EDWARDS, Hamish

Hamish Edwards calls himself a “startup guy” so perhaps it's no wonder that the Xero co-founder has been selling off his company stake over the last few years.

He now describes himself as “retired” and living in Queenstown while maintaining an interest in a small number of companies.

These include software startups Rightway, ConnectWorks, Atomic and Koordinates, which is an online mapping and geospatial data platform used by several government agencies.

Edwards also has a 7% stake in Martinborough-based accounting firm RightWay, where he is a former chairman.

He is also a director and holds a 13% shareholding in ConnectWorks, a Xero “add-on partner,” with services used by the likes of Deloitte.

After completing a BCom in accounting and marketing at Otago University, Edwards spent five years as a soldier in the NZ Army.

He then joined Openside Accounting, a practice that specialised in high-growth companies, sparking his meeting with co-founder-to-be Rod Drury.

2018: $230 million