AANZ Event | Auckland Runway
14 October 2026
Runway Reimagined Startup week 2026 . Join us for Runway 2026, set to take place in Auckland on Wednesday 14th October.
It promises a day brimming with invaluable insights, networking opportunities, and connections with both founders and investors. Geared towards early-stage startups and seasoned investors alike, Runway offers a unique chance to glean wisdom from those deeply entrenched in the startup ecosystem, sharing their firsthand experiences.
Delve into immersive sessions designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of fundraising. Come prepared with your burning questions as our experts are ready to provide answers and guidance.
The day culminates in a dynamic speed dating event, affording every founder the chance to hone their elevator pitch and engage with each investor present. Amidst the buzz of conversations, this exercise proves immensely beneficial in refining your message.
Amidst breaks, seize the chance to expand your network and forge new relationships with fellow investors and entrepreneurs. You'll find no shortage of engaging conversations and opportunities to connect. Past attendees have often lamented not joining sooner—don't miss out on what promises to be a transformative event!
Founders: $115.00
Investor (AANZ Member): $115.00
Investor (Non Member): $230.00
Speakers
Anand Reddy
Partner at PwC
Anand is passionate about developing relationships with his Private clients, understanding their business strategy and personal goals and providing practical and commercial solutions.
With broad international experience, Anand has worked with people of different cultures and businesses around the world. His clients include the range of high growth businesses to New Zealand’s leading private businesses of scale. Anand has an industry focus on tech businesses and loves working with people with the Kiwi entrepreneurial spirit looking to make it big on the international stage.
Bowen Pan
Bowen is a product and technology leader with deep experience building marketplaces, consumer platforms, and B2B SaaS products at global scale. He led the creation of Facebook Marketplace and has driven major product initiatives at Trade Me, Facebook Gaming, Stripe, and Common Room.
After spending 13 years in Silicon Valley, Bowen has returned to New Zealand and is on the board of NZME, owner of the NZ Herald, Newstalk ZB, and OneRoof. He also sits on the advisory board of the University of Auckland Business School and advises startups, corporates, and investors through Redwood Pan Group on product strategy, go-to-market execution, and international scaling.
Bowen holds a First Class Honours Bachelor of Engineering and a Bachelor of Property from the University of Auckland, along with an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Jeff Valenzuela
Townhall
Jeff is a strategic communications professional with more than 20 years of international experience delivering communications solutions for business, government and not-for-profits in fields including infrastructure, property development, transportation, finance, energy, and economic development.
Mel Drumm
Townhall
Mel is versed in corporate communications strategies and tools and enjoys working with clients to help them tell their story to the audiences that matter most. With experience in stakeholder engagement, external, internal and change communications, reputation management and crisis comms, she has recently worked with founders in the aviation, tech and arts industries.
Venue
Pipiri Lane
124 Halsey St, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland 1010
Pipiri Lane isn’t just a place to work or host — it’s a statement. Located in Wynyard Quarter, Auckland’s buzzing innovation hub, it’s New Zealand's first cross-laminated timber work and event space. With a 6 Star Green Star rating, Pipiri Lane is one of Auckland’s most sustainable buildings, representing a rare opportunity to align businesses with innovation, environmental responsibility and forward-thinking design.