EP #510 - Levent Künzi: When Does a Startup Become a Scaleup?

Jul 30, 2025

Levent Künzi, Co-Founder and CEO of Properti, sheds light on the transition from startup to scaleup in the tech-driven real estate sector. He discusses the importance of formal processes and a supportive team culture during growth phases. Künzi reveals why Properti chose to work exclusively with Swiss investors and the unique challenges of scaling in Switzerland versus internationally. He also shares essential advice for early founders on prioritizing challenges and fostering adaptability, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and strategic planning.

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ADVICE

Structured Weekly Planning

Structure your week with clear themes: management meetings, projects, and dedicated strategy time.
This helps prioritize tasks amid growing company complexity.

ADVICE

Communicate Clearly About Growth

Use clear and direct communication to manage employee development and career paths.
Create specific game plans and safe environments for growth, including embracing failure as learning.

ANECDOTE

Early Investment in Training

Properti started investing in a learning and development team after about two years.
They prioritized building excellent real estate agents through strong training programs early on.

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Timestamps:

4:16 - When does a startup become a scaleup?

18:04 - Prioritizing which issue to tackle next

25:06 - Why properti only has Swiss investors

28:40 - Challenges in scaling up in Switzerland vs Internationally

31:34 - How Levent leverages his advisory board

39:00 - Key advice for early founders

Click here to purchase our book, “Swiss Startups”.

About Levent Künzi:

Levent Künzi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Properti, a technology-driven real estate company modernizing how people buy, sell, and rent homes. He holds a BSc in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Business Communication from Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences. Before founding Properti, Levent spent a decade at Betterhomes Real GmbH, where he rose to COO by age 25.

In his conversation with Silvan, Levent unpacked the shift from startup to scaleup, how founders can prioritize the right challenges during periods of growth, and why Properti made the strategic choice to raise exclusively from Swiss investors in its early stages.

Levent also opened up about key tips for early startup founders, such as building a supportive environment, staying flexible and focused, and continuing to push through the hard times.

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