I Almost Lost Everything Building This Startup

Building a startup isn’t what most people think.

In this episode of Startup Theatre, Adrienne & Serge sit down with Martyn Bain to talk about the reality of building a global company from New Zealand — and the moments that nearly break you.

From leaving corporate after a defining moment at home, to chasing international deals, to being days away from signing something that could have changed everything… only for it to fall apart.

We get into:

• the moment that pushed Martyn to leave corporate
• why early customers say yes… but don’t commit
• the brutal reality of enterprise sales
• why “signed contracts” don’t mean what you think
• how deals fall over at the last minute
• what it actually takes to build and scale globally from NZ

This is a raw look at the pressure, setbacks, and persistence behind building a real company.

If you’re a founder, operator, or thinking about starting something, this episode will give you a far more honest picture of the journey.

Startup Theatre explores the real stories behind startups — not just the wins, but everything in between.