Claim OwnershipThe Founders Peak Podcast
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© Where exceptional startup founders share untold stories that shaped who they are
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An exclusive podcast where we bring exceptional startup founders from around the world who each share their inspiration and a bag full of usable entrepreneurial insights from their journeys. So, if you are an aspiring founder, or busy fund-raising, or nearing a successful exit, or even feeling like you might go down fighting, there's something useful in here for you. Most talks are hosted and recorded LIVE with audiences at The Founders Peak Stage at the Global Finance & Technology Network's Forums around the world.
418 Episodes
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Welcome to Season 14 of The Founders Peak Podcast, live from a brand new city on our circuit: Tbilisi, Georgia! For the first time, we planted our flag at the Tbilisi Finance Summit to bring you unfiltered stories from nine exceptional founders from across the Silk Road. This season is all about resilience, reinvention, and the courage it takes to build something from nothing. Tune in for the real stories behind the startups.
What happens when a world-class chess Grandmaster, one of the few to hold a winning record against the legendary Garry Kasparov, steps away from the board? Joel Lautier shares his journey of reinvention, applying the strategic mind of a champion to the world of venture capital. In this talk, Joel offers a fascinating look at how the skills of a truth-seeker can be adapted to any new playing field, and how true reinvention is about evolution, not erasure.
What happens when you’re three days away from giving up on your dream? Nato Toronjadze shares the inspiring story of hitting rock bottom after leaving her corporate career to build a startup. This talk is a testament to how vision, friendship, and a sense of humor can help you find your breakthrough just when you’re about to quit.
Is quitting always a failure? Solo founder Lisa JY Tan argues that sometimes, it's the wisest move a founder can make. In this incredibly honest and vulnerable talk, Lisa explains why she chose to kill her first startup. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest choice isn’t to pivot, but to compost the entire meal and start cooking again.
After receiving 235 rejections from investors, Alex Tavkhelidze learned a vital lesson: confidence is a skill you build, not a trait you’re born with. In this talk, the Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur delivers a masterclass in self-belief, sharing how he went from being unable to speak clearly to winning pitching competitions and proving that your biggest obstacle is often your own self-doubt.
In the world of startups, crisis is inevitable. But what if you had an algorithm for resilience? Aleksi Khoroshvili, Founder & CEO of JSC Silk Bank, shares his powerful framework for finding opportunity in every challenge. This talk explores his 'resilience algorithm' and proves why the only true failure is giving up.
Sometimes the most powerful entrepreneurial move isn't a pivot or a new product—it's having the courage to quit. Hasan Hasanov tells the candid story of betting on himself, and how that one recurring thought can be the spark for extraordinary change. This talk is a powerful story about the realities of the founder’s journey and the courage it takes to build your own path.
What if the key to building the future of finance is to let go of control? Siddharth Shetty, a self-described “plumber of financial industry pipes,” shares his vision for the Finternet—a universal, open fabric for value. This talk explores how a snowboarding accident cracked open the illusion of control for him, unlocking a more intuitive and powerful way to build, lead, and live.
Many startups feel like they have nine lives, but few actually live to tell the tale. Davit Kvitsiani, co-founder & CEO of CNICK, shares the rollercoaster journey of his company, which was declared dead before being reborn. This is a powerful lesson in persistence and how sometimes you have to fail multiple times before finding your breakthrough product-market fit.
Welcome to Season 13 of The Founders Peak Podcast - recorded live from the Point Zero Forum 2025 in Zurich. This special edition hits different. Over two soulful hours on stage, six remarkable founders shared sharp, usable wisdom drawn from real-world building.From Silicon Valley’s shifting ethos to learning how to let go, from grief as entrepreneurial fuel to the raw truths behind leadership - these stories are deeply human, fiercely honest, and refreshingly unfiltered.If you’re done with startup hype and hungry for startup truth...you’re in the right place. Tune in!
Theremin player, horror film composer, and Tradeshift co-founder Gert Sylvest reflects on the Silicon Valley ethos that shaped him - and why it may be heading off course. In this powerful talk, he asks the question every founder must face: Where are we really going? A thought-provoking episode on tech, trust, and finding your true compass.
Dr. Lidia Kurt built her first computer with a screwdriver - and later built Switzerland’s first DLT trading system. In this bold, reflective talk, she shares the hard truths of letting go, rewriting the rules of global finance, and becoming a builder in uncharted territory. Grit, reinvention, and real talk.
What happens when the people who believe in you - your family, friends, mentors - also back your startup? CrowdSports co-founder Leroy Bächtold opens up about the guilt, pressure, and unexpected leadership lessons that come with raising money from your closest circle. A heartfelt and brutally honest listen.
At 18, he dreamed of windsurfing. Now, he’s leading two companies fighting financial crime. But it was one in-flight conversation that changed Joel Winteregg’s leadership forever. This is his candid journey of delegation, ego, and growth - and a lesson in what happens when holding on starts holding you back.
Monique Morrow didn’t plan to be a tech pioneer, but life had other plans. In this intimate talk, she shares how loss, rejection, and grief became unexpected sources of strength. Vulnerable, deeply human, and full of purpose - this episode shows that sometimes, our hardest moments forge our boldest missions.
Anton Bukov co-built 1inch in just 36 hours at a hackathon. Now, it moves over half a billion dollars a day. In this high-energy talk, he shares his journey from self-taught coder to DeFi pioneer - and the lessons every 2025 project builder should hear. It’s sharp, real, and straight from the code and chaos.
Russell Cummer, Founder, Paidy & AltX Research Our speaker Russell Cummer was born in Singapore, raised across Canada and Hong Kong, educated in the UK and California - and has spent the last two decades building in Japan. He’s the founder of Paidy, the fintech that transformed how millions shop online - and achieved Japan’s largest-ever venture exit with a 2.7-billion-dollar sale to PayPal. In his talk, 'The Team Sport of Business,' Russell reflects on what it really takes to build at scale - and why no founder, no matter how brilliant, can win alone.
Taejun Shin, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Gojo & Company Taejun Shin holds a black belt in karate, a 6th dan in Go, has run a 1,648 km ultra-marathon - and built a company that now serves over 2.4 million clients across five countries. But here’s what sets him apart: Taejun is stateless. He doesn’t hold a passport. And yet, he founded Gojo & Company - a startup working to become the private sector’s version of the World Bank. In his deeply touching talk, ‘Building for Global Financial Inclusion Without Even a Passport,’ Taejun shares how personal hardship, family sacrifice, and a deep belief in equality of opportunity led him to build for those most often left behind.
Mark Makdad, Director, Co-Founder, Moneytree KK Mark co-founded Moneytree KK, pioneered financial data aggregation in Japan, and helped shape the country's open banking movement - all while becoming fluent in Japanese and navigating startup life in a foreign land. But in ‘Rebound’, Mark pulls the curtain back on what building really costs - from almost missing payroll to almost losing himself. Yup! It's a story about love, risk, and the cheques founders write with their mouths when the startup can’t yet cash them. This one hits different.
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