"Think about your wedding day, typically small business make that such a special day, and I love the fact that every day my first contact with people outside of home is with some delightful people at the coffee shop across the road."
To support small businesses Xero had created a technology platform that also had a human interface.
He pointed out that the company's recent half-year results had shown there were now 1.2 million small businesses on its platform globally, more than 250,000 now in Britain, with 1.6 trillion transactions conducted across its cloud-based accounting software over the last financial year.
"We see that growth continuing.
"What's really exciting for us is the potential of that scale. While we have 1.2 million subscribers, our platform and the services on it have now touched 40 million individuals."
The opportunity was now to have that reach drive growth.
"That's why we are really excited."
Mr Kyd said he hoped his visit would provide businesses here with "food for thought" about how they operated.
"There's a few things that really stand out for me - first is the power of social media platforms. Facebook is a great example - they now have 2 billion monthly users, 70 million businesses have pages or presences on Facebook - and that's up from 65 million just a few months ago.
"What that is showing is just the power in the globe of social platforms."
That meant for small businesses that wanted to grow, there was an opportunity to have a "virtuous dialogue" with consumers.
"It's not some sort of fad, it's here to stay.
"If you combine that with video, it's amazing some of the predictions that are out there - and I believe they will come home to roost.
"For example, by 2020 75 per cent of buyer/seller interactions will happen through social media and video. That, ladies and gentlemen, is only two years away - that's staggering, and you need to think how you can capitalise on that potential."
Secondly, the power and connectivity of new mobile devices could also be used to grow business.
"That's something we are excited about, and dialling into."
He also pointed out there had been a growing distrust between individuals and institutions.
"I believe that should be an opportunity. Until we fill that trust gap and give people a reason to connect to brands and companies and employees, it's a vacuum we can take advantage of, if we do it well. There's a real opportunity for more approachable and human brands to take hold."
He pointed out how the normally "boring" milk and beer aisles in the supermarket had changed from standard brands to smaller, more craft-like brands with a human back story.
"They are really taking hold and doing well."
Mr Kyd also added that Xero remained a really proud Kiwi company.
" I was delighted spend the morning with our team at the Hawke's Bay office at the tech hub. We have 25 staff in there today, primarily in our customer service area."
The company planned to increase that to 35 by the end of March and beyond.
The Icehouse customer growth partner and operations manager Kate de Lautour said more than110 business-owners and teams attended the event, and were treated to insights from quintessential NZ Sock Company owner Euan Sparrow with his "honest account" of the good and bad in business and amazing opportunities in export.
"Xero's James Kyd gave us an enlightening address on Xero's phenomenal success and the future of technology."
