Jamie Beaton managed a hedge fund portfolio at Tiger Management while simultaneously taking maximum course loads at Harvard and building a startup that now generates over $300M in revenue.
In this episode of TechMates, we sit down with Jamie Beaton, the New Zealand tech entrepreneur and CEO of Crimson Education. Jamie’s story is nothing short of relentless; he breaks down the massive cultural shift from New Zealand’s "tall poppy syndrome" to the "capitalism cubed" ambition of Manhattan. He reveals how he turned a dorm-room consulting hustle into a global education empire, all while working under legendary investor Julian Robertson.
We dive deep into the mechanics of scaling a service business to 20+ countries, the controversial truths about elite college admissions, and Jamie's bold take on the future of schooling in the age of AI. Whether you are interested in EdTech, high-stakes investing, or just want to know what it takes to build a unicorn from a corner of the world, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.
🇳🇿 New Zealand vs. USA: Ambition & Mindset
🎓 Building a $300M business from a Harvard dorm
🐯 Lessons from Tiger Management & Julian Robertson
📈 Global expansion strategies & hiring "unicorns"
🤖 The role of AI in the future of education
🏫 Launching New Zealand’s first online charter school
Connect with Jamie Beaton:
Jamie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiebeaton/
Crimson Education: https://www.crimsoneducation.org/
Connect with NZVC & Hosts:
🔗 Learn more about NZVC: https://www.nzvc.co.nz
Mark Pavlyukovskyy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavlyukovskyy/
Hendrik Remigereau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendrik-remigereau-09a03067/
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:37 - Growing up in a "hustle" household
07:11 - The train ride that changed his life
12:12 - Arriving at Harvard: "Capitalism on Steroids"
17:10 - New Zealand vs. Manhattan Mindset
20:37 - Launching Crimson from a dorm room
23:51 - Doing $300k revenue in Year 1
32:45 - Raising capital from Julian Robertson
37:57 - Working at Tiger Management while studying
46:58 - The formula for Ivy League admissions
51:44 - How to launch a business in 20+ countries
54:29 - Reaching $300M in sales
58:25 - New Zealand’s Online Charter School
01:06:00 - Alpha School, AI, and the future of learning
01:23:24 - Will AI destroy white-collar jobs?Support the Channel: If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the like button, leave a comment with your thoughts on the future of education, and subscribe for more deep dives with world-class founders!
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