The Founder Intel That Actually Matters: Māori Mum Beats Silicon Valley at Its Own Game
- Powerhouse Diaries Crew
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 19
Māori Mum Beats Silicon Valley at Its Own Game
Nicole Retter's Community-First Revolution
While dating apps weaponise loneliness for profit, Nicole Retter built something revolutionary: technology that actually serves people. Her app PAM just dethroned both Tinder and Hinge in New Zealand's app rankings. This proves that founders who understand their communities can outbuild billion-dollar corporations. If we didn't already have a massive girl crush on her after watching her speak (read: completely pull a keynote out of her ass—pardon our French) when the tech failed on the Electrify Aotearoa stage, we sure do now. Lucky for us, she's sharing her story, blood, sweat & margaritas and all on The Powerhouse Diaries Podcast soon!
The David vs Goliath Story:
Māori mother vs Silicon Valley giants
Community connection vs user exploitation
Indigenous values vs venture capital metrics
Why This Matters: This isn't just about beating big tech. It's proof that when you build for your people instead of investors, you can topple empires with authentic connection.
The $5 Trillion Lie: Why VC Diversity Theatre Exists
The Numbers Don't Lie, But the Industry Does
Despite decades of "women in tech" panels and diversity initiatives, female founders still receive only 2.3% of global VC funding. The plot twist? It's working exactly as designed.
The Brutal Math:
2.3% of funding goes to female-only teams
This drops to 1.8% at Series C+ stages
The "leaky pipeline" isn't a bug; it's a feature
Estimated $5 trillion in missed economic opportunity
The Performative Playbook:
Launch diversity initiative with fanfare
Report improved "metrics" (more female scouts, not partners)
Maintain actual power structures intact
Rinse and repeat
What's Really Happening: Diversity theatre provides cover for systemic exclusion while appearing progressive. The status quo gets preserved with a diversity bow on top.
The Solution Nobody Wants to Hear: Stop asking for inclusion in broken systems. Build parallel ones.
When Failure Becomes Another Form of Toxic Positivity
The Startup Graveyard Nobody Talks About
The startup world has found its new addiction: failure porn. While 90% of startups die and failure rates jumped 60% this year, the ecosystem continues celebrating "learning experiences" instead of preventing predictable collapse.
The Death Spiral Data:
35% fail from no market need (they never asked if anyone wanted it)
38% burn through cash (they confused funding with business models)
23% built the wrong team (hiring for culture fit over competence)
Record applications for new businesses amid record failure rates
The Toxic Positivity Trap: Instead of studying why companies die, we celebrate "failing fast" and "learning from mistakes." But most startup failures aren't noble experiments—they're preventable disasters dressed up as education.
The Uncomfortable Truth: Failure isn't always a badge of honour. Sometimes it's just poor planning, weak research, and founder ego disguised as "disruption."
What Works Instead: Boring fundamentals. Market research. Revenue models. Customer validation. The unglamorous work that keeps companies alive.
The Power of Authentic Connections
In a world where networking often feels transactional, authentic connections stand out. Founders like Nicole Retter remind us that building relationships based on shared values can lead to revolutionary outcomes.
Creating Meaningful Relationships:
Engage with your community.
Listen to their needs.
Build solutions that resonate.
The Ripple Effect: When founders prioritize their communities, they create a ripple effect. Their success inspires others. It fosters an environment where innovation thrives.
Conclusion: The journey of a founder is not just about the destination. It's about the connections made along the way. Embrace authenticity. Build for your people. The results will speak for themselves.
Let's raise a glass to the ambitious female founders out there. Keep pushing boundaries. Keep making waves. The future is yours!
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