Michael Watson

Experience

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  Startup Factory NZ

  Apr 2014 - Mar 2015

  Web Developer & Digital Marketer

  Startup Factory NZ, based in Waikato, was an innovative business validation and incubation hub established by the founders of Torpedo 7 and 1-day—two of New Zealand's largest and most successful e-commerce platforms at the time.At Startup Factory NZ, we specialised in launching scalable online businesses with high growth potential within weeks. Our talented team utilised a unique business validation process to transform promising ideas into viable business solutions. As a web developer and digital marketer, I played a key role in this dynamic environment, combining technical expertise with strategic marketing to drive the success of our ventures. Show less

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  Microsoft

  Jul 2015 - Mar 2018

  As a Senior Product Advisor I represented Microsoft and oversaw the Wellington region and the top of the South Island in New Zealand. My role focused on the relationship between Microsoft and its retail partners. I conducted regular trainings and presentations on Microsoft products for retail professionals and Microsoft's own Product Advisors. Some of the products I focused on were Windows 10, Office 365, Windows Mixed Reality, Microsoft Education, the Surface Pro, Surface Book, Surface Studio and Surface Laptop. Show less As a Microsoft Product Advisor I represented Microsoft around the Wellington region and the top of the South Island in New Zealand. My role focused on the relationship between Microsoft and its retail partners. I conducted regular trainings and presentations on Microsoft products for retail professionals and Microsoft's own Product Advisors. Some of the products I focused on were Windows 10, Office 365, Windows Mixed Reality, Microsoft Education, the Surface Pro, Surface Book, Surface Studio and Surface Laptop. Show less

  • Senior Product Advisor

    Nov 2016 - Mar 2018

  • Product Advisor

    Jul 2015 - Nov 2016
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  StudySpy

  Mar 2016 - now

  Founder & Managing Director

  StudySpy is New Zealand’s education directory, empowering students to freely search through every tertiary course, available scholarship, and school - from primary schools to universities and everything in between. I founded StudySpy to address the overwhelming challenges students face when making informed study decisions. Our platform empowers students, parents, careers advisers, and teachers by aggregating data from six government bodies, offering a clear, up-to-date comparison of every tertiary pathway available - from apprenticeships to university degrees.Before StudySpy, information on courses and scholarships was fragmented and often outdated. Today, our platform not only centralises this crucial information but also allows education providers to maintain and update their offerings, functioning like a dynamic digital prospectus.StudySpy is trusted by Govt.nz, the Ministry of Education, Careers NZ, libraries, high schools, and careers advisor software across New Zealand. We receive over 70,000 student searches every month and are recognised as the country’s largest scholarship database, featuring over $70 million worth of opportunities. Beyond the website and app, our API powers government and business services, enabling access to educational data for institutions and organisations alike. Show less

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  Obvious Brand Partners

  Aug 2018 - Aug 2021

  Co-founder & Managing Director

  In 2018, I co-founded Obvious, a creative and digital agency operated as a sister company to StudySpy. As Managing Director over three years, I led the company to significant milestones: expanding the team to over 10 talented professionals, earning approval as an NZ Government supplier, and being recognised as a finalist for 'Best Emerging Business' at the Wellington Region Business Excellence Awards. In 2021, I successfully exited the business to focus on StudySpy's continued growth, strategically separating the business models to ensure both ventures could thrive independently. Show less