Dave Craig | Founder, CEO
Ripyl

Dave is on a mission to revolutionise business education. A problem-solver and team builder, he has spent over two decades launching and leading accelerator programs that have helped founders raise millions. Now, with Ripyl, he’s bringing that same energy to the classroom, giving high school teachers the tools to make business and commerce education real, relevant, and ridiculously engaging. Originally from California, Dave was instrumental in building one of the first online banking systems in the ’90s, but his real passion lies in empowering people to think like entrepreneurs, whether they’re launching startups or simply learning the fundamentals of business. He believes that if every kid in New Zealand understood the cost of goods sold at their lemonade stand, the world would be a wickedly better place. Ripyl was born from a simple idea: business education should be real, relevant, and engaging. After years of working with startups and seeing firsthand what separates successful founders from the rest, he realised something: entrepreneurial thinking isn’t just for startups. It’s a life skill. If we can equip students with problem-solving, creativity, and financial know-how early on, we’re setting them up for a lifetime of success, whether they launch businesses, lead teams, or navigate the world with confidence. Ripyl is our way of making that happen.