The Jam: Epic Fails Edition
TechWeek ‘26, WGTN

At the timeless Public Trust Hall in Wellington, six of New Zealand’s technology leaders stepped away from the usual startup showcase to instead share something rarely discussed in public...

Epic fails.
The moments in business when things don’t go to plan.

As part of TechWeek26, we brought founders, operators and investors together for an evening built around honesty rather than highlight reels. Hosted in partnership with our good friends at Creative HQ, the event explored the decisions, setbacks and unexpected turns that often sit behind every successful company.

On stage we had guest speakers trading war stories, faux pas and failures:

• Aaron Scott — Founder, Somar Digital
• Ben Gleisner — Founder & CEO, Cogo
• Miki Szikszai — CEO, Snapper
• Shelley Cox — Former COO/CEO, Montoux
• Sam Kidd — Founder & CEO, LawVu\
• Jessica Venning-Bryan — Founder & CEO, Factor

The format was deliberately simple

Personal stories and experiences from each speaker, followed by an open conversation with the audience which was moderated by Movac’s Operating Partner Serge van Dam.

The evening moved beyond conventional founder storytelling, away from polished milestones and towards the harder-learned lessons found in missed opportunities, difficult decisions and moments of uncertainty.

The audience came ready with questions, with the best contributions rewarded with jars of jam (a shoutout to our name) and the spirit of the afternoon: practical lessons, shared and swiped at generously.

What made this edition of The Jam stand out was the openness of its speakers. In an industry that often celebrates the finished product, the event created space for the imperfect journey behind it. The mistakes, pivots and resilience required to build enduring technology companies.

A special thank you again to Creative HQ for partnering with Movac to bring The Jam to Wellington as part of TechWeek26.

Written by:
Emelie Verseput, Community Manager