EU-Startups Podcast

In this episode, Alex Berriche, Sequoia Capital Scout and the Co-founder and CEO of Fleet, a French B2B startup focused on simplifying equipment management for startups and SMBs, shares lessons learned from over 100 angel investments. He also discusses the idea behind Fleet and the challenges of IT equipment management. Alex shares his transition from being an entrepreneur to an angel investor and the lessons he has learned from scaling Fleet. He also provides insights into detecting promising founders and shares some impressive startups he has backed and discusses the current trends in European startups and the potential for growth. The conversation concludes with Alex sharing exciting initiatives happening at Fleet. This episode of EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here: http://vanta.com/eustartups

In this episode, Johannes Siebers, Co-Founder and CEO of Holidu, shares the founding story and growth of the travel tech company. He discusses the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of building a strong team and culture. Johannes also highlights the company's focus on sustainability and supporting local communities. He emphasizes the value of learning and adapting in a rapidly changing industry and shares insights on fundraising and sibling partnerships in business. Johannes concludes by discussing future plans and initiatives for Holidu. Takeaways 1.Building a strong team and culture is everything for your company's success. 2.Adaptability and continuous learning are a must especially in a rapidly changing industry. 3.Creating real value for customers is what you should be focusing on long-term. 4.Fundraising is about timing and a clear vision for the company's future. 5.Maintaining a strong partnership in business needs trust, common goals, and regular non-work-related activities.

In this episode, Tim Schumacher, General Partner at World Fund, an impact investor and entrepreneur, discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges of being a founder. He shares the remarkable story of Ecosia, the largest independent European search engine that uses its profits to plant trees. Tim also introduces the World Fund, a venture capital company focused on investing in startups that decarbonize the economy. He highlights the value he brings as an investor and shares his inspirations and advice for entrepreneurs. Tim envisions a future where we overcome our dependence on fossil fuels and live within planetary boundaries. He hopes to make a lasting impact through his work in sustainability and climate change. Takeaways 1.Investors can help with introductions, networks, and expertise, but it's founders who ultimately need to do the work themselves. 2.Investing in startups that decarbonize the economy is essential for addressing climate change. 3.We've got to overcome our dependence on fossil fuels and live within planetary boundaries.

In this episode, Janneke Niessen, a serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder of CapitalT, discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and the transition to becoming an investor. She shares crazy moments from her entrepreneurial career and highlights the importance of team evaluation using proprietary technology. Janneke also talks about her involvement in InspiringFifty, an initiative to increase diversity in tech, and her books aimed at inspiring young girls to pursue careers in technology. She discusses the impact of her research on investments in female entrepreneurs and shares her message for aspiring female entrepreneurs. Janneke also reveals her plans for a streaming TV series and her goal of receiving an Emmy nomination. Takeaways 1.Using proprietary technology, such as personality traits and team dynamics evaluation, can help investors make more data-driven decisions when evaluating entrepreneurial teams. 2.Initiatives like InspiringFifty play a crucial role in increasing diversity in the tech industry by providing visibility and role models for women. 3.Books like 'The New Girl Code' and 'Project Prep' aim to inspire young girls to pursue careers in technology and challenge the stereotypes associated with the industry. 4.Research on investments in female entrepreneurs has sparked discussions and led to changes in the venture capital ecosystem, with a focus on creating a level playing field and removing barriers.

In this episode, Helene Huby, co-founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, shares her journey in space exploration and entrepreneurship. She discusses the vision for space exploration, the transition from Airbus to entrepreneurship, nurturing innovation in large corporations vs startups, her involvement in Urania Ventures and the Microbiome Foundation, and the importance of social impact in business. Helene also talks about balancing family life with her career and shares her thrilling vision for the future of space exploration. Takeaways 1.The future of space exploration holds exciting possibilities, including regular trips to Mars and the development of mega constellations for communication. 2. Innovation requires trust, encouragement of new ideas, and acceptance of failure, whether in large corporations or startups. 3. Building a successful business involves creating a culture of trust, prioritizing happiness, and focusing on the positive impact the company can have on the world. 4. Finding a balance between work and family life is crucial, and supporting each other's dreams and passions is key. 5. Trusting oneself and taking risks earlier in one's career can lead to greater fulfillment and impact.

In this episode, Joaquim Lecha, CEO of Typeform, talks about the company's mission to make online interactions more human and shares insights into their innovative approach to collecting zero party data. He also highlights the launch of Formless, an AI-powered form builder, and the future of digital interaction. Kim emphasizes the importance of thoughtful design and balancing technology with human connection. He shares his experiences as a leader and the valuable lessons he has learned. Additionally, Kim provides a glimpse into his personal life and hobbies outside of the business world. Takeaways 1.Typeform's mission is to make online interactions more human by creating a conversational and personalized experience. 2.Zero party data, which is information provided directly by the individual, is crucial for understanding and engaging with customers. 3.Formless, Typeform's AI-powered form builder, creates a more conversational and human-like interaction. 4.Thoughtful design is essential for creating a seamless user experience and building a strong connection with customers. 5.The future of digital interaction will involve more asynchronous, multi-modal, and AI-enabled experiences. 6.Creating true fans of the brand is about being customer-centric, empowering customers, and providing personalized experiences.

In this episode, Marcin interviews Guy Kawasaki, the Chief Evangelist of Canva, former Chief Evangelist of Apple, Podcaster at Remarkable People Podcast and Author of the book Think Remarkable. They discuss Guy's upbringing in Hawaii and how it shaped his approach to life and business. They also delve into the evolution of technology and marketing, the qualities that make a product remarkable, and the intersection of creativity and technology in the future of work. Guy shares insights from his podcast, Remarkable People, and talks about his new book, Think Remarkable. He also talks about maintaining happiness and enthusiasm, and offers advice to his younger self. The conversation concludes with a discussion on Guy's legacy and his love for surfing.

In this episode, Carmen Alfonso Rico, Founder and Angel Investor at Cocoa, talks about her background and cultural influences, the story behind Cocoa and the chocolate making process, and the concept of in-house VC. Carmen also explains investment terms that she coined at Cocoa and shares her insights on fundraising. The episode concludes with a discussion on Carmen's upcoming projects and initiatives. Takeaways 1.When approaching investors, warm introductions and clear, concise pitches are key. 2.Founders should consider the value add and personal fit of investors, as well as the dilution and complexity of fundraising. 3.Fundraising is a B2B sales and dating process that requires building momentum and maintaining transparency. 4.The round equation framework helps founders make strategic decisions aligned with their long-term vision. 5.Honesty, personal fit, and the ability to grow into a valuation are crucial in securing funding. 6.Optimizing for top-line valuation should be balanced with minimizing dilution and considering the complexity of the round. 7.Founders should approach fundraising with common sense, apply hassle, and think of it as a long-term relationship.

In this episode, Jessica Holzbach, CEO of Pile Capital, shares her journey as a serial FinTech entrepreneur and the challenges and successes she has experienced. She discusses her early signs of entrepreneurship, her transition to the FinTech industry, and her previous ventures. Jessica also talks about building Penta, a successful Neo bank, and the transition to Pile Capital, a treasury solution for startups and VCs. She emphasizes the importance of balancing growth and customer satisfaction and shares insights on building product-driven companies. Jessica also discusses her experience as an angel investor and offers advice for FinTech entrepreneurs. Outside of work, she enjoys being outdoors and staying active. She envisions a future of banking that is more international and customer-centric. Takeaways 1.Building a successful company requires a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and investing in customer relationship management. 2.Creating a product that resonates with users involves staying close to the customer, gathering feedback, and iterating quickly. 3.The future of banking involves leveraging emerging technologies and shifting customer expectations to create a more international and customer-centric financial landscape.

In this episode, Kurt Farrugia, the CEO of Malta Enterprise, talks about the role of Malta Enterprise in driving economic development and supporting startups. He discusses the unique advantages and opportunities that Malta offers for entrepreneurs, as well as the efforts of Malta Enterprise to foster a culture of innovation. Kurt shares his vision for Malta's economic landscape in the next decade, emphasizing the transition to a more sustainable and knowledge-based economy. He also highlights some of Malta's hidden gems and offers insider tips for making the most of a visit to the country. Takeaways 1.Malta offers unique advantages for entrepreneurs, including its strategic location, Mediterranean lifestyle, and expertise in sciences and engineering. 2.Malta Enterprise is fostering a culture of innovation by focusing on sectors such as math tech, biotech, clean technologies, and the blue economy. 3.Malta is positioning itself as a startup destination by creating legislation that makes it easier for startups to start their business, obtain funding, and reach investors.

In this episode, Holger Seim, Co-founder and CEO of Blinkist, discusses the origin story of Blinkist and the fulfillment he finds in meeting customers who have benefited from the app. He explains the power of short-form content in a world of information overload and how it caters to the needs of modern readers and listeners. Holger shares a transformative lesson from the book 'Mindset' and discusses how his own reading habits have evolved over time. He also talks about the turning point in Blinkist's journey and the impact of Blinkist on creators and the audience. Holger teases exciting projects and features in the pipeline and shares his ideal Blinkist and chill scenario. He concludes by discussing his next big goals and personal challenges. Takeaways 1.Meeting customers and hearing their stories is one of the most fulfilling parts of being a founder. 2.Short-form content is a powerful tool in a world of information overload and can deliver great learning experience and results. 3.Entrepreneurs should have a bias for action, seek mentors and peers for guidance, and focus on simplifying and delivering core value to customers.

In this episode, Nicolas Benady, co-founder and CEO of Swan, shares the origin story of the company and its mission. He discusses the lessons he learned from his previous ventures and how Swan is reshaping the traditional boundaries of banking by enabling businesses to embed banking features into their products. Nicolas also talks about the challenges of expanding across Europe and navigating diverse financial landscapes and regulations. He emphasizes the importance of building a different company culture and shares insights on fundraising. Additionally, he discusses Swan's commitment to sustainability and his personal passion for cycling. Nicolas concludes by sharing his vision for Swan as a generational company that inspires others to tackle difficult challenges. Takeaways 1.Building a company culture focused on long-term goals, excellence, simplicity, and being human is crucial for your company's success. 2.Fundraising should not be the number one priority for startups; instead, the focus should be on building a great product and building a strong team. 3.Commit to sustainability and aim to reduce your carbon footprint. Because if you're not doing anything about climate change, then what are you doing?

In this episode, Gesa Miczaika, co-founder and general partner at Auxxo Female Catalyst Fund, discusses the challenges and initiatives for achieving gender equality in the venture capital industry. She shares the story of creating the fund and the gradual realization of the need for change. Gesa emphasizes the importance of addressing the similarity bias and increasing diversity in investment teams and decision-makers. She also highlights the initiatives for fostering inclusivity in the startup ecosystem in Germany, such as promoting diverse cap tables and hiring practices. Gesa discusses the impact of the Evangelistas network and shares her personal strategies for finding equilibrium and avoiding burnout. She envisions a future where gender doesn't play a role in entrepreneurship and investment, and collaboration and abundance mindset are key. Takeaways 1.Addressing the similarity bias is crucial for achieving gender equality in the VC industry. 2.Increasing diversity in investment teams and decision-makers is essential. 3.Fostering inclusivity in the startup ecosystem includes promoting diverse cap tables and changing hiring practices.

In this episode, Thomas Ohr, the founder and CEO of EU-Startups, talks about the upcoming 10th anniversary of the EU-Startups Summit. He discusses the early days of the summit, its evolution and challenges, memorable moments, and the unique selling points that set it apart from other startup events. Thomas shares his vision for the future of EU-Startups and the impact he hopes to make on the European startup ecosystem. He also talks about his passion for supporting startups and how it's connected with his family life. Thomas brings exciting news about this year's event edition in Malta and picks his dream speaker lineup for the summit. Takeaways 1.EU-Startups Summit started as a passion project in 2010 with a hundred attendees and has grown over the years to become one of Europe's coolest startup events. 2.The event focuses on bringing together tech and startup enthusiasts, young entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to connect, learn, and create opportunities. 3.EU-Startups aims to showcase European success stories and highlight the potential of startups in Europe.

In this episode, Cris Grossmann, the co-founder and CEO of Beekeeper, talks about the challenges faced by frontline workers and how Beekeeper aims to empower them. Cris shares his story from chemical engineering and experience in the pharmaceutical industry to starting Beekeeper. He also talks about the lessons he learned and the challenges he faced while building Beekeeper. Cris emphasizes the importance of technology in enhancing frontline work experiences while maintaining a human-centric approach. Outside of work, Cris is passionate about sports and spending time with his baby daughter. Takeaways 1.Entrepreneurs should be prepared to pivot and let go of ideas that are not working, while staying focused on solving the problem. 2.Artificial Intelligence will transform the workplace experiences of frontline employees by providing data and insights to improve communication. 3.Maintaining a human-centric approach is crucial in integrating technology solutions for frontline workers.

Lena Hackeloer, founder and CEO of Brite Payments, discusses the journey of building a fintech startup and raising $60 million in funding. She shares insights on the importance of strong investor-founder relationships and building a great team. Lena also highlights the need for adaptability and resilience in the startup world. She discusses the future of fintech, emphasizing the shift towards instant processing and the impact of emerging technologies. Lena's advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs includes gathering relevant experience and surrounding oneself with the right people. She also shares what helps her unplug, her guilty pleasures and the ritual of starting her day early. Takeaways 1.Building strong relationships with investors is crucial for startup success. 2.Adaptability and resilience are key traits for entrepreneurs. 3.Surrounding yourself with the right people is crucial for both life & business. 4.The future of fintech lies in instant processing and the ability to cater to diverse market needs.

In this episode, Jacqueline van den Ende, co-founder & CEO of Carbon Equity, shares her journey as an entrepreneur and investor in the climate tech space. She emphasizes the importance of finding inspiration and taking action, driven by a deep concern for climate change. Jacqueline envisions a world where democratizing climate investments helps solve global challenges, and she uses storytelling as a superpower to inspire others. She discusses the intersection of investing and entrepreneurship, highlighting the need for attracting top talent. Jacqueline also emphasizes the challenge and opportunity of climate change, and the importance of persistence in entrepreneurship. Takeaways 1.Find inspiration and take action to make a positive impact now. 2.Storytelling is a superpower that can inspire people to drive change. 3.Diverse and contrarian investments bring the best results. 4.Identifying and attracting top talent is the X factor for your company's success. 5.Persistence is key in entrepreneurship, keep moving forward.

Dionna Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of the Creative Ladder, shares her journey and mission to make creative careers more accessible to marginalized communities. She discusses her childhood influences on creativity and how her love for design led to entrepreneurship. Dionna explains the inspiration behind the Creative Ladder and its programs to address the opportunity deficit. She emphasizes the importance of meaningful networking opportunities and shares memorable experiences from Creative Ladder events. Dionna also talks about the impact of mentorship and about having Ryan Reynolds as co-founder. She offers advice for navigating the creative landscape and defines success in terms of the lives touched and opportunities created. Lastly, Dionna shares her personal interests outside of the business world. Takeaways 1.Meaningful networking opportunities are crucial for young creatives to foster connections and support. 2.Mentorship and role models are pivotal in shaping young people's journey. 3.Successful future is a future where underrepresented communities are fully represented and there's no longer a need for the Creative Ladder.

In this episode, Vasco Pedro, co-founder and CEO of Unbabel, discusses the transformative power of combining technology and language to bridge communication gaps. He shares his passion for AI and language processing and how Unbabel is eliminating language barriers. The challenges of building a product that brands love and the delicate balance between machine translation and human touch are explored. Vasco also introduces Project Halo, a game-changing technology that allows communication without speaking or typing. He envisions a future where technology fosters global communication and breaks down language barriers, leading to more diverse voices and access to information. Takeaways 1.Combining technology and language can bridge communication gaps and eliminate language barriers. 2.Building a product that brands love requires reducing friction and providing a seamless experience. 3.Balancing machine translation and human touch is essential for providing culturally rich language experiences. 4.Project Halo is a transformative technology that enables communication without speaking or typing. 5.The future of communication lies in the widespread deployment of AI to enable worldwide access to multilingual information.

In this episode, Heikki Haldre, founder of Miros, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the inspiration behind creating a Deep Tech company. Miros aims to revolutionize human-computer interaction by focusing on wordless search and improving product findability in e-commerce. The company differentiates itself by using AI to predict images that users are thinking of, enabling a more intuitive search experience. Miros also contributes to sustainability in the fashion industry by promoting conscious consumerism. Heikki discusses the future of the retail industry and highlights Estonia as a thriving startup hub. He concludes by sharing recent achievements and goals for Miros.

In this episode with Cristina Fonseca, a tech entrepreneur, investor, and general partner at Indico Capital Partners, we discuss her journey into entrepreneurship, including co-founding TalkDesk and Cleverly AI. Cristina shares her experiences in building companies, balancing different roles, and the challenges she faced. She also talks about her transition to venture capital and her focus on ocean-related investments. Finally, Cristina discusses the evolution of the Portuguese startup ecosystem and her personal impact and interests. **Takeaways** 1.Entrepreneurship is often inspired by the stories of great founders. But if your motivation is to be the next Steve Jobs, the best you're ever gonna be is 2nd place, because Steve Jobs will always be a better Steve Jobs than you. Focus on solving a real problem and on being the cause as opposed to jumping to the effect. 2.When building a company from the scratch you've got to be wearing different hats and constantly adapting to changes and new challenges. 3.As a board member and investor, you've got to provide guidance and support to founders while respecting their autonomy.

From Kolkata, the City of Joy to Driving Force for Diversity & Inclusion in European VC Ecosystyem

We are thrilled to air another 25 startup pitches today. Thank you again to everyone who sent piches this summer, and sorry for the delay!

We are thrilled to once again air some great startup pitches today. During summer we received about 140 pitches and 50 of those we'll now publish, devided into two episodes with 25 pitches each. Thank you again to everyone who sent piches this summer, and sorry for the delay!

You are listening to episode 44 of the EU-Startups Podcast. Today's guest is Jeff Kelisky, the CEO of Seedrs, which is Europes leading private investment platform.

You are listening to episode 43 of the EU-Startups Podcast. Today's guest is Casper Wilstrup, the founder and CEO of the fast-growing Danish AI startup Abzu

You are listening to episode 42 of the EU-Startups Podcast. Today’s guest is Rachel Delacour, the founder and CEO of Sweep, a leading platform which helps businesses to track and act on their carbon.

You are listening to episode 41 of the EU-Startups Podcast. Today’s guest is Alex Pavlov, Partner at RTP Global, which is a leading VC firm focused on early-stage tech companies.

In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, we catch up with Angel Maldonado, Founder and CEO of Empathy. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in London and Asturias, Empathy.co specializes in the field of commerce search and discovery.

Today’s guest is Rodolphe Ardant, the Founder and CEO of the spend management platform and French unicorn Spendesk.

In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, we catch up with Alisée de Tonnac founder and CEO of Seedstars. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Seedstars is a global organisation aiming to impact people's lives in emerging & frontier markets through technology and entrepreneurship. Alisée is also one of our TOP 100: Europe’s most influential women in the startup and venture capital space, she has catalyzed over $100 million in impact funds throughout her time at Seedstars.

Today, we interviewed the 20 year old entrepreneur Daniele Servadei, who founded Sellix while studying. Sellix is an ecommerce sales solution for digital entrepreneurs and

David Nothacker serves as the Co-founder and CEO of Sennder, one of the leading digital freight-forwarder platforms in Europe.

Today’s guest is IriusRisk Co-founder Cristina Bentue who created an innovative threat modelling platform for development teams.

Richard Mabey is the founder and CEO of Juro, a London-based scale-up which offers an all-in-one contract management platform.

Ricardo Marvão is the Co-founder of Beta-i – which is a Lisbon-based innovation consultancy with global reach.

In Episode 31 of the EU-Startups Podcast we interviewed the Dutch entrepreneur Hans Scheffer, who is currently the CEO at Helloprint

You are listening to episode 30 of the EU-Startups Podcast, today with Ondrej Kovarik, who is a Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Working Group about Access to Finance for SMEs

You are listening to episode 29 of the EU-Startups Podcast, today’s guest is La French Tech Director Clara Chappaz, who is on a mission to grow the French tech & startup ecosystem.

Today we interviewed Dr. Fiona Pathiraja, founder and Managing Partner of the VC firm Crista Galli Ventures.

Today we interviewed Taster Founder and CEO Anton Soulier who’s building the world's largest restaurant group based on a digital platform.

For episode 25 of the EU-Startups Podcast we interviewed serial entrepreneur and Glovo Co-founder Sacha Michaud. Glovo is an on-demand delivery unicorn and one of Spain's biggest startup success stories.

For episode 24 of the EU-Startups Podcast we interviewed the German serial entrepreneur and investor Michael Brehm, who currently focused on his company i2x.

For episode 23 of the EU-Startups podcast we had the chance to interview Michael Cassau, CEO and Founder of Grover. Michael is somewhat of a visionary entrepreneur, he has a background as an Investment Professional at Goldman Sachs and was Managing Director at Rocket Internet between 2014 and 2015 before launching Grover. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Berlin, Grover brings the freedom of renting to consumer electronics – making technology accessible to everyone, by enabling people to subscribe to tech products monthly instead of buying them. Grover is paving the way for a new era of tech ownership - one that is based on financial equity for consumers, that is less harmful to the planet, and takes on the growing e-waste problem. In July 2021, Grover took home it's most recent mega funding round of €847 million. Needless to mention that Grover has already reached unicorn status.

For episode 22 of the EU-Startups podcast we had the chance to interview Marie-Helene Ametsreiter, General Partner of Speedinvest. Marie-Helene is a renowned business personality and has been a trailblazing woman in the Venture Capitalist space. Now General Partner at Speedinvest, she is the lead partner of the Speedinvest Industrial tech team as well as a mum of two.

For episode 22 of the EU-Startups podcast we had the chance to interview Marie-Helene Ametsreiter, General Partner of Speedinvest. Marie-Helene is a renowned business personality and has been a trailblazing woman in the Venture Capitalist space. Now General Partner at Speedinvest, she is the lead partner of the Speedinvest Industrial tech team as well as a mum of two.

For episode 20 of the EU-Startups Podcast we interviewed Refurbed Co-founder Peter Windischhofer. Headquartered in Vienna and founded in 2017, Refurbed is one of the world’s fastest growing online marketplaces for refurbished products. Refurbed tests and renews electronics (laptops, mobile phones, etc.) in up to 40 steps, to make them effectively functioning like their new counterparts. Being up to 40% cheaper with a minimum 12-month warranty included, Refurbed makes purchasing sustainable devices easy, affordable and risk-free. In August of this year, the fast-growing startup raised €45.4 million in Series B funding, which brought their total funding to €63 million.

For episode 19 of the EU-Startups Podcast we interviewed serial entrepreneur and investor Phil Libin. Among other companies, Phil founded Evernote, and more recently mmhmm (All Turtels). Born in the Soviet Union, Phil grew up in the US, and today is one of the world's most prominent tech entpreneurs. His latest venture mmhmm is a new app created during the pandemic that makes video communication more clear and fun. For mmhmm Phil was already able to raise about $140 million. The list of prominent investors also includes Softbank's vision fund.