Shane Smith: Co-Founder of Education Perfect

NZ Business Podcast - Paul Spain · 2026-04-04

49:59

Host Paul Spain sits down with Shane Smith, co-founder of Education Perfect, as they dive into Shane's journey of co-founding a startup in his parents' garage with his brother Craig. The conversation traces how Education Perfect evolved from a simple vocabulary learning tool into an adaptive, curriculum-wide online platform now used by 1.8 million students across Australasia. Shane talks about the pivotal moments and challenges faced, from winning their first business competition and building trust with schools, to scaling a company with limited resources and ultimately achieving a major acquisition valued at over NZ$450 million. Shane shares insights on growing a high impact edtech business, working alongside his brother, navigating funding and commercialisation, and transforming educational outcomes with innovative technology.

The New Zealand Business Podcast is brought to you by One NZ and Gorilla Technology.

NZ Business Podcast - Paul Spain

New Zealand's podcast that inspires and challenges those in business and leadership. Hear from numerous top NZ leaders and entrepreneurs including Rod Drury, Sir Stephen Tindall, Sir Michael Hill, Sir Graham Henry, Mike Bennetts, Andy Hamilton and many more.

Where can you listen?

Episodes