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Turns out the long game moves faster than you think

Tumai is applying two decades of on-the-ground experience to refining the company’s strategy, aligning it closely with local market needs and building on early traction. Her approach prioritises deep local understanding, with a tailored model and tools designed specifically for New Zealand advisers, cementing Bizcap as both a lender and trusted partner – one that shows up, listens first and builds trust through action. “Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to build and sell several adviser businesses. That journey taught me a lot, especially about the power of building strategic partnerships, meaningful connections and staying true to your values and culture,” Tumai explains.

Spotlight

Bizcap was launched in New Zealand to provide fast, flexible business loans tailored to the unique needs of Kiwi SMEs. With funding from $5,000 to $2 million available in as little as three hours, Bizcap helps businesses seize opportunities and navigate challenges without the red tape, working closely with its partners to deliver real results for their clients. Backed by years of experience and a deep understanding of small business realities, Bizcap is committed to being a reliable, accessible lending partner that supports long-term business growth and success throughout New Zealand.

Company Profile

Countries Bizcap operates in

>$1bn globally, $160m in NZ

Total amount funded

4.8

Trustpilot rating

30k globally, 5k in NZ

Number of SME loans provided

150 globally, 7 in NZ

Number of Team members

Bio

Spotlight

Milestones

Media

Accolades

Company Profile

Years of Experience

Based in

Auckland

Surprising fact

Sung for NZ prime minister and performed national anthem at an All Blacks game

Camilla Tumai

General manager – New Zealand at Bizcap

Camilla Tumai returns to financial services with a mission to reshape business lending for NZ advisers and SMEs at Bizcap

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“We knew we needed a New Zealand-specific approach – beyond branding, extending into how we form partnerships, deliver training and engage proactively with advisers”

Camilla Tumai, Bizcap

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Karen Adams

President and CEO at Fundserv

Before becoming CEO of Fundserv, Karen Adams held a variety of leadership roles around the world – and she learned that listening and understanding are key to both providing service and developing talent

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Karen Adams

President and CEO at Fundserv

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Building momentum through local insight

Published 09 June 2025

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“Leadership, to me, starts with trust – built through consistent, everyday action. That means being available when it matters, following through, and leading a business that advisers feel confident partnering with”

Camilla Tumai, Bizcap

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Camilla Tumai could have stayed out of the spotlight after successfully selling her adviser business in 2021 – and who would have blamed her? But despite stepping back from the industry, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her journey with advisers wasn’t quite over. “What brought me back was a strong sense of unfinished business – and a genuine desire to continue supporting advisers as they try to navigate regulatory changes, grow their businesses and deliver better outcomes for their clients,” says Tumai. As general manager for New Zealand at SME lender Bizcap, her focus is on understanding what Kiwi advisers actually need – something Tumai is not only uniquely positioned to deliver but has also mulled over at length. “After nearly 20 years of helping clients and advisers grow, I took some time out to reflect on where I could make the greatest impact next,” she says.

Bizcap’s entry into the New Zealand market was met with early engagement and product traction, but it also made clear that local context matters. What works in one location doesn’t always translate directly, and Tumai’s appointment formed part of a deliberate strategy to tailor the company’s approach in ways that resonate more strongly with New Zealand’s adviser community. “We know trust takes time – and it must be earned,” says Tumai. “While we came to market with a strong product, advisers needed more than that. They needed confidence in who we are, how we work and that we’d stick around. “We understand that what works in Australia doesn’t automatically translate here. New Zealand has its own pace, its own relationship-driven culture and a deeply connected adviser network.” This understanding has informed a deliberate evolution of Bizcap’s strategy over the past 12–18 months, with Bizcap adopting what Tumai describes as a “local-first approach” that acknowledges the unique characteristics of the New Zealand market – with support from its global headquarters.

Built for the market, with the market

Rather than simply rebranding Australian materials for the New Zealand market, Bizcap took an intentional, proactive approach early on, guided by feedback and signals from the adviser community. This meant developing models that align more closely with how New Zealand advisers actually work, and tailoring support to meet their specific needs. “Our strategy today looks very different to when we first launched, and that’s by design,” says Tumai. “We knew we needed a New Zealand-specific approach – beyond branding, extending into how we form partnerships, deliver training and engage proactively with advisers. So we’ve focused on listening and building with advisers, not just delivering to them.” The company has been methodical in its adaptation, focusing on building credibility through consistent engagement and responsiveness to adviser feedback. “We’ve expanded our aggregator and referral networks, introduced onboarding tools tailored to Kiwi advisers, and focused on education that’s relevant and practical,” Tumai explains. This next stage of Bizcap’s evolution reflects a clear understanding of what advisers need today, shaped by real-world insight and a commitment to building trust through presence and reliability.

Showing up matters

For Bizcap, becoming a trusted partner to New Zealand advisers has meant increasing its visibility across multiple channels, from industry events to educational resources. This visibility strategy goes beyond marketing to create genuine familiarity. “Visibility builds familiarity, and in our industry, that’s the foundation for trust,” says Tumai. “Advisers want to know who they’re working with, what to expect and that we’ll be there when it matters.” Tumai emphasises that visibility must translate into tangible value, not just brand recognition. This has meant showing up consistently in places where advisers gather, participating in industry conversations and demonstrating commitment through actions rather than just words.

“For us, visibility isn’t just about logos or campaigns. It’s about showing up in meaningful ways, whether that’s through events, picking up the phone or delivering on the small things that make us easier to work with,” she adds. The company’s growth over the past year has been notable, but Tumai measures success by adviser engagement rather than operational metrics alone. “We’ve grown significantly over the past year, but that only means something if advisers can feel the difference – and if that visibility translates into confidence, trust and stronger partnerships.”

Adviser advocacy as a business model

What distinguishes Tumai’s leadership approach is her background as an adviser herself – she can stand in an adviser’s shoes. This experience informs how she structures Bizcap’s offerings and support systems. “Advocating for advisers is part of my DNA; I’ve been one, I’ve trained and mentored many, and I understand the pressure of running a business and what it takes to serve clients well,” says Tumai. “At Bizcap, my focus is on removing the barriers that stop advisers from offering business lending, making it easier, more accessible and more rewarding to refer.” Her leadership philosophy centres on building trust through consistent action rather than promises. This approach appears well-suited to New Zealand’s business culture, where relationships often develop gradually. “Leadership, to me, starts with trust – built through consistent, everyday action. That means being available when it matters, following through, and leading a business that advisers feel confident partnering with,”

Tumai explains. “In New Zealand, that’s about showing up differently – listening first, acting with intent and proving through actions, not just words, that we understand what advisers need.”

Tools that make a difference

Bizcap’s strategy has increasingly focused on practical tools that help advisers expand their service offerings without adding complexity to their workflows. Recent product developments reflect this emphasis on simplicity and client value. “For me, adviser enablement is about helping advisers say yes to more clients, with less friction,” says Tumai. “They already have the relationships; our role is to equip them with the tools, products and support to act confidently and make business lending more rewarding to deliver.” The company has introduced several new tools designed specifically for the New Zealand market. “We recently launched a new partner portal to streamline referrals and provide greater visibility throughout the process,” Tumai says. Product innovation has also been guided by specific gaps in the New Zealand market, particularly for small businesses struggling to access traditional banking facilities. “Our Line of Credit has seen strong uptake – particularly among clients who’ve struggled to secure bank overdrafts – which is why we increased our maximum facility limit to meet growing client demand,” says Tumai. “We also introduced Prime Loans to broaden our offering, and we’ll continue evolving based on adviser and client feedback.” The company’s product development philosophy reflects its broader approach to the market of listening closely to what advisers and their clients need, then building solutions that address those specific requirements. “Everything we build has one goal: to make business lending simpler, smarter and more client- and adviser-friendly,” Tumai concludes. Sometimes a little distance from the situation can result in clarity of mission. With a clear-eyed view of what New Zealand advisers actually need, Tumai is helping Bizcap make good on a vision for adviser support grounded not in guesswork but in hard-earned experience and consistent action. That kind of unfinished business doesn’t stay shelved for long. Find out more about Bizcap NZ here.

2018

2021

2022

Becomes first female recipient of Financial Advice New Zealand Excellence Award for thought leadership, innovation and service to the advice profession

2018

Successfully sells her adviser business

2021

Joins board of Quotemonster, New Zealand’s most widely used insurance and comparison platform for advisers

2022

Milestones

2018

2021

2022

Becomes first female recipient of Financial Advice New Zealand Excellence Award for thought leadership, innovation and service to the advice profession

2018

Successfully sells her adviser business

2021

Joins board of Quotemonster, New Zealand’s most widely used insurance and comparison platform for advisers

2022

Milestones

2018

2021

2022

Becomes first female recipient of Financial Advice New Zealand Excellence Award for thought leadership, innovation and service to the advice profession

2018

Successfully sells her adviser business

2021

Joins board of Quotemonster, New Zealand’s most widely used insurance and comparison platform for advisers

2022

Milestones