TV show's call for extras was the beginning of a business that has lasted for 25 years.

Jillian de Beer, founder, de Beer Marketing & Communications and Incredible Edge, specialist in future thinking, business strategy, cultural identity.

Christina Wedgwood, founder, Intelligent Ink, a written communications agency, established in April 2011.

Two Kiwi entrepreneurs have been left stunned after raising more than $300,000 in a crowdfunding campaign for their start-up travel gear company.

Lizzi Hines, managing director, Spaceworks, which does interior design and fitout and furniture procurement for the office, hospitality and retail sectors. Spaceworks is a team of eight designers (all women).

US crowdfunding platform Kickstarter - which has helped raise more than $US800 million for creative projects - will be opening its doors to Kiwis in just over four weeks.

Dan Heyworth, co-founder, of BOX, an architect practice and construction company rolled into one.

How do you establish a great company culture? Small Business editor Gill South investigates.

It is not unusual for Oliver McDermott and Blender Design co-founder Ben Thomsen to have an inventor come to them with a good idea for a product, but in need of help to market it.

What should companies think about before appointing an overseas manufacturer?

Adam Bennett, NZTE Customer Director, who focuses on China as a manufacturing location.

Paula Wallace, co-founder with husband Bill, of Wallace Cotton, a bedlinen, clothing and homewear brand, a multi-channel retailer and wholesaler, based in Birkenhead.

After years in administration, liquor retailer is back on its feet.

Roanne Jacobson, designer and founder of Saben, which specialises in seasonal collections of luxurious handbags for women and men, accessories, jewellery and luggage.

Gosia Piatek, Designer/Director, Kowtow, Wellington-based international ethically and sustainably sound mens and womens fashion label which sells collections made from fair trade organic cotton.

Rebecca Anderson, designer and director of Chaos & Harmony, a boutique womens' shoe brand based in Tauranga.

Scott Kington, Managing Director at Madeblunt, on the experience of having Blunt Umbrellas made in China.

There are not many New Zealand-based entrepreneurs who could say they learned about company culture from their first job at a certain well-known Seattle technology company.

It depends on how deliberate the company's founders or leaders are about culture. You need to build a culture and you need to work hard at maintaining the culture.