E90: How a Backpack Hustle Led to Ryte, Semrush & Europe’s Biggest Founders Festival | Andy Bruckschlöegl
Description
In this episode of Perception Paradox, Zivile Einikyte sits down with Andy Bruckschlöegl, whose entrepreneurial path started selling backpacks on eBay at age 12 and led him to co-found Ryte—recently acquired by Semrush—and Europe’s largest founders’ festival, Bits & Pretzels.
Andy shares:
- How humble beginnings turned into ambitious ventures
- The secret sauce behind designing events that foster real community and serendipity
- Navigating acquisitions, co-founder dynamics, and the grind of balancing multiple ventures
- Why the toughest moments taught him more than the highs—and why persistence is everything
Whether you’re building a startup, a community, or just want to crack open authentic founder wisdom—this one delivers.
Connect with Andy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruckschloegl/ More about Bits & Pretzels: https://www.bitsandpretzels.com/
🎙️ Hosted by Zivile Einikyte:
https://www.perceptionparadox.com
LinkedIn:
🎵 Music by Luca Nioi:
http://www.lucanioi.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
04:36 The Birth of Bits and Pretzels
06:58 From Breakfast to Oktoberfest: The Evolution of an Event
09:54 Networking Challenges and Solutions
12:41 The Importance of Community in Entrepreneurship
15:29 Attracting Big Names: The Secret Sauce
18:30 The Shift Towards Business Value
21:26 Building an International Audience
23:42 The Role of Founders in Shaping Events
26:28 The Future of Bits and Pretzels
29:40 Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
36:21 The Importance of Role Models in Entrepreneurship
37:57 Finding Community and Support
39:54 Balancing Personal Problems with Market Needs
43:46 The Value of Co-Founders
46:25 Navigating Conflict in Co-Founder Relationships
50:27 Managing Multiple Ventures
52:05 Reflecting on Past Decisions
57:51 Transitioning After Acquisition
59:42 Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
United States
