He turned frustration with clunky academic tools into a million-dollar deep tech startup.
👉 Youtube - https://bit.ly/3Rwqaur
👉 Spotify – https://spoti.fi/4is21QI
👉 Apple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42KZ2x1
Meet Axton, a New Zealand tech entrepreneur who went from severe childhood asthma and tinkering with remote-controlled aircraft to founding Litmaps, a pioneering startup transforming academic research through AI-powered citation mapping.
In this episode, Axton dives deep into overcoming early challenges, pivoting from medical aspirations to technology entrepreneurship, and scaling Litmaps to 400,000 global users and a recent $1M ARR milestone.
You'll hear candid insights about the struggles of academia, innovation in AI-driven research tools, and what it takes to navigate a co-founder departure, an acquisition, and the relentless world of deep tech startups. If you’re fascinated by how AI is reshaping research and startups, this episode is your roadmap.
🔑 Key Topics:
🛠️ Building a Deep Tech Startup from Scratch
🚑 Childhood Challenges & Resilience
📚 Why Academic Research Needs Innovation
🤖 AI & the Future of Research
💸 Growing from Prototype to $1M ARR
👥 Handling Co-Founder Exits & Team Building
🌏 Building Globally from New Zealand
💡 Disrupting Citation Networks & Academia
🧠 The Psychology of Entrepreneurship
📈 Future Vision for Litmaps & Beyond
🤝 Connect with the Guest:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/axtonpitt/
Website: https://www.litmaps.com
🔗 Learn more about NZVC:Website: 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 & Childhood Challenges
05:00 - Early Influences & Remote-Controlled Aircraft
09:12 - University & Early Career Struggles
11:28 - Birth of Litmaps & Initial Frustration
28:55 - Prototype, Feedback & Pivoting
32:31 - Taking the Leap to Full-Time Entrepreneurship
43:22 - Scaling to $1M ARR & Global Reach
43:54 - Co-Founder Departure & Growing as CEO
47:02 - Recent Fundraise & Acquisition
47:24 - Long-Term Vision & Future Plans
51:48 - Competing with AI & ChatGPT
57:35 - Impact of Geopolitics on Innovation
1:01:36 - Building Globally from New Zealand
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