We dive into the dynamic world of partnerships and community building with Taylor Fox-Smith from Airwallex. HTK Startup were lucky enough to meet Taylor on our trip to Blackbirds Sunrise Festival earlier this year in Australia. Taylor is a powerhouse in the startup ecosystem, leading Community Partnerships for Airwallex across the ANZ region.
Taylor Fox-Smith spearheads Community Partnerships at Airwallex, a Melbourne startup that has skyrocketed to global unicorn status. In 2024 alone, Taylor has successfully built a community of over 1,200 founders and more than 20 ecosystem partners through the Airwallex for Startups program. With a background in seed-stage ClimateTech, Series B PropTech, and now FinTech, she is dedicated to supporting founders at every growth stage. We caught up with her for a quick Q&A about her journey, tips, and the much-anticipated visit to New Zealand!
Hey Taylor, what does your coffee say about you? “My Large Latte order says that I’m all about no-frills quality time.”
What is your greatest hack for travelling? “My current hack is AI-generated road trip itineraries. On my upcoming trip to New Zealand, I’ll be trialling my first AI-powered itinerary from Wellington to Auckland with a few days in Lake Taupō… wish me luck!”
What’s one thing you are most excited about when coming to NZ? “Meeting founders!! Being on the ground will give me an awesome opportunity to actively listen to their problem space, product vision and community needs.”
What’s the most common problem founders come to Airwallex to solve? “Founders are looking for scalable solutions – they want a tech stack that is flexible for their Day 1 and robust enough for their Series B capital raise. That’s a problem that we can solve! With virtual cards for founders to take their first client to coffee through to embedded finance for unlocking new markets – Airwallex is the platform that grows with founders and their startups.”
Taylor’s passion for fostering community and supporting founders is truly inspiring. Her insights and experiences highlight the importance of partnerships and scalable solutions in the startup world. You can join Airwallex on their tour around NZ to support early-stage, high-growth companies. Join in on the discussion with Taylor and an industry expert panel at the following locations.
- Wellington: Thursday 8 August at Creative HQ -7 Dixon Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
- Auckland: Tuesday, 13 August at GridAKL – 12 Madden Street 12 Madden Street, Auckland CBD.
- Christchurch: Thursday, 15 August at Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (EPIC) -100 Manchester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
Ready to take your startup to the next level? Connect with us and become part of a thriving community today!
