Welcome to the latest episode of Business in Between... it's our new series, on our new podcast channel, that features long-form chats with NZ's most interesting business minds.

This week we hear the incredible story of how a Kiwi entrepreneur turned an idea for a fitness goal setting app into a global business with customers in over 150 countries and revenue exceeding $80 million a year.

It’s the story of Adam El-Agez and his app called The Conqueror.

Adam started his fitness goal setting app in 2012 after 10 years of being an entrepreneur with limited success.

The idea was relatively simple, instead of ‘just’ going for a run, walk, a ride or swim, you’re working towards a virtual fitness goal, immersed in community and with a tangible race medal delivered on completion.

Over six years and hundreds of thousands of dollars later the app was floundering.

All the signs were pointing to giving up all together and he even started getting his CV together and applying for jobs.

Then, in 2019 he met Raul, a “marketing guy”, online.

In a bizarre series of events, he ended up hiring Raul, who lived in Romania, to run the digital marketing with immediate results. Raul started growing sales and from an annual revenue of under $100k they grew to $2m in the first year.

The next year they did $40m and $75m in the following two, having secured licensing agreements with franchises like The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Harry Potter.

The business has now expanded globally with around 70 staff in 6 countries with customers in over 150 countries.

Adam’s story – and the growth of his company – is insane.

We talk about navigating a cyberattack, how they built their Facebook community with 378,000 people in it, and why they were spending $250,000 a day on marketing.

This story will blow your mind - and it’s the first time it’s been told.

Come for the storytelling and stay for Adam’s brilliant business lessons at the end. This is an ep not to be missed.

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Enjoy.

The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from the content of the podcasts.