# Greg Cross

> Greg Cross is an Auckland-based New Zealand technology entrepreneur, co-founder and former CEO of Soul Machines, and founder of Eighty20 AI. His career includes leading Microsoft New Zealand during the Windows 95 launch and co-founding PowerbyProxi, acquired by Apple in 2017. He received the 2019 Flying Kiwi Award and was inducted into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.

- **Role:** Founder at Eighty20 AI
- **Organizations:** Eighty20 AI, Soul Machines, PowerbyProxi, Microsoft New Zealand, Fact International, BellSouth New Zealand, Advantage Group, The Icehouse, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, SLI Systems, University of Auckland Business School, Being AI
- **Nationality:** New Zealander
- **Known for:** Co-founded PowerbyProxi, acquired by Apple in 2017., Co-founded Soul Machines in 2016 and helped take its digital people into international commercial applications., Led Microsoft New Zealand during the Windows 95 launch.

## Career timeline

- **1990** — Fact International, whose software Cross helped take into the US and Europe, was acquired by Geac Computers.
- **1993** — Held a senior role at BellSouth as it launched in New Zealand.
- **1995** — Led Microsoft New Zealand during the launch of Windows 95.
- **1999** — As Advantage Group CEO, announced an e-commerce agreement with Microsoft New Zealand.
- **2007** — Co-founded wireless-power company PowerbyProxi with Fady Mishriki.
- **2016** — Co-founded Soul Machines with Mark Sagar to commercialise digital-human research.
- **2017** — Apple acquired PowerbyProxi; the purchase price was not disclosed.
- **2019** — Received the Flying Kiwi Award and entered the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.
- **2022** — Served as Soul Machines CEO; the company announced a US$70 million Series B1 earlier that year.
- **2023** — Departed Soul Machines; public reporting dates his CEO departure to September.
- **2024** — Founded Eighty20 AI.
- **2025** — Published essays on trust, customer data and Quantum Social Clubs; spoke at ANZ’s Māori Investors Forum.

## Achievements

- Co-founded PowerbyProxi, acquired by Apple in 2017.
- Co-founded Soul Machines in 2016 and helped take its digital people into international commercial applications.
- Led Microsoft New Zealand during the Windows 95 launch.
- Received the 2019 Flying Kiwi Award and induction into the New Zealand Hi-Tech Hall of Fame.
- Chaired SLI Systems through its NZX IPO.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — AppDirect announced its acquisition of Soul Machines on 28 September, a later chapter for the business Cross co-founded and left in 2023.
- **2026-06** — ANZ published Cross’s comments from its 2025 Māori Investors Forum about AI infrastructure, investment and data ownership; the page displays 24 June 2026.
- **2026-02** — Receivers were appointed to Soul Machines Limited on 5 February, after Cross’s departure.
- **2025-10** — Published LinkedIn essays titled Customer Data: The Most Defensible Moat in the AI Era and The Architecture of Trust: Why Doors Matter.
- **2025-09** — Published Why We’re Building Trust Infrastructure for the AI Era, setting out the thinking behind Quantum Social Clubs.

## Links

- Website: https://eighty20.ai/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregcross/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/thegregcross

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/greg-cross
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21