EU-Startups Podcast

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.

On A Mission To Make People Remarkable 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.