The Most Awesome Founder Podcast

Episode 90 of the Most Awesome Founder podcast and we are pleased to welcome Karel Dörner! Karel is one of the earliest role models of the WHU entrepreneurship spirit; from the dorm rooms of WHU to co-founding eBay competitor Alando, it took him only a few months. Moreover, leaving McKinsey to found a startup with buddies from university when founding was yet to be considered an outstanding career option takes guts and a strong-minded person willing to take a risk. With a blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights, Karel unveils the highs and lows of startup life and the wisdom gained from his many business endeavors. Tune in to find out how, in the end, he found his way back to top-tier consulting and can still transform high-growth startups today.   Chapters: (0:08) Intro to the episode (0:44) Karel’s professional background: from founding alando to joining McKinsey  (13:35) Are there parallels between doing business in 1998 and today?   (27:30) How do you make an exit decision as a young founder? (33:12) How can consultancies help fast-growing companies  (37:55) Changing external environments for fast-growing startups (42:40) The startup ecosystem approach (48:00) The public sector as a lead customer – a model for Germany? (53:14) When is the right point to exit as a founder  (59:30) Books & podcast suggestions   Karel's recommendations: Startup Insider Podcast Benedict Evans Flyvberg, Gardner- How Big Things Get Done

In this episode, we delve into Tobias Auferoth's career journey, which led him from an beginning at Goldman Sachs to a pivotal turn toward entrepreneurship and technology in fintech. As the co-founder and managing director of the fintech startup Upvest, Tobias shares his insights on creating a groundbreaking investment API, demystifying the complexities of financial technologies for our audience. With clients like Revolut, Raisin, and N26, his company exemplifies the fusion of traditional finance with modern technology, offering seamless integration of securities trading into existing platforms. This conversation highlights the challenges of navigating a highly regulated industry and emphasizes the importance of trust, innovation, and the delicate balance between rapid growth and compliance. Dive into this episode to explore the intersection of regulation and innovation, where the future of finance is being redrawn 🚀💼🔍   Chapters: (0:35) Tobias gives an intro to his background (2:50) Why was the reasoning for co-founding Upvest (4:25) What is Upvest’s investment API about?  (8:05) The role of trust in a B2B fintech (10:53) How can a startup grow in a heavily regulated industry? (14:30) The need for VC involvement in Upvest (16:10) What is the culture and mindset in Upvest?  (20:08) The overall state of the fintech industry (22:45) What is the best way to enter the finance industry as a career path? (26:20) Podcast and book recommendations   Tobias‘ recommendations: Janosch Kühn - Mach keinen Quatsch

Join us on the WHU Most Awesome Founder Podcast as we dive into the world of entrepreneurship with Marco Dassisti, a seasoned alumnus of WHU's MBA program and the founder of kitchX and Qualimero.🔊🚀  Discover the highs and lows of building a startup, the power of conversational commerce, and the future of WhatsApp as a sales channel. From the challenges of scalability to the excitement of creating a new venture, Marco shares valuable insights and lessons learned along the way.🔥  Don't miss this engaging conversation packed with inspiration and practical wisdom!🌟💡   Chapters: (1:00) Introduction to Marco's Background (3:15) Discussing the Problem of Scalability in the Case of kitchX (5:40) Explaining What Qualimero is All About (9:00) Overview of the Current Lead Journey and Their Pain Points (10:00) How Qualimero Addresses These Pain Points (11:10) Importance of Quality Assurance for LLm in Sales (14:30) Exploring Why Conversion of Customers is Difficult for Startups (16:30) The Drive of Being an Entrepreneur and Lessons Learned from kitchX (20:50) Analyzing the Future of Whatsapp in the Context of Meta (24:00) Discussion on German Conservatism (25:15) Insights into Intrapreneurship at OBI (30:00) Comparing No Code vs. Having a Technical Co-Founder (34:20) MBA Program of WHU and Entrepreneurship (36:25) Podcast and Book Recommendations   Marco's recommendations: How Big Things Get Done

Dive into the heart of Germany's startup ecosystem with our latest podcast episode, where we explore the vibrant yet challenging landscape of entrepreneurship in this dynamic country. Despite being a hub of innovation and potential, German startups face unique hurdles, from stringent regulations to the quest for funding. Our episode sheds light on these intricacies through the lens of industry insiders, offering a rare glimpse into what it takes to thrive in Germany's competitive startup arena. 🚀🇩🇪 Join us as we dissect the layers of support and struggle that define the German startup journey, from the early stages of ideation to the complexities of scaling globally. Our guests share their firsthand experiences, navigating through bureaucratic tangles, cultural nuances, and the ever-evolving digital landscape. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the realities of startup success and the resilience it demands in Germany's unique ecosystem. 🌐💼   Chapters: (1:00) Max's background (8:50) The role of WHU in the venture funding landscape in Germany (14:20) Outside perspective on WHU's startup ecosystem (19:00) Deeptech startups and WHU students (24:20) More Hands-on entrepreneurial mentality or traditional success Path? (30:40) Is WHU's startup mentality sustainable? (32:35) What's the startup motivation for WHU students? (40:05) The undervalued potential of bootstrapping startups (43:00) Funding report discussion (53:40) Why deeptech has no proper VC funds (1:04:00) Overview of the WHU ecosystem (1:17:10) Books and podcast suggestions   Book recommendations: The Circle Amazon.com: The Circle: 9781594139611: Eggers, Dave: Bücher A Canticle for Leibowitz Amazon.com: A Canticle for Leibowitz: 9780553273816: Walter M. Miller Jr.: Bücher A Swim in a Pond in the Rain Amazon.com: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: From the Man Booker Prize-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Lincoln in the Bardo: 9781526624284: Saunders, George: Bücher   Podcast recommendations: Startup insider Startup Insider | Podcast Startup Insider (startup-insider.com) Deutsche-Startups Podcast - Alle Nachrichten und Informationen, News, Tipps und Infos zu Podcast - deutsche-startups.de Unicorn Bakery Unicorn Bakery - Der Startup Podcast mit Fabian Tausch

Strap in for a riveting new episode on 'The Most Awesome Founder Podcast' as our hosts, Dries Faems and Gerrit McGowan, are joined by strategic mastermind Jeroen Kraaijenbrink. Jeroen shares captivating real-life experiences that he acquired while working on strategic matters with all kinds of clients from the corporate and startup world. Coming from an academic background, he gives insights into his method-oriented approach to strategy and how he aligns his work style with the customers. But that's not all – with a staggering 200k+ followers on LinkedIn and a spot in the Top 20 Global Content Creators, Jeroen is not just a strategist but a digital influencer powerhouse. Hungry for tips on amplifying your online presence? He's got insider secrets you won't want to miss. If you are into strategy, make sure to catch this episode.   Chapters: (1:00) Christopher's background (2:30) Reasons for founding sunhero (3:40) Building a solar system journey (5:40) Factors influencing solar business (8:10) Sunhero's business model (12:00) Education in the solar industry (15:15) Debt financing usage (17:30) Challenges for german startups (20:50) Pitfalls of international expansion (27:00) Cultural considerations (29:45) Spanish and german mentalities (32:30) Hiring in different countries (33:50) Core principles of sunhero (36:50) Data-Driven decision-making  - always? (42:40) Tips for early stage entrepreneurs (48:00) Book and podcast recommendations   Chapters: Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling : Dicks, Matthew, Kennedy, Dan: Amazon.de: Books Lenny's Podcast (lennyspodcast.com)  

🌟 Welcome to the first episode of 2024 on 'The Most Awesome Founder Podcast'! Join our esteemed host, Dries Faems, as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Sergio G. Chavez, the innovative head of marketplace and partnerships at Sastrify. Sergio, with his rich international experience in Germany, delves into the intricate world of partnership management and its unique challenges, while also unveiling Sastrify's ambitious vision of creating a comprehensive solution for SaaS procurement and management. Sergio brings to light intriguing misconceptions and hurdles he faced while carving out his international career in Germany. A particularly fascinating insight he shares revolves around the critical role of German language proficiency in customer-facing roles within the DACH region. The episode takes a deep dive into contrasting perspectives on partnerships held by different generations, probing into the perennial debate of quality versus quantity in professional relationships. 🤝 This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of international career building, the evolving landscape of partnership management, and the pioneering strides in SaaS solutions. Get ready to be captivated by Sergio's journey and insights that could reshape your view of global professional dynamics.   Chapters: (0:08) Introduction (0:50) Sergio's backstory (3:20) Motivation for jumping into a Startup as an MBA. (8:00) What Sastrify is all about. (13:20) Sastrify in the forcefield between their customers and SaaS Vendors. (16:20) The problem with current SaaS B2B Sales.  (20:30) How Sastrify as a SaaS marketplace uses its money. (23:20) Partnership management and its unique challenges (27:00) Quantity vs. Quality in partnerships. (29:10) Different perspectives on partnerships. (32:30) Helping international professionals to build a career in Germany. (35:25) Core challenges and misconceptions for building a career as an international professional. (55:00) Sergio's book and podcast recommendations   Sergio's recommendations: Venture Deals by Brad Feld The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem by Brad Feld   All in Podcast   Startup Insider

Welcome to our last episode in 2023! 🚀 This episode takes a unique twist as we journey 25 years back in time to dissect a master thesis that was written by two of the German entrepreneurship world's most influential figures – Oliver Samwer & Max Finger. 📜 Oliver & Max, renowned for their groundbreaking entrepreneurial ventures, penned this remarkable thesis called "America's Most Succesful Startups" at the dawn of their illustrious career when doing their masters at WHU. Now, Dries and Gerrit dive deep into the pages of history to meticulously examine the propositions made, debating their relevance in today's fast-paced entrepreneurial landscape and whether the two founders walked the talk on their self-proclaimed recommendations. 💡 Some of the results indeed were visionary for the time, while other principles seem to have been forgotten...It's not just a look back; it's a conversation about enduring principles in the ever-changing world of entrepreneurship. We wish all our listeners delightful holidays and a happy new year!     Chapters: (0:08) Intro to the episode  (3:50) First impressions of the thesis from Gerrit (7:25) First impressions of the thesis from Dries (11:50) Discussing visionary propositions: Spend a tremendous amount of time and for market research (16:25) Hire people who have failed (23:30) Be open with your idea (26:30) Put your ego aside and let your ideas flow (35:00) Never solely rely on a regulatory environment for an advantage (42:05) Discussing ironic propositions: Do not steal ideas and pay attention to the terms of your employment contract (47:40) Try to get an educational background and an experience that support the venture  (55:06) Choose an opportunity that does not have a lot of competition (1:06:50) How would such a master thesis look like today?

Strap in for a riveting new episode on 'The Most Awesome Founder Podcast' as our hosts, Dries Faems and Gerrit McGowan, are joined by strategic mastermind Jeroen Kraaijenbrink. Jeroen shares captivating real-life experiences that he acquired while working on strategic matters with all kinds of clients from the corporate and startup world. Coming from an academic background, he gives insights into his method-oriented approach to strategy and how he aligns his work style with the customers. But that's not all – with a staggering 200k+ followers on LinkedIn and a spot in the Top 20 Global Content Creators, Jeroen is not just a strategist but a digital influencer powerhouse. Hungry for tips on amplifying your online presence? He's got insider secrets you won't want to miss. If you are into strategy, make sure to catch this episode. Stay tuned!   Chapters: (0:09) Dries introduction to our guest, Jeroen Kraaijenbrink (0:52) Jeroen's professional trajectory in a nutshell (3:53) The role of Jeroen's academic background in his consultancy work (06:35) Gerrit's perspective on educational experience (09:59) Does consulting work for corporates and startups differ? (15:17) How does Jeroen's strategy approach relate to entrepreneurial iterative processes like the lean startup concept? (19:00) The most predominant strategy myths (21:57) Dealing with diverging stakeholders (24:52) Avoiding being the "scapegoat" as a strategy consultant (25:57) Jeroen's self-help book "No more bananas" (30:03) The power of storytelling in strategy consulting (37:26) Jeroen's success on LinkedIn (43:17) LinkedIn as a channel for customer acquisition (48:15) Authenticity and topics on LinkedIn (54:19) Jeroen's recommendations   Jeroen’s recommendations: David McLean – LinkedIn Monte Pedersen - LinkedIn

This episode is for everybody who wants to get a bit nerdy with top-notch entrepreneurship research. We are excited to welcome the two renowned scholars Murat Tarakci & Timo van Balen to gain insights into their electrifying research about how startups with a social vision struggle to attract job talent. Gerrit’s trajectory perfectly complements this academic understanding as the founder of a nonprofit startup and inevitably leads to fascinating discussions. Revisiting some of our most commonly discussed topics, like message-market-fit, communication strategies for startups, and the struggles of building a solid recruiting strategy, but this time with the sound support of top-level research.   Chapters: (0:10) Intro to the episode (1:20) Murat’s background story (2:40) Timo’s background story (4:38) Why did Timo join a startup after his PhD?  (6:10) Topic and motivation for the paper  (10:55) Gerrit’s view on the social vision (15:20) The message depends on the audience   (18:00) The different pools for applicants    (21:10) Employees as „rational actors“?    (26:08) Discussing the results that a stronger social purpose leads to fewer applicants for the startup    (30:51) Using other channels to lure applicants  (34:20) Storytelling in communicating social visions (39:25) Implications for practitioners when formulating a communication strategy (43:05) Message market fit (47:00) How do Mura & Timo integrate the results into their teaching? (51:58) Faking a social purpose (58:56) Murat’s recommendation  (1:00:40) Timo’s podcast recommendation   Murat’s recommendation Ethan Mollick - The Unicorn's Shadow Ron Adner - Winning the right game   Timo’s recommenation SF Masterworks Revolutions podcast

The 81st edition of the Most Awesome Founder Podcast with Dries & Gerrit is just around the corner! We delve into the fascinating world of startups and cross-cultural business dynamics with our guest, experienced founder, business angel and WHU alum, Muhammad Chbib. Muhammad shares his valuable insights and experiences in the startup world and describes his journey from Germany to Dubai and back again and, how it has shaped his approach to entrepreneurship and the lessons he has learned along the way. 🚀 Muhammad's expertise and perspective shed light on the significance of building connections, navigating cultural nuances, and seizing opportunities in Arabic markets. 🌟 He also emphasizes the need to adapt and respect the ways of the culture in order to succeed. His critical perspective on some aspects of how he feels a colonist mentality by Westerners sparks a lively discussion that is now more relevant than ever. Take advantage of this thought-provoking conversation!   Chapters: (0:09) Intro to the episode (1:11) Muhammad’s background story (4:58) From a startup to a consulting mindset (10:40) What was the motivation for venturing into the Middle East (17:22) How did the startup landscape in the Middle East look like back then? (21:45) Navigating through region-specific relationships, dynamics and networks (28:53) What is Muhammad’s view on the Berlin startup scene? (33:00) What are control freak investors, and how do they relate to the lack of diversity in the German mindset?  (36:40) Underrepresentation of people with an immigration background in the German startup scene (40:25) German VC getting active in the Middle East (47:20) Different norms & values and how to deal with it (56:45) Working in other cultures as a Westerner (58:10) What is a „First 1000 days guy“? (01:03:40) Muhammad's media recommendations    Muhammad's podcast recommendation: Gysi gegen Guttenberg - Der Deutschland Podcast

We are excited to unveil the 10th installment of the inspiration session, featuring our co-hosts GerritMcGowan and Dries Faems. They discuss a captivating mixture of different topics in the realm of entrepreneurship from an academic and a practitioner perspective, such as: •    Why aren't there more sustainability-driven unicorns, although badly needed •    Which startups get supported by government grants •    What the academic research on the controversial topic of hybrid work yielded •    The next big thing on the horizon: quantum computing  And have you always wanted to know how to create the boyfriend/girlfriend of your dreams? Then, gear up for a rollercoaster of knowledge, reflection, and pure amusement! You won't want to miss this exhilarating episode!🔍   Chapters: (0:10) Intro of Gerrit (2:30) What is something that made Dries learn?  (3:40) Did Gerrit apply for governmental funding for one of his startups? (7:45) Subsidy entrepreneurs: An inquiry into firms seeking public grants (15:40) Which startups should get supported by grants? (23:15) What is something that made Gerrit learn?  (28:23) Why aren’t there more social unicorns? (37:15) What could Gerrit have done differently for his own social venture? (41:58) The growing importance of social ventures (47:55) Something that made Dries learn (55:28) Deep dive into the paper: How hybrid working from home works out (1:04:55) Something that made Gerrit learn (1:11:30) Are we prepared for quantum computing? Did we learn something from AI? (1:20:31) Something that made Dries laugh (1:27:40) Something that made Gerrit laugh (1:36:30) Outro   Discussed sources: Something that made you learn: Gustafsson, A., Tingvall, P. G., & Halvarsson, D. (2020). Subsidy entrepreneurs: An inquiry into firms seeking public grants. Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, 20(3), 439-478. Chang, A. M. (2018). Lean impact: How to innovate for radically greater social good   Something that made you learn: Bloom, N., Han, R., & Liang, J. (2022). How hybrid working from home works out (No. w30292). National Bureau of Economic Research Wadhwa, V., & Kop, M. (2022, October 4). Quantum computing is even more dangerous than artificial intelligence. Foreign Policy    Something that made you laugh: https://lnkd.in/es5rkdqD  Marr, B. (2023, September 28). Artificial Intimacy: How Generative AI Can Now Create Your Dream Girlfriend. Forbes  

We are over the moon to have Dana Menzel on board for episode 78 of the Most Awesome Founder Podcast. Dana's entrepreneurial path is impressively versatile. She started as a goldsmith, mastering the art of this filigree craft, and turned this into her first thriving jewellery business. Now, she is leaping into a whole new area, and we are excited to hear about this! With roots spanning across international borders, Dana is carving out a space for herself as a female entrepreneur. She talks about the most significant challenges as a female entrepreneur in Germany, how she masters them, and what qualities she looks for in a co-founder. An MBA and WHU accelerator graduate, Dana speaks to her education's instrumental role in equipping her with the tools and networks vital in breathing life into her idea of a platform born from a desire to uplift women through financial literacy and independence since her master's thesis provided some shocking insights in that regard.   Chapters: (0:10) Dries introduction to the episode (0:40) Dana's background (3:40) The intention of doing a goldsmith apprenticeship (5:30) How did Dana pivot from a goldsmith to a more business life (10:45) Dana talks about her newest endeavor, "Sayhitofinance "  (13:50) How the idea came to pass: women often don't deal with their finances themselves (16:10) Community-building aspect of Sayhitofinance and how it benefits women (21:15) What is the most challenging thing about being a female entrepreneur in Germany? (27:55) The choice of being a solo founder and what a perfect co-founder would look like for Dana (29:53) Advice for female entrepreneurs from Dana's own experiences (32:05) Dana's recommendations for podcast & books     Dana‘s recommendations: FAST & CURIOUS Panda Mama: Wie man glückliche und selbstbewusste Kinder großzieht

We're kicking off our new season with a bang! A dive deep into the world of angel investing with none other than Oskar Hartmann.🌍✨ His outstanding track record: 14 (!) of his startup investments have reached unicorn status, he's one of the 1000 wealthiest Germans, and in his spare time? He cracks world records in indoor rowing 🥴🏆 Alongside our brilliant hosts Dries Faems & Gerrit McGowan, Oskar unveils the intricacies of spotting unicorns, what he learns from Olympic champions, and how to source for business opportunities from Africa to South America 🦄🚀 By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with a treasure trove of insights into the culture of risk, pinpointing unparalleled opportunities and the magic of unconventional thinking. Let Oskar's unparalleled experiences and tales inspire you to transcend your limits and chase excellence! 💡🌟   Chapters: (0:00) Dries introduction to our guest, Oskar Hartmann (0:45) Oskar's journey from an "explorer" to an entrepreneur (5:35) Getting ideas from other markets to detect current trends (10:20) Is the US still a role model for entrepreneurship ideation? (14:28) Germany's role in the global founder sphere (18:48) Oskar's explanation for his huge investment success (27:48) Accessing international investment opportunities and avoiding adverse selection (32:55) Oskar's rationale behind his investing decision  (37:40) Investing in a team rather than a market or an idea? (42:28) Oskar's extreme recreational activities (48:35) Recovery time while building companies and future endeavors   (53:45) Oskar's book recommendations     Oskar‘s book recommendation: The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

In today's episode 79, Dries & Gerrit explore the toll it can take on a founder's mental health whilst trying to materialize his entrepreneurial dream into a reality, and they have an excellent guest for that matter: Prof. Ute Stephan, a renowned entrepreneurship scholar from King's College and an outstanding expert on entrepreneurial wellbeing and founder stress. The three plunge into the fascinating topic of how entrepreneurs' wellbeing directly impacts the success of their ventures and the vital role strict leisure time management can play. 💼 How can one implement coping strategies to avoid getting caught in a cycle of overwork and why meticulously tracking health and fitness can be a curse and blessing? 📆 Dive into a captivating episode where personal journeys intertwine with cutting-edge entrepreneurship research, all shining a spotlight on mental health. Check on yourself and, if you can, on others!   Chapters: (0:08) Introduction of Dries (0:50) Ute's backstory (3:53) What drove Ute as a psychologist to research Entrepreneurs? (7:22) Is wellbeing and mental health a "first world problem"? (10:15) What are overarching meta-analysis results regarding entrepreneur's wellbeing? (13:10) Being in control vs being "employed" by a VC  (16:25) How does growing responsibility impact a founder's mental health (19:20) Effect of the Covid pandemic (21:14) Strategies to deal with the stressful challenges (26:48) Motivation and goals as coping strategies (31:20) How did Gerrit notice that his mental health was deteriorating? (35:25) Which techniques does Gerrit apply today? (41:10) Generation Z and the relationship to hustle culture (44:28) The culture of failure in different nations and how that relates to distress (46:50) Drugs to mitigate stress or depression (49:30) How to not get stressed by avoiding stress (55:00) Ute's book recommendations   Ute‘s book recommendation: Davies, J. - Sedated: How Modern Capitalism Created our Mental Health Crisis   Further resources: FoundersTaboo Founder Mental Health Pledge King’s College London – LinkedIn King’s College London – Twitter

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with successful entrepreneur Björn Maronde in the newest episode of the Most Awesome Founder Podcast! Björn shares his personal background, the pivotal moments that led him to entrepreneurship, and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. 📚💡 You'll discover how an executive MBA played a role in shaping his entrepreneurial career and how he navigated the challenges of starting a business with a close friend. 🤝 Björn also reveals the importance of product-market fit and the challenges of expanding into multiple markets simultaneously. 🚀 So, whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this podcast episode is a must-listen. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strategies that will propel your startup journey.   Chapters: (0:20) Dries introduction to the episode (0:40) Björn's entrepreneurship trajectory and the influence of doing an MBA (2:45) Capabilities and skills required for founding  (4:00) Björn's first entrepreneurial activities (6:25) Real estate crowdfunding platform Exporo (8:30) Founding a startup with your best friend (11:40) Björn's most recent startup Smace (16:25) Learnings as a serial entrepreneur (17:55) Scaling and product market fit (21:30) Balancing private and business life as an entrepreneur (24:30) Advantages of an experienced founder (27:30) Generative AI in Björn’s startup (29:25) Participating in an accelerator as a more experienced founder (32:00) Objectives and challenges with current product market fit (34:00) Advice for Björn's younger self (36:15) Björn’s book recommendation     Björn’s book recommendations: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life.

Our next guest on the Most Awesome Founder podcast: Roman Kirsch! 🎙️ Roman will be sharing his high-paced entrepreneurial journey, characterized by his story of perseverance, hard work, and why sometimes naivety can be beneficial. Discover Roman’s passion for building new ventures that led to various well-known and flourishing startups but also some non-successes and how he dealt with them. Roman also discusses his insights from switching from an entrepreneur to an investor role, the importance of a startup’s idea vs. its team, and why serial founding can almost be addictive. 💉 We hope this unique founder story will stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of our listeners!   Chapters: (0:55) Intro of Dries (2:05) Roman's entrepreneurial start (7:35) The process of Roman's first founding   (12:20) Acquiring funding in a recession (14:30) Getting first funding (20:00) Doing a financially lucrative exit as a 23-year-old  (25:40) Experiences from moving as an entrepreneur to a more corporate environment (29:30) The difference between American and German startup culture (32:32) The story behind Amorelie (36:45) What does it mean to have a focus? (38:35) Lessons of Casacanda for future endeavors? (42:03) The emotional side of being an e-commerce wunderkind (47:15) Raising as a successful entrepreneur  (48:25) The end of Lesara and fighting against subsidized competitors (55:20) Failing for the first time as a wunderkind (58:45) Would you invest in a failed entrepreneur? (1:01:05) Roman's latest entrepreneurial activities (1:08:40) Team, idea and pivoting (1:10:55) Roman's role as entrepreneur and investor (1:15:00) Roman's recommendations for books (1:17:30)   Roman’s book recommendations: Skin in the game: Hidden Symmetries in Daily Life Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions Thinking, Fast and Slow Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the 9th edition of the inspiration session with Gerrit and Dries! 🎉 They will once more discuss diverse and thought-provoking topics, combining insights from an academic and a practitioner perspective. What are the legal implications of AI-generated inventions, which entrepreneurs should consider entering a venture studio and why women should be careful if their boss plays golf? These and other questions will be answered, so be prepared to learn, think, and laugh. Don't miss this captivating episode! 🔍   Discussed sources: Dahlander, Linus, et al. "Blinded by the person? Experimental evidence from idea evaluation." Strategic Management Journal (2023). Steve Lohr: Can AI invent? The New York Times, July 15, 2023 Biggerstaff, Lee E., Joanna T. Campbell, and Bradley A. Goldie. "Hitting the “Grass Ceiling”: Golfing CEOs, Exclusionary Schema, and Career Outcomes for Female Executives." Journal of Management (2023) Steve Blank: Entrepreneurs, Is a venture studio right for you? Harvard Business Review, December, 2022 Chen, Lingjiao, Matei Zaharia, and James Zou. "How is ChatGPT's behavior changing over time?." arXiv preprint arXiv:2307.09009 (2023) Truic Startup Savant Blog: 10 Strange, Yet Successful, Startups   Chapters: (1:20) Intro of Gerrit (2:20) Something that made Dries learn: Blinded by the person in idea evaluation? (3:40) Most prominent cognitive biases when evaluating pitches  (9:45) Practical takeaways from that paper    (16:15) Something that made Gerrit learn: Can AI invent? (20:40) Should AI inventions get protected by patents? (22:10) Is AI the tool or the inventor? (30:00) Something that made Dries think: Hitting the grass ceiling (33:30) Potential exclusive „grass ceilings“ in entrepreneurship (39:30) Female representation in German companies (43:40) Something that made Gerrit think: Is a venture studio right for you? (49:30) Why are venture studios more common in Europe? (51:20) Four types of venture studios (56:30) Potential choosing criteria regarding venture studios (1:05:30) Something that made Dries laugh: ChatGPT’s behavior changing over time (1:12:25) Something that made Gerrit laugh: four strange but successful startups (1:22:30) Outro

🎧 We are thrilled to announce a new episode of The Most Awesome Founder Podcast, featuring one of Germany's most prominent deep tech investors, Frank Thelen. In this wide-ranging discussion, Frank shares his perspective on how AI and generative technologies are beginning to reshape the startup and venture capital landscapes. 🚀 While AI promises to turbocharge innovation and efficiency, Frank cautions that many startups are simply slapping an "AI startup" label on their pitch decks without true breakthroughs. Real advances require deep research and teams willing to eat glass for years before product-market fit. We also dive into the opportunities and limitations of using AI in deal flow analysis and startup evaluation. While AI can help sort prospects, Frank emphasizes that human judgment around founding teams and markets remains critical - not something algorithms can replicate (yet!). 🤖💡 With his characteristic candor, Frank voices his views on creating a thriving European tech ecosystem and why he engages in spirited LinkedIn debates on issues like work-life balance and how to balance innovation with ethics. If you're an investor, founder, or tech enthusiast, this thought-provoking episode is not to be missed. Tune in across platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify to hear our free-wheeling exchange. After listening, we'd love to hear your key takeaways in the comments! 🌟   Chapters (0:00) Teaser (1:00) Introduction by Dries  (2:15) Frank’s Background  (4:00) Do you already see specific changes in how startups are working with generative AI? (6:10) Buzz Word Bingo with AI (6:37) Are there any revolutionary startups within AI? (8:50) Are you scaling back your investments in AI startups? (12:12) Where is room for creating an unfair advantage in AI startups? (15:00) Your perspective on how AI will transform the venture capital world (18:30) How can you leverage the data from software to create an unfair advantage? (21:00) Do you think the whole value chain of venture capital will be automated from sourcing to investing? (24:10) Will there be a shift in how funds are set up? (27:40) What is your opinion on how regulation regarding AI in the EU is moving? (31:26) Do you see regulatory risks? (33:25) How should the tension between the opinions on data regulations be dealt with? (36:30) Why do you post about heated topics on LinkedIn? (41:30) What is your rationale behind posting on social media? (45:00) Book, Podcast, and Music recommendations (45:50) Who will win the fight, Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg? (47:00) Thank you for listening!   Frank's podcast recommendation: All-In Podcast

🔥🚀  We're thrilled to spotlight the incredible journey of Kiran Banakar, one of our founders from this year's WHU accelerator batch. From grappling with the challenge of finding friends to scaling the heights of entrepreneurship, Kiran's story is nothing short of inspiring. 🌟 Kiran will be peeling back the curtain on his success as an entrepreneur in Germany, sharing the invaluable lessons he's gleaned from his tenure as a patent attorney and revealing how his company is harnessing the power of AI to revolutionize customer relationship building. 🤖💡 But that's not all! Kiran will also delve into his personal experiences, growing up in a multicultural environment, and how it has shaped his unique approach to leadership. 🌍👨‍💼 Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear Kiran's story and extract precious insights that could be the game-changer in your entrepreneurial journey. Tune in, get inspired, and let's accelerate together! 🚀💼🎯   Chapters: (0:40) Intro to our guest Kiran Banakar (2:02) Kiran's upbringing in Germany (3:30) Balancing two cultures in your childhood (5:50) Kiran's trajectory at RWTH (7:45) What does a patent attorney do, and what experiences Kiran had while working as one? (12:45) From investing interest to a leap to entrepreneurship (16:45) What does Kiran's startup do? (19:20) The pain point compelling addresses (24:20) AI as an integral element of compelling  (27:10) The experience as a multicultural entrepreneur in Germany (32:03) Communication strategies with investors (34:15) What does Kiran learn in the WHU accelerator? (42:10) Kiran's book and Podcast recommendations   Guest recommendations: Personal History by Katharine Graham  How I Built This with Guy Raz

We are thrilled to welcome Andre Retterath to episode #71 of our podcast. Andre is one of the leading figures in disrupting the traditional VC landscape by implementing data-driven approaches to improve decision-making. So tune in to hear interesting use cases, why the days of purely gut-based decisions investing seem to be over and what the future might look like.  If you want to not miss out on any new developments, you can also check out Andre’s newsletter: Data-driven VC.io   Chapters: (0:50) Intro from Dries to our guest Dr. Andre Retterath (2:05) Andre talks about his professional career (4:35) How could Andre leverage his Ph.D. for his later practical career? (7:45) Andre talks about the challenges of disrupting the VC industry  (12:03) Data as a tool to level the playing field (17:05) How to use data analytics in entrepreneurship as an outlier game (22:10) What kind of data quality does one need to do data analytics in VC  (28:10) The relationship between VC strategy, market and data (34:10) How good is the predictive power of a data-driven approach that’s reliant on historical data (40:35) Future developments of machine learning approaches (45:10) How does Earlybird specifically use LLMs (large language models)? (49:10) The usage of LLMs in general (51:40) Is it better to invest in a failed founder or one that never failed before? (53:25) Does founder education matter? (55:05) Does diversity matter in founder or investor teams? (57:45) Can a data-driven approach also mitigate co-founder conflict? (1:03:00) Andre's book recommendations   Guest recommendations: Principles: Life and Work No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention