CashManager Profile: Claudia Batten

Cashmanager | 8 years ago

Claudia Batten is a Kiwi who has made it big on the world stage in the realm of tech – despite not being a computing prodigy or coding whiz.

 

She was schooled in Wellington at Samuel Marsden Collegiate, and went to Victoria University, graduating with degrees in commerce and law in 1998.

Although the self-described makeup junkie thought about becoming a makeup artist and launching her own range of cosmetics, she took a more traditional route when offered a position at a law firm after she had graduated university.

She remained at the firm for four years, specialising in contract law, intellectual property, and contract law. She could see that tech was where her future lay.

 

Deciding that she wanted to spread her wings and be closer to where the action was in the technology world, batten moved to New York. When she was unable to find a job, Batten and two Aussie friends founded Massive Inc. Massive developed pioneering software to download advertising into online video games. The software was capable of frills like swapping out the content in static billboards in the background of a car racing game for instance.

 

Over the four years that Batten and her associates developed the software, initially she worked on every facet of the business – contract work, business development, fundraising, publicity, and promotions. She also had to learn a great deal about video gaming technology. 

In 2006 Microsoft bought Massive Inc for an estimated US$400 million. Batten stayed on-board as a director until 2009, when she decided to seek a new challenge.

 

Moving to Boulder, Colorado, Batten launched a new venture, Victor & Spoils, the first advertising agency to use crowdfunding principles (this was years before the start of Kickstarter.) While traditional ad agencies were not impressed, the company was embraced by big brands like Coca Cola, Harley Davidson and Unilever. 

In 2012, Batten realised her heart was no longer in the company and she sold a majority stake to French company Havas.

 

Not idle for long, Batten, a firm proponent of networking as a key to success, founded Broadli -  an app to make social networks work better for business.

 

In mid-2014 Batten joined New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to lead the North American programme.

 

Batten was the youngest ever recipient of the World Class New Zealand Supreme Award for her services to entrepreneurship.

 

While she still lives in Colorado, Batten remains a strong supporter of the NZ startup scene. Her advice for Kiwi entrepreneurs is:

  • Think big, start small.
  • Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
  • Be the best, boldest, and brightest you can be.
  • If you want something, just go and do it.