Our Story. The history of Ripyl®. Some of the best ideas don’t start in a boardroom, they start in the small, everyday moments of life. That’s where Ripyl began.
Ripyl is revolutionising how business studies are taught, empowering teachers with ready-to-use resources, built on real-world business frameworks aligned with curriculum
- engaging activities, streamlined for the classroom, and saving teachers time! For me, Ripyl wasn’t born from a grand business plan or a high-stakes investor meeting. It started at the local park with my daughters when they we
re just three and five years old. Every evening after work, I made a deal with my daughters. I’d take them to the park for about 30 minutes so they could use the swings (they loved them just like I did as a kid) while I caught up on the news, read a book, or simply unwind from the day. My eldest could swing on her own, but my youngest still needed a push. As soon as we arrived, I set them up, gave them both a big push, and then it was my time to relax. But after just a few minutes of swinging freely, my eldest would have to stop, get off her swing, push her sister, and start over. Just as she found her rhythm again, her sister would call out for another push. I could have stepped in and given my youngest a push myself, but that would have broken the deal we had. So instead, I decided to wait and see how it would play out. One evening, on the drive home, she turned to me and said, “Dad, I hate the park.”
I laughed. “Hate? That’s a strong word for a park. Tell me why.”
She explained her frustration, telling me how she had to stop swinging over and over again just to help her sister. Every time she found her rhythm, she had to get off, give another push, and start all over. I could see how much it bothered her, and instead of brushing it off, I asked her a simple question: “If you could change it, how would you fix the problem?”
That question led to something unexpected. When we got home, I put a Business Model Canvas on the garage wall. Over the next few months, she worked on a solution - a solar-powered swing set, complete with seatbelts for safety and multi-speed settings for younger and older kids. Then, I did something that would change my own thinking forever. I asked the local mayor if he’d listen to her pitch. He agreed, and halfway through her presentation (which blew me out of the water to be blunt), I realised, “Looks like I’m going into the swing business!”
When she finished, took questions from the mayor, and we walked out of his office, she turned to me and said, “That was fun. What’s next?”
At that moment, something clicked. The Birth of Ripyl
That conversation planted the seed for what would become Ripyl. I had spent years perfecting a startup accelerator for adults, one that saw over 1,700 participants, raised over $7 million in investment, and helped create 70+ businesses. However, one thing stood out. Young people (even those in their early 20s) lacked basic business knowledge. What if we could teach entrepreneurship to primary and intermediate school kids? What if we could create a mini-accelerator style programme designed just for them? The Journey - From Idea to Impact
We launched our pilot in 2019, working with over 750 students from primary and intermediate schools. The success was overwhelming - schools were lining up to join. And then, the pandemic. Like many others, we had to pause and rethink. But we didn’t stop. Over the next few years, we refined and expanded the programme. One of the biggest challenges was convincing schools to take a chance on something new. I wasn’t a teacher, I was a business guy. That made some schools hesitant. But once they saw the results, the mindset shifted. One principal even said, “If I were redesigning the New Zealand school curriculum, I’d call it Ripyl.”
Over 4,500 students have now gone through the programme. Along the way, we realised another gap in the market. A business-only, plug-and-play resource platform strictly for business and commerce teachers that made the subject easy to teach and saved hours of planning time on the weekend for the teacher. That became our focus. Winning Best Youth Programme in New Zealand
In 2023, Ripyl was awarded New Zealand’s Best Youth Programme by Global Entrepreneurship Network (Ripyl, at that stage, was being run under our holding company, The Brave Venture). It was completely unexpected as we were up against well-established programs, some had been running for 30+ years. What made Ripyl stand out? Innovation
A novel, new way to teach basic and complex business fundamentals to students based on global frameworks. The world needs more entrepreneurs, right? Problem-solving
We weren’t just another business course. We made learning real, hands-on, and engaging. And we made it relevant so the students that were learning topics were learning from brands, businesses and models they knew and saw every day. Challenging the Status Quo
Business and commerce are taught in schools, but they’re often seen as the “dummy subject”, outdated, undervalued, and stuck in the 1980s. While students learn about historical figures like Albert Einstein as entrepreneurs, the curriculum rarely highlights modern visionaries like Rod Drury from Xero or Steve Jobs from Apple. Ripyl changed that. Winning was humbling, but more than anything, it reinforced that this work matters. The Future of Ripyl
Where do we go from here? Global reach
We’ve built a platform that houses our assets but, more importantly, allows teachers to connect from all around the world. Imagine teaching business in Melbourne, and you connect with a teacher in India. The cross-pollination that can occur for personal and professional development could be immense, not to mention finding a few new guest speakers for your class! A new way of learning
We want kids to see business models as real, relevant, and essential to everyday life. Growing our platform
Our next big step is subscribers, giving teachers and students easy access to high-quality content. We have an amazing team of educators building relevant, engaging modules, not just for students but for teachers, too. When we save teachers time with ready-to-go resources, we know they can focus on what matters most - inspiring the next generation (and enjoying their weekends!). Ripyl isn’t just about business. It’s about giving kids the tools to think differently, solve problems, and create their own futures. Imagine what our country would look like if a five-year-old knew the cost of goods sold at their lemonade stand. And it all started with a simple question: “How would you fix it?”
Dave, Founder and CEO
10/08/2026
Forget Logos: Why the Smartest Brands are Marketing with Shapes
How do you stand out when people are tired of seeing online ads all day?
You stop trying to design new logos. Instead, you look at the physical objects your customers are already holding.
Two massive brands just showed us how to do this perfectly - Coco-Cola and Heinz. They created clever campaigns that rely entirely on shapes people already recognise.
The Coca-Cola "CokeSticks": Coca-Cola wanted to become more popular at dinner tables in Southeast Asia. Instead of buying expensive billboards, they created reusable metal chopsticks shaped exactly like their famous glass bottle. There is no logo on them. The shape alone tells you exactly what brand it is. (Learn more about their campaign here).
The Heinz "Dipper": Heinz noticed that most people spill ketchup when eating fries on the go. Solution? They redesigned the standard fast-food fry box to include a built-in pocket that holds two ketchup packets perfectly. It solves a real problem using the packaging itself. (Read about the Dipper here).
You can have a bit of fun with your students with examples like these, creating an opportunity to learn that great marketing isn't just about flashy social media videos. It is about creating products and packaging that are useful and instantly recognisable.
Classroom idea to try this week:
Name a local brand whose physical shape or packaging is iconic enough to stand alone.
How could that brand create a physical product to advertise itself without using any words or logos?
A great way to start the year fresh - the Personal Finance Teacher Toolkit Giveaway goes LIVE in a few days.
Join the waitlist today and you’ll be among the first to know when the giveaway opens at midnight ET on August 10.
👉 www.fieducator.com/finlitfreebies
31/07/2026
Congratulations to our 2026 Future City Innovation Challenge winners! 🎉
Over the past few months, students from across New Zealand have put their business knowledge into action - developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges, thinking creatively, collaborating as teams, and pitching ideas that could genuinely make our cities better places to live.
This challenge wasn't just about creating a great business idea. Students also had to incorporate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their solutions, demonstrating how business can create positive social, environmental and economic impact. It's no easy task, and we were incredibly impressed by the depth of thinking, creativity and innovation on display.
🥇 1st Place – Full Bowl Campaign
📍 .school.nz | Teacher: Lana Purdon
🥈 2nd Place – SkyRoots
📍 Orewa College | Teacher: Quein MacLeod
🥉 3rd Place – EcoLens
📍 Avondale College | Teacher: Deeksha Kapoor
Congratulations to all of our participating schools, students and teachers. Thank you for embracing real-world, student-led learning and proving that the future of business is in incredibly capable hands.
30/07/2026
We're excited to be part of the Personal Finance Teacher Toolkit Giveaway!
One of Ripyl's personal finance resources has been included alongside resources from some fantastic financial education creators.
Whether you're introducing key financial concepts or reinforcing essential skills, these classroom-ready resources are designed to save you planning time and engage your students.
The full toolkit includes 10 premium resources from 10 trusted personal finance educators - a combined value of over $500, available FREE for one week.
The future of entrepreneurship is sitting in today's classrooms!
A huge shout out to Flynn and Niko from FN Lemonade👏 What started as a simple idea has grown into an awesome Kiwi business, proving that age is no barrier when you've got a great idea, the courage to give it a go, and people around you who believe in you.
Stories like this are exactly why we do what we do at Ripyl. We know there are students sitting in classrooms all over New Zealand with ideas that could become tomorrow's businesses, community initiatives, or innovations. Sometimes they just need the opportunity to explore those ideas and the confidence to take the first step.
To Flynn and Niko - thanks for inspiring the next generation of young entrepreneurs, and for taking a moment today to look back with gratitude, acknowledging those who have supported you along the way. We can't wait to see where your journey takes you!
Mānawatia a Matariki.
29/06/2026
Last week we had the privilege of exhibiting at the Economics and Business Educators NSW 2026 Annual Conference in Sydney, with support from our partner Campion Education. We enjoyed meeting fellow educators, there to network and connect with likeminded teachers, and learn from a great line up of guest speakers. Thanks for having us EBE!
25/06/2026
🏆 Congratulations to the winners of the Ripyl Ultimate Summer Camp Competition – Ontario Junior Edition! 🎉
A huge congratulations to teacher Reima Fanari and the students of Milliken Mills High School .schools, whose innovative business idea stood out for its strong understanding of a real community need and a clear plan to make a lasting impact.
What impressed the judges most was the team's ability to clearly identify and articulate the problem they were addressing, making it easy to understand the purpose and value behind their proposed camp. Their budgeting was well considered, stakeholder planning was thorough, and their marketing strategy demonstrated a thoughtful use of multiple channels to effectively reach their target audience.
The team also showed strong entrepreneurial thinking by creating a sustainable model, with profits being reinvested back into the camp to support future growth and ongoing community benefit.
As the winning team, they have earned:
💰 $1,000 for the student team
📱 An iPad for teacher Reima Fanari
🚀 A Ripyl school subscription for Milliken Mills High School
Congratulations to everyone involved. This is a fantastic example of students applying business concepts to solve real-world challenges, while creating a sustainable initiative that can continue to benefit their community for years to come. 👏🎓✨
23/06/2026
Business Studies Day Massey University School of Business! Putting our students through their paces, thinking outside the box! Business is everything and everywhere!
18/06/2026
Hey Melbourne! We're excited to be here on day 2 of the Business Educators Australasia "Educate for Impact” Conference.
Making great connections with business educators doing the hard work educating our youth!
04/06/2026
Pumped to be here on day two, it’s busy on the floor today at .
Want your school to be the top-listed School/college in Palmerston North?
10/08/2026
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