Logitech’s MX Master 4 launch event is a party for a mouse.

At least, that’s how I describe it to my editor. And why not? As well as unveiling a new product, Logitech is also celebrating 10 years of the MX Master range – in style, at the Sydney Opera House.

The tech company calls the MX series “high-performance peripherals”, designed to enhance productivity and creativity.

In the last decade, there have been four versions of the mouse: the first in 2015, the second in 2017, the third in 2019 and the 3s in 2022.

At the launch, Logitech senior cluster category manager (ANZ) Marisol Vargas describes the latest iteration as “an experience, not just an upgraded tool”.

She says it takes productivity to the next level with customisable features so users can adapt it to their needs.

Spectacular starts

On September 30, our team of eight from Aotearoa arrived at the Sydney Opera House, excited to see what was in store.

We were slightly early – just in time to see the sun set over Darling Harbour. A pretty spectacular way to begin the night.

When we checked in, we got a silver and a gold ticket, plus an MX wristband. One of our group pushed a button on the band – it changes colour! Oooh.

MX Master 4: front, centre and glowing

The clock struck 6: time to head in to the opera house’s Yallamundi Rooms along with other local media, content creators, partners and collaborators.
A low-lit corridor opened up to sparkling wine, a DJ mixing beats and the MX Master 4 projected on a big screen.

And here were the mice themselves. All five from the last decade had their own pedestals. The new one was – of course – front, centre… and glowing. We played spot the difference between models while trying to get the perfect photo of the 4.

We’d be leaving with a mouse of our own, and discovered we could exchange our gold tickets to get them engraved. A neat way to add a hint of personalisation, I thought.
Across the room, our silver tickets were for the cocktail experience. On a digital MX Master 4, I scrolled to choose a drink that was fresh, wild and curious. It appeared suddenly from behind some curtains, complete with a large MX branded ice cube.

Making life easier

During the brief formalities, we heard from Vargas and Logitech cluster head and managing director (ANZ) Damian Lepore.

Lepore spoke to Logitech’s commitment to make products that are more than mice, keyboards and webcams.

“Looking ahead, people expect technology to complement lives. There’s no reason why this should standalone. Everything is designed from our perspective to work together and make life a little bit easier,” he says.

Vargas talked about the features that make the MX Master 4 unique: the Actions Ring shortcuts allows you quick access to tools and applications with your cursor. Meanwhile, the haptic feedback enhances usability even further, she says.

Work mode

Now back at my desk, I’ve had almost a whole day of trialling out my MX Master 4.

It’s clear my previous mouse, while also wireless and from Logitech, doesn’t hold a candle to this one.

For a start, the 4 tracks smoothly my desk. The old one would sometimes stick – though nothing  a bit of “percussive maintenance” couldn’t fix.

Being able to connect to my laptop via Bluetooth will make switching from working at the office and home a breeze.

The Action Ring overlay is a pretty neat feature and I’ve already customised some smart actions like “work mode” and “meeting mode”.

Fireworks to finish

Back at the event, as the speeches wrapped up, the wristbands lit up in unison, changing colours as the DJ kept the beats coming.

Enticed by the night time view of the harbour and the city lights, we popped out through the side door to get some more photos. As we did, fireworks erupted across the water.

“Do you think these are for the mouse?” we pondered. Yeah, nah. That’s just Sydney on a Tuesday.

Zahra was hosted in Sydney by Logitech.

Two types of folks tend to ask me for advice on which mobile phone to get: seniors and school kids, though the latter are exclusively my own. (And they’re not asking for opinions, but which price bracket they can get away with.)

I’m struck by how similar their requirements are though: neither wants (or will be allowed) the latest flagship but both need something that will cope well with calls, messaging, photography, simple games – and survive being used by a butterfingers, as well as with buttery fingers. In the A5 Pro 5G, Oppo has ticked all those boxes and more.

Massive battery, check. Fast charge, check. Water and dustproof, check. Military standard durability, check. So far, so good. 

In the hand, the A5 Pro 5G looks and feels like a much more expensive device, with a swish leather-patterned back panel. Side by side with Oppo’s Reno 13 Pro, which costs almost three times as much, there’s not much to tell them apart. 

The 120Hz display is super smooth in use and bright, too, but isn’t the highest definition. It does however boast an interesting Glove Touch mode, which boosts screen sensitivity to let you use the device without needing to remove your gloves: great for folks who wash a lot of dishes – but a real selling point for all sorts of tradies who need fast access to their phone while working.  

‘One of the best on the market’ 

To see how the A5 Pro 5G held up in use, I handed Oppo’s review device over to our teenage son and waited to see how much scorn would be poured on it. The IP69 protection rating must also protect against disdain though – because the reaction was generally good. 

The fingerprint sensor on the power button was deemed “really good” and “way quicker than any under-screen sensor anywhere near the price range”. Also praised was “game mode”, for being “very useful, giving you loads of options so you can do what you want to do quicker”.

My son has mainly used Samsung Android phones with their One UI skin so I was intrigued to hear his thoughts on Oppo’s own ColorOS skin. “One of the best on the market”, he reckoned, “a solid 7 or 8 out of ten”. And there was special mention made of the “amazing” AI editing tools that let you remove blur, reflections and even random objects or people from your photos on the device itself. 

The file dock and quick panel were also acclaimed as “really useful: they let you copy files, text and images to a handy clip board that you can open at any time”.

Pushed for some negatives, our teen tester reckoned the camera was a bit of a let down. It was fine in the main, but lost definition and sharpness when zoomed in to anything. Stick to point and shoot though and most folks will be quite happy with their pictures.

‘Can withstand plenty of drops’

Any other comments, kiddo? “It’s ridiculously durable and can withstand plenty of drops with barely a scratch.” How does he know that? It fell out of his shorts while he was playing basketball — on a concrete court. But “it’s OK, dad, it only has a few tiny scratches on one side”. Oppo shoots, Oppo scores.

With an asking price of $500, the A5 Pro 5G is a solid, budget device with a long-lasting battery and a very long-lasting build quality. Three cheaper variants of the handset are also on the market: the $229 A5x, the $299 A5 and the $319 A5 5G. Though compromised to meet those price points, each offers varying degrees of dust and water protection but they all have military-grade shock resistance and large batteries. 

Oppo A5 Pro 5G specifications

• Dimensions: 165 x 76 x 7.8 mm
• Weight: 196g
• Screen: 6.67-inch IPS LCD, 120Hz, 1160Hz PWM, 1000 nits
• Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 6300
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB
• Operating system: Android 15, ColorOS 15
• Main camera: 50 MP, f/1.8
• Selfie camera: 8 MP, f/2.0
• Audio: Stereo speakers, no 3.5mm jack
• Battery: 5800 mAh with fast charging
• Price: $499

Described as Coachella for gamers, the global event took place on September 17 in Madrid. It was livestreamed, beginning at 3am NZT on September 18.

The gear drop include headsets, keyboards and mice as well as a limited edition racing collection with McLaren. This comes as part of Logitech’s multi-year partnership with the car manufacturer, announced earlier this year.

One of the key products announced here is the limited edition McLaren x Logitech G ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Headset & Base Station. With the headset already a favourite among gamers, this collab turns it into a collectors item that is powerful yet stylish, says Logitech.

As well as the all-important gear, Logitech G Play saw some of the world’s biggest gamers take to the stage to share their insights, as well as interactive tournaments and entertainment.

Logitech says the products promise one thing: the future of gaming peripherals is here, and it’s slicker, faster and more fun than ever. All items available in New Zealand from October 16.

Here’s a list of what was revealed

• Logitech G321 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset: this head is designed for marathon sessions. It has plush memory foam, immersive sound and a flip-to-mute mic. Available in black or white, it’s perfect for those new to gaming or wanting an accessible headset that doesn’t compromise on performance.
• Logitech G515 RAPID TKL Low-Profile Analog Gaming Keyboard: this keyboard is built for speed. Featuring magnetic analog switches with rapid trigger and multi-point action, this ultra-slim, low profile powerhouse gives you customisable actuation and lightning-fast inputs.
• Logitech G ASTRO A20 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Headset with PLAYSYNC Audio: Cross-platform gamers, rejoice. The A20 X headset delivers seamless switching across systems with PLAYSYNC audio, paired with PRO-G drivers, broadcast-quality voice and mobile app RGB customization.

• Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2c LIGHTSPEED Gaming Mouse: Only weighing 51g and sporting the HERO 2 sensor, LIGHTFORCE hybrid switches, 8kHz polling and a whopping 95-hour battery life. It’s small, mighty and laser-focused on competitive performance. Available in black, white and pink.
• Logitech G RS50 System: For those who are hitting the virtual tracks, this one is for you. With a versatile RS Wheel Hub, premium RS Round Wheel and a plug-and-play design, It’s the ultimate way to upgrade your racing rig.
• Logitech G RS Pedals: Designed to complement the RS50 System (but compatible across Logitech G’s sim racing setups), these pedals bring pro-grade stopping power with a load cell brake, pressure-sensitive braking and customisable force. Built on a steel frame for durability, they’re engineered to adapt to any racer’s style.

Wellumio’s new neuroimaging device – Axana – enables rapid, point-of-care detection of strokes.

With stroke diagnosis, speed is critical. Yet less than 5% of stroke patients receive treatment within the critical ‘golden hour,’ when the chance of disability-free survival is highest. So improving access to fast, accurate diagnostic tools is key to enhancing diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

Axana delivers gold-standard MRI-based diagnostics in a compact, 50kg device mounted on castors.

Being portble means direct brain imaging can happen in emergency rooms, rural hospitals and mobile units, cutting 1-2 hours from diagnosis-to-treatment time.

The pioneer of stroke diagnostics

Dr Shieak Tzeng, co-founder and CEO of Wellumio, says that with one in four people globally over 25 expected to suffer a stroke in their lifetime, Wellumio is on a mission to transform stroke recovery and reduce healthcare costs.

“Our portable AI-enhanced, magnetic resonance-based brain scanner is significantly faster than traditional MRIs, making it ideal for quick assessments in emergency situations when every second counts. Delivering radial maps of the brain in minutes, Axana empowers emergency physicians, neurologists, radiologists and stroke care team members to rapidly detect strokes and guide critical treatment decisions during the crucial golden hour of care.”

Mitali Purohit, general partner at Nuance Capital and a director of Wellumio, says: “Axana is already showing promising results in clinical trials, offering a glimpse of a future where stroke, one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability, can be diagnosed earlier and more accurately. Wellumio’s technology holds exciting potential not only in stroke, which is the current focus, but also for future applications in a range of brain-related conditions and injuries.”

Cutting costs, saving lives

A stroke occurs when a bleed or blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Quickly restoring blood flow can prevent or reduce brain damage – which is why every minute counts.

Wellumio says the Axana scanner has the potential to transform stroke care by bringing MRI-based neuroimaging to the patient’s bedside. It delivers stroke biomarkers in just four minutes – without radiation, contrast agents, specialised infrastructure or radiology staff.

Beyond the human toll, stroke places a heavy financial burden on healthcare systems. Delays in treatment lead to higher mortality, longer hospital stays and costly long-term care. Per-patient costs often exceed US$140,000. In the US alone, stroke causes over US$53 billion in annual economic losses.

Axana enables earlier intervention to reduce both the human and financial cost of stroke – and is now seeking investors to scale its breakthrough device.

Wellumio is a finalist in the PwC Breakthrough Project Award category in the 2025 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards. Winners are announced on 22 October.

As digital tools evolve, New Zealand marketers stand at a crossroads: rely on standardised global platforms or harness local expertise.

The real advantage of offering local leadership for our industry’s data and technology needs extends far beyond time-zone alignment.

It’s about co-creating strategies, offering training specific to our market, accelerating decision-making through in-person collaboration and capturing Aotearoa’s cultural nuances, – all while building a sustainable pipeline of home-grown talent.

Onsite collaboration accelerates Kiwi innovation

While building sophisticated dashboards or tagging frameworks is essential, it’s the tailored, in-person training and on-demand, over-the-shoulder support that transforms those tools into second nature. This process-first philosophy embeds new capabilities quickly, turning data-driven insights into everyday practice across Aotearoa’s advertising landscape.

This co-location advantage doesn’t just save time – it deepens trust, sparks authentic creativity and delivers campaigns that truly resonate with clients’ Kiwi audiences.

Local expertise, better value

Global brands often roll out strategies that overlook Aotearoa’s unique market nuances. Kiwi marketers sense when something doesn’t quite fit, but without solid data it’s hard to challenge those plans. At the same time, New Zealand needs affordable, high-impact technology built for our scale – not expensive, one-size-fits-all solutions designed for very different audiences.

It’s therefore important for local teams – armed with a deep understanding of the New Zealand market – to harness the evolving suite of tools at their disposal. By tapping into open-source tools, leveraging cloud cost efficiencies, and applying AI-driven econometrics, they can run rigorous A/B tests and marketing-mix models at a fraction of the usual cost. This approach equips Kiwi marketers with clear, locally relevant evidence to guide smarter decisions and craft strategies that truly resonate.

For example, we have found that our localised Data Intelligence Hub (DIH) model can centralise data and tech services across our Publicis Groupe agencies in New Zealand to deliver affordable, impactful solutions designed specifically for the Kiwi market.

For Hato Hone St John, insights from the DIH’s Bayesian marketing-mix modelling and “What-If” scenario analysis helped grow the charity’s ambulance membership program, fuelling optimisations that boosted both renewals and new sign-ups.

Fuelling economic growth by backing local talent

In a market as tightly knit as New Zealand’s, promoting local tech leadership does more than deliver better campaigns – it builds an ecosystem. By rooting our experts here in Aotearoa, we strengthen partnerships with organisations like the IAB, contribute meaningful thought leadership and help set the standards that elevate the entire industry.

This also equips us to invest in the talent pipeline: mentoring university students, inviting them into client presentations and supporting academic research. This hands-on engagement not only nurtures the next generation of data and technology specialists but ensures New Zealand marketers always have the skills, insights and local perspective to compete and innovate.

When tech leadership is local, everyone wins – our clients, our industry and our economy.

New Zealand Football has partnered with OPPO, now the official Smartphone & Smart Device Partner of the All Whites and Ford Football Ferns.

The exclusive agreement comes at a pivotal moment for the game in Aotearoa, with both the Men’s FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Women’s FIFA World Cup in 2027 on the horizon.

As part of the two-year partnership, the OPPO brand will feature across NZF and national team platforms. This includes presence on the All Whites’ training kit, in-stadium branding at international matches, digital and broadcast integrations and access to money-can’t-buy experiences.

Ready for the global stage

OPPO will provide its devices including smartphones, smart watches and tablets to players and staff from the All Whites and Ford Football Ferns teams, helping to capture and share unseen moments with fans.

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell says the partnership highlights the growing strength and appeal of football in Aotearoa. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome OPPO into the New Zealand Football whānau as our exclusive Smartphone & Smart Device Partner. OPPO is a challenger brand with bold ambitions, which mirrors the drive and determination of New Zealand Football.

“Just like the All Whites and Ford Football Ferns, they’re unafraid to take on the world’s biggest stages. It’s a great match and we’re excited to be on this journey together,” says Pragnell.

A milestone moment

OPPO New Zealand managing director Morgan Halim says the partnership cements OPPO’s commitment to football in New Zealand.

“This is a milestone moment for OPPO as a longtime supporter of football across New Zealand and globally, including five seasons as a proud partner of the Wellington Phoenix.

“Football is the world’s game, and in New Zealand it’s a sport that unites communities and inspires the next generation. We’re excited to stand alongside the All Whites and Ford Football Ferns on their journeys to the 2026 and 2027 FIFA World Cups, and to bring fans closer to the action through OPPO’s unparalleled technology and storytelling.”

The partnership also extends to supporting grassroots and national level football, with OPPO confirmed as a supporting partner of the Dettol National League, the Delivereasy Chatham Cup and the Delivereasy Kate Sheppard Cup.

In an era dominated by powerful no-code platforms like Replit and Lovable, it’s tempting to believe that many software companies are doomed. But the reality is far more nuanced. The real, lasting competitive edge – the elusive “moat” every founder chases – lies not in faster or fancier code but in their ability to be entrenched in the ecosystem around their product.

It’s no longer enough for startups to build a better app. With the support of AI, software development is becoming near costless. The businesses most resilient to this change are those that understand their customers’ problems in aggregate and therefore offer solutions that don’t just increase efficiency in one area but become fully embedded in a win-win relationship.

As a case study, marketplace businesses highlight one type of structural protection from low-cost coding. Although software often plays a critical role in the marketplace experience (think Uber, AirBnb and First Table), it is in fact the underlying ecosystem of sellers and buyers (drivers/riders, rooms/guests and restaurants/diners) that makes the business model enduring and difficult to replicate. While anyone can clone a feature overnight, you can’t spin up an engaged community or a trusted brand at the click of a button. In 2025, the strongest moats run far deeper than technology itself.

The marketplace moat

Let’s take a closer look at Roofbuddy, one of our portfolio companies. The company is completely redefining how Kiwis replace their roofs, saving customers thousands of dollars with every transaction. In just three years, it has processed more than 36,000 unique customer enquiries and facilitated over NZ$80 million in roofing transactions across more than 3,700 jobs.

When we first met founder and CEO James Logan and his team, what struck us wasn’t just the company’s technology platform – it was the team’s understanding that a true moat is built on delivering value for an entire ecosystem. Roofers typically convert a small percentage of quotes they create and spend hours per quote on travel, measurement and pricing. Their marketplace lets them quote in minutes and deliver into much higher conversion rates. For the most astute roofers, working with them is a no-brainer, and as a result it has built trusted relationships with more than 100 vetted roofing contractors while simultaneously becoming the only independent brand for homeowners seeking roofing services.

It is true that software is at the heart of the business. In addition to the company’s world-leading geospatial mapping system, the CRM platform connects complex operational workflows that a competitor simply couldn’t copy with off-the-shelf tools. So, although software is the foundation, it is the multiple layers of complexity wrapped into one marketplace, the unequivocal value offered to both buyers and sellers and the added capabilities of vertical integration through their subsidiary businesses Guardian Seal and Guardian Steel that define Roofbuddy’s competitive advantage.

The outcome of this multi-factored moat? Solving the roofing industry’s fundamental inefficiency. Their market presence enables lower prices, higher quality and greater protections for all participants. That’s not just software; that’s a true understanding of industry pain points translated into solutions.

A known Kiwi playbook: build deep, then sell wide

An upcoming phase for this business is to solve the same problems on a global stage. By building a vertically integrated offering and going deep in its home market, Roofbuddy is setting the business up to go wide through international expansion. And, in doing so, is walking in the footsteps of other aspirational Kiwi companies.

A great Kiwi success story grown from going deep in New Zealand and wide internationally is Les Mills. Originally built with world-leading expertise in operating gyms and understanding of the fitness business, the company was able to package up their operational knowledge, including their famous classes, custom weights and online plans, and sell them all over the world. As a result, Les Mills International was born. Today, the gyms are worldwide, but at its foundation is a deep, local understanding.

One of Altered Capital’s larger success stories, Starling Bank in the UK, has followed a similar playbook. Now with over four million users and approaching £1 billion in revenue, it has built an incredibly deep banking model in the UK. Now it’s selling it software and capabilities to some of the largest banks in the world.

In our corner of the world, planning to go global when building start-ups is table stakes. Due to our limited population, consensus thinking is that day one is the time to do so. But often it’s not that simple. Owning a local ecosystem and exporting success in a capital light way can deliver the fastest and highest value way to drive investor returns.

What really matters: the team

When evaluating investments, we look beyond the technology to the mindset of the founding team, seeking out people who combine industry expertise with technological innovation. Complex operational knowledge can’t be replicated by someone who just knows how to code. The founders who succeed aren’t just technologists; they’re industry insiders who’ve identified inefficiencies through lived experience and built technology to solve them.

As a primary method of testing a founder’s belief that they are solving a problem that customers will pay for, we only invest in companies already generating revenue. All founders are passionate about the problem they’re solving. But a founder that understands their market deeply enough to create something people will pay for shouldn’t be taken for granted. You can’t fake product-market fit.

The next wave

As we raise our second $100 million venture fund, we’re doubling down on this philosophy. New Zealand has many unique advantages – including being great at building businesses efficiently, with international expansion in mind from day one. This constraint breeds the kind of innovation that creates lasting value.

So, the next time someone tells you their business moat is their software, dig deeper. Ask what makes them embedded in the lives of their customers. How are they not only saving costs but driving revenue? How established are their network effects? And most importantly, what enables the team to have a wholesale understanding of the problem they’re solving? When code can be generated in seconds, it can be human elements – trust, networks, reliability – that make a solution irreplaceable. With AI shaking up the world of software in real time, the best businesses are built on foundations much deeper than code.

The round was led by BOND, a global technology investment firm, with investment from NewView Capital, continued support from local investors Blackbird and Icehouse Ventures, and ongoing backing from Bessemer Venture Partners, DCVC and Promus Ventures.

Craig Piggott, CEO and founder of Halter (pictured above), says “Halter was built with our early farmers – we wouldn’t be here without them. We’re deeply grateful for their trust. This capital will help unlock productivity gains for even more farmers.”

An important milestone

The Halter system includes a solar-powered smart collar for each cow, towers for connectivity and an app that lets farmers manage their cattle and pasture from their phone.

Cattle are guided by the collar’s sound and vibration cues. Farmers can virtually fence, move and monitor their cattle 24/7.

“Halter farmers are more profitable and get better outcomes for the environment and their animals. Farmers use Halter to grow and harvest more grass, reduce workload, increase herd size, improve animal health and welfare and unlock environmental benefits,” says Piggott.

Piggott says the milestone highlights the importance of farming in society.

“Farmers are the backbone of rural communities. They feed society and play a key role in building sustainable food systems. Halter farmers are pioneering a more productive and sustainable way to farm.

“We’re delighted to partner with BOND and to welcome NewView, and we’re grateful for continued support from our investors who backed us early – we’re all aligned on our mission to support farmers.”

Expansion on the horizon

Daegwon Chae, general partner at Bond says that cattle-based products generate over $1 trillion annually.

“Farmers feed billions of people but are constrained by traditional bottlenecks of the offline economy – labour, time, and limited automation. Halter’s vision is ambitious and impactful, to build the digital operating system for farms and ranches globally, leveraging the cutting-edge of physically-enabled technology. We’re thrilled to partner with them.”

Piggott says: “Dairy and beef farming is a powerhouse of New Zealand’s economy, generating over $30 billion and nearly 30% of total exports each year.

“When our farmers thrive, so does our economy. This capital will help thousands more farmers increase productivity and deepen their enjoyment of farming, in turn driving economic growth.

“We’re investing in exciting product innovations, plus expansion throughout New Zealand, Australia and the US,” Piggott adds.

Halter was named the fastest growing company in New Zealand by the Deloitte Fast50 index, and is well positioned to continue expanding to meet demand across its markets.

“I’m really proud of our team – we’re passionate about supporting farmers and we’re excited about the journey ahead,” says Piggott.

Or perhaps: “How much time could I save if I didn’t have to go to the salon?”

Michael Woffindin had the same thought – and that curiosity led him to create Hairspace, an Auckland startup that makes an AI-powered hair clipper. Woffindin says the clippers deliver salon-quality haircuts for hair up to 10cm long in just 12 minutes.

Claiming to put the skill of a hairstylist in every hand might sound far-fetched, but Woffindin isn’t bluffing.

The clipper lifts hair straight as it moves – just like a barber does with their comb – ensuring precise control over cutting lengths. It can even scan and store haircuts, making style recreation just a tap away, says Woffindin.

Fresh cut made easy

With a background in software development, Woffindin had always been fascinated by robotics and saw its potential to shape the future. But the idea of building a robotic clipper didn’t take form until he found himself wasting hours just to get a simple haircut.

“One morning, I went to my favourite barber, and it was a bit of a drive. It took a few hours with parking and waiting for other people. By the time I finally walked out, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be incredible if I could recreate this haircut myself? I wouldn’t have to go through all that hassle,'” says Woffindin.

From that moment on, he began experimenting in his garage.

Built from scratch

Over the past seven years, Woffindin taught himself how to build hardware from scratch and learned about different hair types.

“I bought a 3D printer and started making prototypes, trying to figure out how hair works and how it behaves. It took me a couple of years,” he says.

“Around four years ago, I managed to recreate the first haircut – it was on a mannequin. I took it to a hair dresser, mapped the haircut using the device by measuring all the lengths and then recreated it.

“With that evidence, I was able to get $1M funding from the Callaghan Innovation programme here in New Zealand, through one of their partners, WNT Ventures.

“Getting that investment was a big moment and it really helped move things forward,” he adds.

A leap of faith

For someone who had never built hardware products before, it’s been a long and difficult journey, says Woffindin.

“I got told plenty of times that I was crazy. Even when I first spoke to a patent lawyer, they literally laughed at me and said, ‘No one wants to get a haircut from a robot.’

“But for me, once I started experimenting with hair early on and figured out how it might work, I’ve always had this unwavering belief. I’m not sure if it’s optimism or craziness,” he says.

Woffindin adds that his passion – or perhaps blind faith – is what pushed him through the tough times.

“Passion helps if you’re really excited about the product yourself. I thought, this would be so cool if I could make it work. I even cut my own hair with it before the trial,” he laughs.

Work in progress

Last year, Woffindin and his small team launched trials to demonstrate the product. They invited 12 people to cut their own hair using the clipper – and the results were positive.

“We had lots of different hair types and nationalities, which was great. The exciting part was seeing these people come in, watch the clipper work and witness their reactions,” he says.

Although the trials created a buzz, the team still have to overcome a fair bit of doubt.

“One of the challenges is that you tell people about it, and they say, ‘This sounds cool, but I don’t believe it’s possible.'”

To combat scepticism, Hairspace plans to explore influencer marketing down the line.

“Our clipper is still a proof of concept, so we need to go through one more design cycle before it’s ready for manufacturing,” says Woffindin.

“But once we enter the market, influencers will play a big role in our marketing campaign – letting people see others they trust getting great haircuts with it.”

Look out for what’s next

Hairspace is also looking to incorporate an AI assistant into the clipper and expand its product range to include a razor for beard maintenance.

“Our next big plan is to build an AI assistant that helps you plan haircuts. You’ll be able to download styles from a hairstyle store and try different looks before you cut,” says Woffindin.

“You can even talk to the assistant and say things like, ‘I’d like it a bit longer.’ Or ‘Can you give me some ideas?’ Once you’ve previewed it on a virtual version of yourself, you’ll be able to download the style and cut it straight away.”

With this full grooming package, will salons be affected once the products hit the market?

Woffindin says it depends on personal preference: “There are a lot of people who really enjoy going to the salon – they love the experience. So there’ll always be those people. But there are also people who just want a great haircut done easily. I think it’ll be a mix.”

The 2025 Animal Health, Nutrition and Technology Innovation Showcase recognised Lucidome Bio’s methane vaccine for its potential to transform livestock methane reduction at scale. 

Unlike feed-based interventions, the vaccine is designed for use across diverse animal production systems, with global reach and accessibility at its core. 

Bold vision, sharp execution

As the former founder and CEO of Regen Ltd, a precision irrigation company acquired by CropX in 2020, Hawkins brings deep experience in leading technology-driven companies.

She is now chief sustainability officer at CropX Technologies, where she guides the company’s environmental impact strategy and oversees global product development.

Hawkins’ leadership has helped shape the intersection of commercial viability and sustainability across the agri-tech sector, both in New Zealand and internationally.

“We’re at a pivotal point in our journey,” says David Aitken, Lucidome Bio CEO. “We’ve built strong scientific and operational foundations and are now focused on making technology breakthroughs, progressing regulatory pathways and strengthening our commercial roadmap into the future.

“Bridgit has navigated this transition many times and understands how to balance bold thinking with tight execution. She is set to play a critical role in helping us move with clarity and intent,” Aitken adds.

A purpose-led mission

Hawkins is widely respected for helping early-stage teams transition from ‘startup mode’ to scaling operations.

Her work has spanned startup governance, capital raising, intellectual property strategy, commercial partnerships and measuring climate tech impact for global clients.

With a Master’s in Agricultural Science, she has also completed executive training at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and founded Fields of Change, an initiative focused on industry-wide solutions to systemic agricultural challenges.

“Early-stage governance is very different from conventional business-as-usual,” Hawkins explains.

“You’re dealing with high potential, limited resources and a very fast-moving market. The skill is knowing where to focus – what truly matters – and how to use the resources you have to maximise their effect.

“This is where I can add value: by being a sounding board and ensuring strategic direction isn’t just clear, but actionable too,” she adds.

What drew her to Lucidome Bio, she says, was a rare combination of breakthrough science, a purpose-led team and a shared sense of urgency.

“The impact potential is enormous, the science is sound and the belief is real. Now we need to show the world we can execute.”

Drive innovation on the global stage

As Lucidome Bio moves into its next chapter, the company will continue working closely with AgResearch, whose scientists have led the way in methane vaccine research.

The vaccine targets methanogenic archaea – the microbes in a ruminant’s gut responsible for methane production – by priming the animal’s immune system to produce antibodies that suppress their growth. This cost-effective approach helps reduce emissions without compromising animal health or productivity.

Lucidome Bio’s platform also integrates advanced digital tools – such as genomic analysis, bioinformatics, advanced molecular analyses and AI assisted biological modelling – to accelerate development.

These technologies enable greater precision and scalability, ensuring the solution is robust across real-world farming environments.

“In many parts of the world, feed additives or high-cost delivery systems simply aren’t viable,” says Hawkins.

“A vaccine levels the playing field. It’s scalable, cost-effective and equitable. I look forward to ensuring Lucidome Bio gains traction both locally and on the global innovation stage.”