How To Be Wrong — A Crash Course in Startup Success with Rowan Simpson
Fireside conversation about How To Be Wrong: A Crash Course in Startup Success
Fun fact: I interviewed Rowan on my podcast back in 2022 for one of his first in-depth public interviews and we've built a friendship since! When he mentioned this opportunity for a fireside, I jumped at it and excited for many of you to join us :)
Join us for an honest, practical, and entertaining deep dive into the art of learning from mistakes with Rowan Simpson, early employee at globally renowned companies like Xero, Trade Me, Vend etc and one of New Zealand’s most experienced startup builders.
Hosted by me, Vidit Agarwal (host of The High Flyers Podcast, Founder & CEO of Curiosity Centre, and Investor at FB10x)
Together, we'll unpack what really happens behind the scenes of building enduring companies — the hard calls, early missteps, and pivotal moments that define success stories like Trade Me, Xero, and Vend.
Expect a raw and relatable conversation that goes beyond startup clichés — touching on:
The mindset and systems that help founders learn faster
How to make peace with uncertainty (and failure)
Building teams and products in the face of being “wrong”
Lessons from scaling iconic tech companies across ANZ
And Rowan's new book, How to be Wrong - A Crash Course in Startup Success
Whether you’re a founder, operator, investor, or simply curious about how great startups are built, this is your front-row seat to a masterclass in humility, conviction, and iteration.
🎙️ Hosted by: Vidit Agarwal, The High Flyers Podcast
🌟 Guest Speaker: Rowan Simpson, Early Employee at Trade Me, Xero, and Vend
🗓 Date: Tuesday, 11th November 2025, 5:30pm start
📍 Location: Melbourne (venue details shared post RSVP)
🎟 Limited seats available
This event is organised by The High Flyers Podcast.
Thanks to our Sponsors, Vanta and Canva.