Growing a technology business beyond your home market takes more than great software. It takes cultural understanding, real customer contact, and a willingness to get on a plane long before you feel ready.
In this episode of The CEO and the Salesman Podcast, Matthew Whyatt speaks with Neil Cresswell, CEO and Co-founder of Portainer, about how he scaled a container management platform from New Zealand to a global user base and built his company in the United States.
Neil shares the lessons he learned while raising capital, travelling through the US and Europe, and spending years face to face with customers. He explains why scaling too early is a common trap, why the US still leads global tech adoption, and why founders must get outside their echo chamber if they want real growth.
The conversation also covers:
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Cultural differences between New Zealand, Australia, and the United States
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Selling to enterprise customers and why in-person trust is irreplaceable
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How Portainer is using AI internally and the risks of adopting AI tools without understanding them
If you are building a tech business, planning to scale globally, or thinking about raising capital, this episode gives a clear view of what it takes to compete on the world stage.
Links:
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Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCeoAndTheSalesmanPodcast
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Follow Matthew Whyatt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewwhyatt
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Connect with Portainer: https://www.portainer.io
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Learn more about TechTorque: https://techtorque.com.au/
