About us

Meet Russell Oliver – Real Experience, Real Start-Up Resilience

Meet Russell Oliver, founder of Creative Startup NZ. From business failure to building an award-winning brand, learn how Russell’s real-world experience helps Kiwi startups navigate their own path to success

I’ve Been Where You Are (And It Wasn’t Always Pretty)

If you are reading this, you probably have a dream. You also probably have a knot in your stomach asking, "What if this doesn't work?"

I know that feeling intimately.

My name is Russell Oliver. I founded CreativeStartupNZ not because I read about business in a textbook, but because I have lived through the highs and the lows. I’m here to help you navigate the chaos of starting a business so you don’t have to learn the hard lessons the expensive way.

The Truth About Failure

We often only see the highlight reels of success on social media. We don't see the struggle.

I want to be honest with you: I know what it is like to fail in your first business. My first venture didn't end with a parade. It was a grind that almost ended in the crash of bankruptcy. I learned the hard way that passion alone isn't enough to pay the bills. I felt the sting of things not going to plan, and I know the weight of wondering if you’re cut out for this.

But here is the silver lining: Failure is a better teacher than success. That experience taught me more about entrepreneurial resilience, cash flow, and strategy than any university course ever could. It taught me that a setback isn't the end—it's just data for your next move.

The Pivot: Transforming the "Boring" into the Extraordinary

Success is rarely a straight line; usually, it requires a pivot.

In 2014, my wife Natasha and I took on Romantic Gestures. To be completely blunt, when we started, it wasn't the award-winning agency it is today. It was a standard—and honestly, somewhat boring—online accommodation and gift store. It was functional, but it wasn't special.

We looked at it and realized: We can do better.

We didn't just accept the business as it was. We used Market Research and strategic thinking to completely refine the model. We pivoted away from being "just another online store" and transformed it into a premium Proposal Planning Agency.

The result? That "boring" business evolved into a market leader, winning "Best Marriage Proposal Planners 2020" and taking the #1 WINNER spot at the 2025 Couples' Choice NZ Wedding Industry Awards.

We didn't get there by accident. We got there by refining our strategy, understanding our customers, and refusing to settle for average.

How We Help You Do the Same

I share my story because I want you to know that your starting point doesn't dictate your finish line. Whether you are recovering from a stumbling block or trying to turn a "boring" idea into something brilliant, we have the tools to help.

Don't Guess, Validate If we had kept Romantic Gestures as a generic gift store, we would have faded away. We used research to find our niche.

How we help: We offer Market Research Advice to help you pivot your idea before you commit, ensuring you are building something people actually want.

Look the Part Refining a business isn't just about the idea; it's about how you present it.

How we help: We can help you shed the "amateur" look with professional Logo Design and Animated Intro Videos. Perception is reality in the digital world.

Get Found You can't sell a secret.

How we help: We provide SEO Guidance and Web Page Audits to ensure your customers can find you, just like we ensured couples could find us.

A Partner, Not Just a Service

I’m not here to sell you a dream. I’m here to help you build a reality. I bring the discipline of a military veteran and the empathy of a founder who has scrapped his way back from failure.

If you are feeling stuck, or if you just want to talk to someone who understands the roller coaster you are on, let’s chat.