FlashpointSpeaks

What is driving the momentum in Italy’s startup ecosystem,  and what will it take to turn that momentum into global scale?In this episode, Alex Konoplyasty sits down with Gianluca D’Agostino to discuss why AI may be uniquely suited to Italy’s entrepreneurial landscape.They cover:• Why AI enables small, ambitious teams to build and launch faster than ever• The growing openness of Italian corporates to external innovation• What makes an Italian startup globally scalable• The need for more international capital, stronger founder networks and secondary liquidity• How growth equity, debt and early-stage investors can work together to support the next generation of companies

Italy’s startup ecosystem is growing, but what is still holding it back?In this podcast with Francesco Cerruti, Director General of Tech Italian Alliance, and Ilja Velickis, Associate Partner at Flashpoint Growth Debt , we take a closer look at the Italian tech landscape and discuss:→ Where the Italian startup ecosystem stands today→ Why growth debt remains underused→ What’s changing in the funding landscape→ The challenges investors and founders face→ Where Italy could see the next wave of growth, from robotics to space

In this episode, Ilja Velickis, Associate Partner at Flashpoint, and Cyril Golub, Board Member at Latvian Business Angel Network (LatBAN), dive deep into the reality of angel investing, from building an investment philosophy to creating meaningful relationships beyond transactions.They discuss the tough lessons behind angel investing, why chasing unicorns isn’t always the right strategy, and what really matters when keeping LPs happy. We also explore how AI is changing the startup landscape, why the value of code has disappeared while the value of software remains, and how AI is transforming due diligence and portfolio evaluation.

Henrik Zillmer, founder and first CEO of AirHelp, shares the story of building the company from early frustration with airline delays into a global leader in flight compensation. In conversation with Lukas Harustiak, Partner at Flashpoint, he reflects on the company’s early pivot from an information platform to a “no win, no fee” legal-tech business, its global launch strategy, and the role of Y Combinator in pushing the team toward automation and scale.

How did a lifelong passion for chess become a $100M+ global business?What were the early challenges of bootstrapping Chess.com, and how did moments of fate and serendipity shape the company?How is technology, including AI, transforming the game and the future of fair play?