EP 73 - The impact of AI on Startups, VC and Society with Frank Thelen
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
Release Date: 07/19/2023
EP 90 - Fueling fast-growth companies with Karel Dörner
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...
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EP 89 - Balancing growth and regulation in fintech with Tobias Auferoth
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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...
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EP 88 - Building AI chatbots for customer retention with Marco Dassisti
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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!🌟💡 ...
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EP 87 - The state of venture funding with Maximilian Eckel
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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...
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EP 86 - Sunhero and the Power of Solar Innovation with Christopher Cederskog
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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...
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Ep 85 - Building B2B Marketplaces for SaaS with Sergio Chavez
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
🌟 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...
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EP 84 - Inspiration session #11: The Oliver Samwer and Max Finger startup bible
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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...
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EP 83 - From strategy consultant to Global Top 20 LinkedIn Creator with Jeroen Kraaijenbrink
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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...
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EP 82 - Should startups promote a social vision with Murat Tarakci and Timo van Balen
The Most Awesome Founder Podcast
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...
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EP 81 - Creating and leading scaleups in the Middle East with Muhammad Chbib
The Most Awesome Founder 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...
info_outline🎧 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: