Rowan Simpson

Rowan is a software developer and investor. He has been involved as an investor and employee in a number of iconic high-growth technology businesses in New Zealand, including Trade Me and Xero. He was one of the original investors in Vend and Timely, and continues to work closely with the founders of these businesses.

Business
May 8, 2019

In the beginning, we had no idea: on the birth and growth of Trade Me

NZ's pioneering online auction site and marketplace has just marked 20 years with a staff reunion. Rowan Simpson went along, and it sparked some fascinating memories and reflections.

Read on.

Business
Nov 10, 2017

The problem with the way government backs business in 2017

Incubators, accelerators, grants, tax credits – there are a dizzying array of subsidies available for business. But we could make it all simpler and more effective both for government and industry, says technology investor Rowan Simpson.

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Media
May 30, 2016

Why start-ups should abandon the roller coaster and jump on a bike instead

Thick skin comes from scar tissue, and Sarah Walker, BMX pro, has more to teach us about early-stage businesses than an analogy that straps you into a fairground ride, writes Rowan Simpson

Read on.

Politics
Sep 13, 2015

The Flag: Rowan Simpson – “I Started the Red Peak Surge Because I Love the Silver Fern”

Rowan Simpson, whose blog post sparked the Red Peak surge, pens a follow-up letter to John Key.

Read on.

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