At Sunrise, it's all about learning new things, finding inspiration, exploring your creativity, and hearing stories from our most impressive founders.
This week, we dive deep with Blackbird's Creative Director Joel Connolly to uncover the meaning behind Sunrise and what to expect beyond the speakers.
Sunrise has been a magical adventure for six years in Australia and three years in New Zealand. We're at a point where we can capture that magic and give you a real sense of what to expect.
This year’s Sunrise Aotearoa feels electric. As Sam Wong puts it, the New Zealand ecosystem is "exponentially exploding," creating accelerated opportunities and a surge of new founders. The hunt for excellent startup talent is more intense than the Matildas vs. France in the FIFA World Cup.
New Zealand isn't just punching above its weight; it's in a class of its own. This year's Sunrise feels special. While we've always considered Sunrise a love letter to our founders, this year we've gone all out, making our love letter to New Zealand a grand romantic gesture that shows our excitement for the rising ambition in Aotearoa.
Ready to dive into the kaleidoscope of creativity, curiosity, and maybe even a bit of chaos? Sunrise is calling, and we can't wait to share it with you.
Blackbird: What makes Sunrise Aotearoa magical?
Joel Connolly: The experience is all about connections and inspiration. We put a lot of effort into ensuring our audience can meet new people. You might need advice on your startup idea, want to raise money, or have lessons to share from your recent experiences. We facilitate this through a mobile app that uses AI to help you find new people. The last time we ran Sunrise in Auckland, we facilitated over 400 meetings and saw more than 4,000 messages sent between attendees. This app is optional, but if you're keen to meet new people, we've got you covered.
We also break bread together at big communal tables. This year, we've extended our catering options to help you share ideas, make new friends, and get inspired while enjoying a meal.
Blackbird: Who is Sunrise for?
Joel Connolly: The curious. Many founders and startup workers will be in the audience, but you don’t have to be in tech to join us. If you’re curious about the world and want to do something epic, Sunrise is for you. If you want to work at a startup, invest in startups, or learn from interesting and creative people, Sunrise is for you.
Blackbird: What's the best way for someone to make the most out of Sunrise?
Joel Connolly: Start the day early – make sure you arrive by 8am. Participate in whatever feels right for you. Come with an open mind, ready to learn. Invite friends – events like this are more fun with co-curious people. A week or two before the event, we'll invite you to download Brella, our event app, which includes the program, speaker info, and more. Fill in your profile and, if you're up for meeting new people, start setting up meetings. Sunrise is an epic journey and a meaningful experience. Bring your whole self, be ready to learn, and most importantly, have fun. It might be the start of your next chapter.
Blackbird: Why is this year's Sunrise Aotearoa so special?
Joel Connolly: Practically, this is the biggest Sunrise Aotearoa festival we've ever hosted, at a brand new venue: Shed 10 in Auckland. This year, for the first time in NZ, we have two stages – our main stage and a special in-the-round stage. The latter features speakers in the middle of the room with the audience seated all around. It's designed to provoke discussion, explore creativity, and host practical sessions for founders, operators, and curious folks.
But there's more than just logistics. It feels like a monumental moment for New Zealand, reminiscent of Australia in 2018 when the ecosystem was erupting with potential. Those around at the time could feel the electricity, the magic, and the sense that something enormous was about to happen. Aotearoa feels the same this year. We're on the brink of an explosion in creativity, innovation, and success. NZ has been gearing up, and now we're bursting onto the global arena.
We asked Joel and Rick to share some of their Sunrise moments, and here's what they shared:
Joel Connolly's Spotlight On: Sunrise
- A past Sunrise talk you loved?
Last year, Melanie Perkins gave our opening keynote. It was an honour to have her, and her talk on imagination and the importance of dreaming and vision was brilliant. These are things I'm passionate about, and it was amazing to have her share her ideas with our community. Plus, she put my actual photo up on a slide – I couldn’t believe it. - A past Sunrise memory that will never leave you?
In 2018, we held Sunrise on Cockatoo Island. It was Seagull mating season, and the birds were exceptionally loud and aggressive. Our guests were constantly bullied by these birds, and we had to turn up the volume on all stages just so the audience could hear our speakers above the noise. Live free like a seagull – that's my new motto. - A memory from your first ever Sunrise that makes you laugh?
My first Sunrise was in 2016, and I wore many hats – stage manager, site manager, catering contact, sponsor liaison, and more. I have fond memories of rummaging through a props warehouse in Rozelle to find things for our stage set. We built a garage set with the help of some theatre folks. It was chaotic but fun.
Rick Baker's Spotlight On: Sunrise
A past Sunrise talk you loved?
The 2016 Sunrise with Mike Cannon-Brookes was memorable. He candidly discussed the lessons he'd learned over the years, showing that anyone could become a founder. The toolshed stage setting was brilliant.
A past Sunrise memory that will never leave you?
Last year, seeing more than a thousand people connecting, chatting, and smiling in the foyer of Carriageworks was incredible.
A memory from your first ever Sunrise that makes you laugh?
Niki and I were in a pub in Townsville after a SafetyCulture board meeting, deciding to host Sunrise at Carriageworks with an 800-person capacity instead of a smaller venue. It seemed crazy at the time, but that off-the-cuff decision made it awesome.