Kristen Lunman is the co-founder and general manager of Hatch, a digital investment platform that gives New Zealanders access to the US share markets and allows them to invest in well-known brands such as Apple, Amazon or Netflix. Lunman has over a decade of experience in running product teams across North America and has played a pivotal role in the start-up ecosystem in New Zealand over the past five years. She was the innovation director at Kiwi Wealth, Hatch’s parent company, as well as programme director for the Kiwibank Fintech Accelerator. She also was the chief operating officer of Wipster, a video collaboration, publishing and analytics platform. An active mentor, Kristen is passionate about women in leadership, governance, and founder roles. Here, she shares five lessons she’s learnt growing start-ups into bigger businesses.

Five lessons you’ve learnt from growing start-ups into bigger businesses

• The most important lesson I’ve learned is to surround yourself with exceptional people. Having the right people in the right roles is vital.
• Own and be passionate about growth, because if you’re not, your competitors will be.
• Then there’s cash flow. Manage cash wisely so you can grow your business.
• Accept that everything will take longer than you think – especially if you’re like me and you’re too excited about what you’re doing to have a lot of patience!
• Most importantly, I’ve realised that taking time for myself is critical. Growing businesses isn’t easy, so be kind to yourself and take care of your mental and physical health.