Follow the Gradient

Nicole Herzog, co-founder of b2venture and Umantis, shares her extensive board experience, including her role at Sherpany. She discusses the common misconceptions founders have about their boards, emphasizing that they can be strategic assets rather than mere formalities. Herzog highlights the importance of choosing the right investors, the dynamics of effective board meetings, and how to restructure boards as startups grow. She also stresses collaboration between founders and board members to unlock insights and drive success.

Scaling a startup is hard. Scaling it in healthcare, where regulation slows everything down, is even harder.Kai Eberhardt, CEO & Co-founder of Oviva, knows this first-hand. Since 2014, he has built one of Europe’s leading virtual clinics for obesity and diabetes, treating over 800,000 patients and raising $120 million. But behind those numbers are the real challenges of growth—navigating reimbursement, expanding across markets, hiring the right people, and staying ahead as a leader.In this episode, Kai shares:Why healthtech founders must build for reimbursement, not just productThe toughest lessons from scaling across multiple European marketsHow to keep speed, decision-making, and culture intact beyond 1,000 employeesWhat breaks first when a startup scales—and how to fix itHow to evolve as a CEO so the company doesn’t outgrow youBalancing a high-growth startup with your own health, family, young kids and long-term sustainabilityTune in now to learn from one of Europe’s most successful healthtech founders.Before you go, subscribe to our free newsletter at followthegradient.io. Twice a week, we break down startup and tech news, share exclusive insights from our podcast guests, highlight top job openings from European startups, and provide food for thought you won’t find anywhere else.Now, let’s dive in.

What does it take to turn research into a thriving business? To build high-impact engineering teams?In this episode, we speak with Christof Roduner, co-founder of Scandit, about the journey from academia to entrepreneurship and the pivotal moments that shaped their success.Transitioning from research to business and the impact of the iPhone on software commercialization.The importance of speed, execution, and early customer feedback.Building a strong team and aligning engineering with business goals using OKRs.Insights on hiring top talent and avoiding common mistakes.Promoting transparency in career growth and testing ideas quickly.Want more insights? We break down the latest startup trends and have exclusive guests with hands-on advice on how to build a business - twice a week in our free newsletter. Sign up under followthegradient.io

Embark on a journey through the turbulent world of startups! Discover the VC treadmill and its impact on control and autonomy. Lea von Bidder shares her candid experiences with funding—and how bootstrapping can be a game changer. Delve into the emotional rollercoaster of startup failures and the stark reality behind glamorous success stories. Learn about the cultural nuances of entrepreneurship in Europe and why failure shouldn't define personal identity. This insightful discussion offers valuable lessons on resilience and finding balance in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Adrian Locher, a seasoned entrepreneur with a wealth of experience across continents, shares his profound journey through burnout and personal crisis. He discusses the hidden signs founders often ignore and emphasizes the need for genuine work-life balance. Adrian reveals his three-bucket rule for a healthier life and revisits the importance of mental health in the startup ecosystem. This conversation invites founders to rethink success beyond mere financial gain, advocating for happiness and well-being alongside ambition.

For many founders, an exit is the ultimate goal. But what happens after the deal is done? Is it the finish line—or just the start of a whole new challenge? Jessica Holzbach knows this firsthand. She’s a serial fintech founder and angel investor who co-founded Penta, scaled it to 35,000 SMEs, and later exited both Penta and her second venture, Pile. In this episode, we dive deep into three critical moments in every founder’s journey: Pivots: When do you know it’s time to change direction? And how do you pivot without losing your team? Exits: What founders often overlook, the emotional rollercoaster, and why selling your company isn’t always the fairy tale it seems. Starting Again: The single most important question to ask before launching your next venture. If you’re a founder, operator, or thinking about what’s next, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss. 🎧 Plus, get exclusive insights from Jessica in this week’s newsletter—sign up at followthegradient.io

At 20, Nils Feigenwinter co-founded Bling and turned a pocket money app into a full financial platform for families – covering banking, investing, and mobile plans. In this episode of Follow the Gradient, he breaks down how he scaled fast, raised funding without connections, and turned being underestimated into an advantage. What you'll learn: Flipping skepticism into an asset – Winning as a young founder. Fundraising without connections – How he got VCs to bet on him. Scaling without losing focus – When to expand vs. when to double down. Gen Z leadership – What startups get wrong about hiring & motivating young talent. The Child CEO experiment – Why Bling appointed a 12-year-old Chief Executive. 👉 Get exclusive insights from this episode at followthegradient.io

Leoni Runge, the founder and CEO of Zaya Care, shares her incredible journey of building a healthcare company while navigating the complexities of solo entrepreneurship. She discusses how she adapted her business model through strategic pivots and the importance of building a robust network in new markets. Leoni offers valuable insights on managing uncertainty with a step-by-step MVP approach and highlights the emotional challenges of being a solo founder. Her story is packed with practical advice for overcoming obstacles and building resilience.

In this episode, Lena Hackelöer, founder and CEO of Sweden-based Brite Payments, shares her journey scaling a fintech company across 27 markets and multiple verticals. From entering new markets without local teams to hiring senior talent and balancing frugality with growth, Lena offers valuable lessons on building a sustainable and efficient business. Key Takeaways: How to enter new markets without local teams Why personal outreach and customer recommendations matter in B2B Balancing vertical vs. regional sales strategies Lessons on hiring senior leaders at the right time The importance of maintaining a lean and cost-conscious approach 🎧 Tune in for practical advice on scaling your business, growing your team, and navigating the complexities of international expansion! Sign up for exclusive content from this episode and more at followthegradient.io. Connect with Us: 📬 Newsletter: ⁠followthegradient.io⁠ 🐦 X: ⁠@followgradient⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠@followthegradient⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠@followthegradient⁠ 🎵 TikTok: ⁠@followthegradient⁠

In our first episode of Season 2, Christina Stahl, Co-Founder of AMELI Zurich, shares how she and her husband turned an idea into a thriving handbag brand - starting with community feedback, DIY prototypes, and an authentic social media presence. From bootstrapping with personal savings to learning tough lessons in paid marketing and scaling internationally, Christina reveals the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways: How to build a community before launching your product The importance of testing fast and saving costs early on Lessons learned from managing everything in-house vs. hiring experts Why “done” is better than “perfect” when starting a business Strategies for staying energized while growing a startup 🎧 Tune in for actionable insights on starting small, embracing imperfection, and learning as you go! Sign up for exclusive content from this episode and more at followthegradient.io.