Hi TechMates Community,
Mark Pavlyukovskyy and Hendrik Remigereau here, excited to bring you another engaging conversation, powered by NZVC, the venture firm backing the next generation of iconic companies from New Zealand and beyond.
In this episode, we’re joined by Axton Pitt, the founder and CEO of Litmaps, who turned personal childhood adversity into entrepreneurial success. Growing up in Hamilton with severe asthma, Axton spent his early years tinkering with remote-controlled aircraft rather than running outside with friends—sparking a lifelong fascination with technology and problem-solving. Today, he’s revolutionizing academic research by using AI to simplify literature reviews and citation tracking.
Explore the episode
In this episode, you’ll discover:
🌱 The power of incremental innovation – Axton’s key insight on building startups.
💡 Why visual storytelling wins – his takeaway on effectively communicating complex ideas.
🔥 Transforming academia through AI-powered research tools – Litmaps' groundbreaking solution.
🌍 From small-town Hamilton to global entrepreneurship – journey-based insights from Axton’s path.
🚀 Reaching 400,000 users and $1M ARR – Litmaps' recent big milestones.
Don’t miss out on these exclusive insights!
Listen or read the highlights below
⏰ 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
How Litmaps is Revolutionizing the Future of Academic Research
Turning Setbacks into Strength
Axton's childhood was marked by serious health challenges, keeping him from typical outdoor play. Yet these experiences didn't hold him back; instead, they ignited his curiosity and shaped his problem-solving mindset.
"My severe asthma as a kid made me appreciate systems of medical care and the importance of finding treatments," says Axton.
This early fascination laid the groundwork for his future in technology and entrepreneurship.
Simplifying Complexity
The idea for Litmaps emerged from a shared frustration. Axton’s co-founder, Kyle, struggled with traditional literature reviews during his PhD, prompting the question:
"How do I quickly understand who is citing whom and find key papers without repeating work?"
Their solution became Litmaps—a tool visually mapping scientific research papers to streamline the review process. As Axton explains,
"People needed a tool like this, but nothing useful existed."
Persistence through Challenges
Axton candidly shares the ups and downs of entrepreneurial life. The early product feedback wasn’t glowing:
"We sent our first prototype to researchers, and mostly, the feedback was negative."
Yet, persistence paid off. Through iterative improvements and relentless user focus, Litmaps has now grown to over 400,000 global users, reaching a recent milestone of $1M annual recurring revenue. His key takeaway?
"Big breakthroughs come from small, incremental improvements."
Axton’s story shows us how personal challenges can become powerful drivers for innovation. If there's one thing we learned, it’s the importance of resilience and continuous iteration in building impactful startups.
For more in-depth insights from Axton Pitt, be sure to listen to the full TechMates podcast episode!
Thanks for your support—we’re excited to have you with us!
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Happy listening,
The TechMates Team
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