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This week’s Millennial Master is Oliver Yonchev, founder of cocreatd.

What does it take to break out of low-aspiration roots, ride the startup rollercoaster from failed indie rocker to Social Chain and then build a venture studio in the middle of an AI revolution? For Oliver Yonchev, the answer is relentless ambition, and a kinda toxic work ethic.

In this episode we get into everything:

* Building your self-belief when everyone around you doubts

* Why the US market nearly broke him, and how he bounced back

* How AI is raising the bar (and wiping out mediocrity fast)

* The truth about “sprints”, burnout, and why you should quit when you’re winning

* The future for founders who don’t want to play it safe

Plus: raw takes on branding, building, and why co-founders still matter in the era of agents and automations.

Tune in to the full episode, take notes, and don’t blame the country, you’ve got to raise your own bar.

🔗 Find Oliver on LinkedIn, Instagram and at cocreatd

Takeaways from Oliver’s episode

1️⃣ Self-belief is the real startup superpower

You’ll get more “no” than “yes”, so raise your aspirations, stay optimistic, and back yourself, even when nobody else does. For Oliver, self-belief turned low-aspiration beginnings into an entrepreneurial launchpad.

2️⃣ AI is raising the bar and mediocrity is over

AI isn’t just another trend. It’s killing average work, lowering the cost of building, and letting more founders move faster. If you’re not pushing for excellence, you’ll be left behind.

3️⃣ Distribution still beats product, unless your product is 50x better

Building a great product is table stakes. You need viral loops, killer branding, or something truly different to get noticed. The best distribution hacks come from building something worth sharing.

4️⃣ Quit while you’re ahead (really)

Most people stick around too long. Oliver swears by “quitting is for winners”; use momentum to move to bigger things, not as a reason to get comfortable.

5️⃣ Founders who adapt win, especially in the era of agents and automation

The old rules of loyalty and linear careers are gone. Build agency over your own life, experiment with side projects, and never outsource your drive to anyone or anything (even AI).

📚 Oliver’s book recommendations

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz — A classic on the realities of running a business, tackling the tough decisions and brutal truths most founders face.

Zero to One by Peter Thiel — Deep, occasionally complex, but packed with sharp insights for anyone building something new.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield — A short but powerful book on overcoming resistance and procrastination—especially useful for anyone who switches modes or struggles with getting started.

In this episode we cover:

00:00 Introduction to Oliver Yonchev

02:18 From Barnsley to Bartlett Co-Founder

06:55 The Birth of Social Chain: A Facebook DM That Changed Everything

15:56 Navigating the US Market: Lessons Learned

22:00 Knowing When to Move On: The Decision to Start Again

28:04 Co-Created: A New Venture Studio for Founders

36:17 The UK Startup Ecosystem: Opportunities and Challenges

38:50 UK Startup Investment Incentives and the Exodus to Dubai

47:52 The AI Age and The Importance of Distribution

56:32 Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Product Development

01:02:49 Balance & Productivity While Hustling

01:06:03 Tech Stack and Key Readings for Entrepreneurs

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