She Built New Zealand’s First Crowdfunding Platform — And Changed the Game for Founders
In this episode of The Powerhouse Diaries, Yaela Raber sits down with Anna Guenther, co-founder of PledgeMe, New Zealand’s first crowdfunding platform, to explore the radical shifts happening in how entrepreneurs raise money, find community, and scale their vision.
From writing a master’s thesis on crowdfunding to building a platform that has helped thousands of founders, artists, and innovators raise millions, Anna shares the highs, lows, and pivotal lessons she’s learned along the way.
This is a conversation about resilience, equity, and rewriting the rules of funding—especially for women founders who have traditionally been shut out of investment opportunities. Anna also opens up about solo motherhood, building a business with heart, and why inviting people into your journey is the key to success.
In This Episode We Discuss:
00:00 - Episode Trailer
04:08 - The master’s thesis that sparked a movement
05:33 - Building PledgeMe and the first million raised
07:26 - When your payment provider declares crowdfunding “illegal”
09:00 - How transparency built trust in the early days
11:57 - From rewards-based crowdfunding to equity investment
13:43 - Why funding feels overwhelming—and how to simplify it
15:12 - The gender gap in venture capital
18:33 - How women are raising through crowdfunding
19:57 - The power of asking for help
21:10 - Outsourcing your knowing vs. trusting your gut
22:29 - Solo motherhood and recalibrating priorities
24:17 - Building community and friendships through business
25:39 - The proudest legacy of PledgeMe
27:14 - Success stories: from kitchen table to global exit
29:17 - Why now is still a great time to invest
30:30 - Crowdfunding as the modern co-op model
31:00 - Becoming a solo parent by choice
33:25 - “Women can do anything, but not everything”
37:25 - The $2M campaign that broke the platform
39:25 - Reframing asking for money as inviting people in
Episode Resources:
Guest Website: https://linktr.ee/pledgeme
Guest Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/whereisanna
Guest Instagram (PledgeMe): https://www.instagram.com/pledgeme
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaguenther
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Website: https://www.drdanielkirkbride.com/