like the current forecast, today’s a mix of highs and lows. Amazing Kiwis doing big things, a tough macroeconomic and health outlook, some must-attend events (Wellington is definitely leading the charge here NZ!), and yes, just one mention of Musk.

Here’s what’s brewing today:

• The Breinchild Story - How Three Businesspeople (Who Knew Little About Software) Built a Skateboard SaaS Product

• AWS Data & AI Day: The AI Edge Your Business Needs

• Kiwi Startup Polymath Raises $1M to Reinvent Maths Education

• NZ’s Economy is Shrinking. What Happens Next?

• Startup Weekend Wellington Kicks Off with a High-Energy Launch Party

• Is New Zealand’s Health Leadership in Crisis?

• Elon Musk’s xAI Launching Grok 3 Today at 8 PM Pacific Time

• The Spinoff’s The Fold Live: Inside the Future of NZ Media

Stay caffeinated, have a great Tuesday, and please support us so we can keep doing what we love in, let’s be honest, some currently choppy waters.

Lauren & the Caffeine team

PS: Here’s your take on JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s leaked rant making it clear he doesn’t care about employee complaints over his strict return-to-office (RTO) policy.

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AWS Data & AI Day: The AI Edge Your Business Needs

Join over 300 industry leaders in Auckland for a deep dive into AI’s real-world impact on business. At AWS Data & AI Day, you’ll explore how AI is transforming operations, driving revenue, cutting costs, and shaping the future of talent and strategy.

Expect expert insights, hands-on demos, and networking with top minds in AI. Learn how a strong data strategy fuels AI success and walk away with practical strategies to stay ahead.

Who should attend?
Business and technical leaders from startups, enterprises, software companies, and the public sector, including CIOs, CTOs, CPOs, CFOs, Heads of AI, Innovation, Revenue, and more.

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