Diaspora.nz
Diaspora.nz
Podcast Description
Around 20% of New Zealanders live outside of New Zealand. This is our “Diaspora” — and it’s one of the world’s largest, per capita.
Not only is it large, it's insanely talented… early in their lives and careers, many of New Zealand’s most ambitious individuals realise— if they want to make a dent in the universe, they need to get out there… to study abroad, get the experience, build relationships to help them win on a global stage.
Today, those estimated ~1M expats include some of our finest talent. They are founders, top operators/execs at industry leading companies. They are scientists and researchers working at the frontiers of science: artificial intelligence, synthetic biology; global leaders in business, culture, and society… entrenched in all corners of the world, walks of live… largely “heads down”, doing their thing. https://www.diaspora.nz
Disapora is part of the Day One network. Day One helps founders & operators make better business decisions more often.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a diverse range of themes including entrepreneurship, innovation, cultural commentary, and the challenges of the diaspora experience, with episodes exploring topics such as scaling global startups, the impact of tech and AI on various industries, and cultural dynamics faced by Kiwis living overseas.
Around 20% of New Zealanders live outside of New Zealand. This is our “Diaspora” — and it’s one of the world’s largest, per capita.
Not only is it large, it’s insanely talented… early in their lives and careers, many of New Zealand’s most ambitious individuals realise— if they want to make a dent in the universe, they need to get out there… to study abroad, get the experience, build relationships to help them win on a global stage.
Today, those estimated ~1M expats include some of our finest talent. They are founders, top operators/execs at industry leading companies. They are scientists and researchers working at the frontiers of science: artificial intelligence, synthetic biology; global leaders in business, culture, and society… entrenched in all corners of the world, walks of live… largely “heads down”, doing their thing. https://www.diaspora.nz
Disapora is part of the Day One network. Day One helps founders & operators make better business decisions more often.
Episode Summary
Xavier Collins, London-born and New Zealand-raised, is no stranger to building marketplaces that scale. After early days at Uber, Xavier joined Nexus Notes before launching Deliveroo into dozens of UK cities and spearheading Turo’s growth across Europe. Now he’s applying his marketplace magic to the film industry with Wonder, an AI-native creative studio backed by Blackbird, LocalGlobe, and a host of world-class angels.
In today’s episode, Xavier takes us deep into the creative frontier of AI and storytelling, exploring how technology can unlock new levels of creativity, reshape entertainment financing, and give more filmmakers a voice. We cover:
• How AI is redefining storytelling and enabling more scripts to reach production
• Lessons from building successful marketplaces at Uber, Deliveroo, Turo, and Nexus Notes
• The keys to marketplace success: seeding liquidity, focusing on quality supply, and defining user experience
• Why the entertainment industry is overdue for disruption (and how Wonder is leading the charge)
• How filmmakers and creatives can harness AI to amplify their vision
We also dive into Xavier’s unique journey—from narrowly missing a consulting career to hustling his way through startups, and the unforgettable Cannes moment that launched Wonder.
Time Stamps
02:49 The Cannes moment: Realising AI will reshape filmmaking
07:18 Using AI to rescue stories that wouldn’t otherwise be told
10:56 The life-changing phone call that sent Xavier into startups
19:37 Early lessons on marketplace liquidity from Deliveroo and Turo
25:52 Price, selection, and service: The three pillars of marketplace success
32:16 Services vs SaaS: Rethinking business models in the AI age
41:05 Financing films 101: Inside Xavier’s other venture, Lumiere Ventures
48:26 Xavier’s advice to young people: Lean into AI now
Resources
Xavier Collins’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xaviercollins/
Wonder – AI-native creative studio: https://www.wonder.inc
Diaspora.nz is part of Day One.
Day One helps founders and startup operators make better business decisions more often.
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