How I Built a $110M Car Business by 30 – Lessons for Kiwi Entrepreneurs

At just 30 years old, this visionary founder turned a simple idea into a $110 million car business — and the lessons are packed with insights for New Zealand’s growing community of entrepreneurs, start-up founders, and auto-industry disruptors.

In this inspiring Founder Effect feature, we follow the journey from bootstrapped beginnings to industry dominance — a path that resonates deeply with Kiwi business culture, where ingenuity, grit, and lean startup methods are highly valued. Whether you're a Hamilton-based car dealer, a Christchurch founder in e-mobility, or a Wellington app developer building for auto services, this story is a blueprint for what’s possible in Aotearoa.

The founder dives into pivotal decisions, funding challenges, team building, and the shift from niche markets to massive scale. It’s especially relevant to New Zealand’s small but fiercely competitive startup ecosystem, where scalability, innovation, and customer trust are essential.

From logistics and supply chain hacks to building a powerful brand, this episode touches on many lessons applicable to Kiwi sectors—from automotive retail and EV services to SaaS platforms and venture capital navigation. It also underscores the rising interest in offshore expansion, something many NZ entrepreneurs are exploring to grow beyond our small domestic market.

If you're building a business in Aotearoa and want to go global, this is your signal to dream bigger — and execute sharper.

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Daniel Chyi 戚钊

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