Breaking the Code: Lessons from Kiwi Companies Growing in Latin America
13 October 2026
- Scaling Up
- Investors and enablers
- Early Stage/Growth
Latin America offers significant opportunities for startups that understand the region. With panellists from NZTE and leading New Zealand startups succeeding in the region, this breakfast session explores where the opportunities are, what founders need to know before entering, and lessons from businesses already operating and succeeding in LATAM.
Leave with practical insights, new connections and a clearer path to market.
Latin America is home to more than 650 million people, growing digital economies, and significant opportunities for ambitious startups seeking international growth.
Join us during Auckland Startup Week as industry experts, ecosystem leaders and founders share practical insights on entering and scaling across Latin American markets. From identifying opportunities and understanding market requirements to building the right partnerships on the ground, this session will provide a practical and actionable view of expanding into LATAM.
This session is organised by he Latin America New Zealand Business Council (LANZBC) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)
Whether you’re actively considering international growth or simply curious about the region’s potential, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the opportunities and practical steps involved, as well as valuable new connections across the New Zealand and Latin American business communities.
A light breakfast will be served on arrival. Stay on after the panel for networking with fellow founders, investors and LATAM market specialists.
Free
Speakers
Felipe Rojas
Global Procurement Ingredients and Innovation Lead at Fonterra
A business leader and qualified Chilean lawyer with over 15 years of international experience across commercial, legal and innovation roles. He is Global Procurement Ingredients and Innovation Lead at Fonterra and, as a Board Director of the Latin America New Zealand Business Council, connects New Zealand businesses, startups and investors with opportunities across Latin America.
James Bayly
CEO at Mindhive Global
CEO of Mindhive Global, an AI-powered quality assessment company that has turned leather inspection into verified business intelligence through machine vision technology. Under James’s leadership, Mindhive has grown contracted revenue fourfold in two years and now serves major global leather manufacturers across nine countries. Mindhive won Startup of the Year and Best AgriTech at the 2025 New Zealand International Business Awards, and Leveraging Investment for International Growth at the 2025 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
Matty Blomfield
CEO at Hectre
Co-founder and CEO of Hectre, an agritech company he has grown into a globally recognised SaaS business over the past decade. With more than 10 years as an entrepreneur and seven years in the agriculture sector, Matty has led Hectre’s expansion into international markets. Hectre was most recently recognised as Hi-Tech Māori Company of the Year and Agritech Company of the Year at the 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards.
Stephen Blair
Regional Director at NZTE
NZTE’s Regional Director for Latin America and New Zealand’s Consul-General for the State of São Paulo, based in Brazil.
He leads NZTE’s operations and relationships across the region, having previously served as Trade Commissioner to South Korea and Melbourne. Before joining NZTE, Stephen worked in banking and senior business advisory roles across Australia.
Venue
The Annex
10 Madden Street
Wynyard Quarter
Auckland Central 1010
Conveniently situated next to GridAKL, The Annex is a contemporary venue with a striking exterior, providing a light-filled space with a large outdoor area to extend the scope of your event. This blank canvas has state-of-the-art AV facilities and is a timeless space for product launches, fashion shows, strategy sessions and workshops. The venue is in Auckland's waterfront neighbourhood, just a stone's throw from the motorway and city centre.