The Startup Journey Podcast

When Daniel Lenton completed his PhD in Machine Learning, he quickly realised that the hardest part of building AI products wasn’t the models, it was the infrastructure around them. That insight led him to found Unify, a platform designed to help teams deploy, scale, and manage AI systems in production.

In this episode of The Startup Journey Podcast, Daniel breaks down the realities of building a deep-tech startup in one of the most competitive fields today, including:

• How Unify was born out of the challenges of deploying ML models in the real world
• The process of validating a technical product with early users
• Lessons from finding product–market fit when your customers are developers and enterprises
• Why balancing speed of execution with reliability is crucial in AI infrastructure
• Fundraising insights in today’s AI-driven market
• The importance of developer communities and open source in building credibility

Tune in as Daniel shares the lessons, trade-offs, and insights from taking Unify from research to a venture-backed company, and what he’s learnt about building AI infrastructure for the future.

Season 1 of The Startup Journey Podcast has been an incredible ride! Over the past 11 episodes, we’ve had the privilege of sitting down with world-class entrepreneurs, startup experts, and thought leaders to uncover the secrets behind launching and scaling successful startups.

1. Stay close to your customers and solve real pain points; they hold the key to sustainable growth.
2. The people you build with—co-founders, early hires—are critical to your success.
3. Building a startup is never a straight path—pivoting and adapting are part of the journey.

Key Takeaways from Season 1:

• Balancing Growth & Pressure: Slater Victoroff of Indico Data gives a candid look at scaling a startup while managing a massive developer ecosystem.
• Customer-Centricity: Peter Fishman of Mozart Data highlights the long-term value of prioritising your users.
• Leveraging Networks: Roger Van Duinen from Varo Money reveals the power of relationships in building a unicorn.
• Finding Product-Market Fit: Kathryn Petralia of Kabbage shares how they adapted their product to meet real customer needs.

In this recap, Rui revisits some of the most memorable moments and key lessons from the season, including:

We’re already planning Season 2, packed with new conversations, actionable advice, and more inspiring stories. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. Got a topic or guest suggestion? Drop us a message!

A while back, WHU Business School earned recognition as one of Europe’s top “unicorn universities,” a title that reflects its track record of producing successful entrepreneurs. 

With campuses in Vallendar and Düsseldorf, Germany, WHU boasts an impressive list of alumni, including founders of high-growth companies like Forto, FlixBus, and SumUp. In addition to six alumni-founded companies with $1 billion+ valuations, nine other startups led by WHU graduates are on track for future unicorn status.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Dries Faems, Chair of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technological Transformation at WHU Business School. Dr. Faems delves into the pivotal role that alumni networks play in fostering entrepreneurial success and sheds light on WHU’s strategic efforts to cultivate and support innovative minds.

Main topics covered:

• Effectiveness of the lean startup approach
• Essentiality of resilience and analytical skills in the entrepreneurial journey
• Insights into the current economic challenges faced by startups. 

Tune in as Dries shares valuable lessons on learning from failure and sets realistic expectations for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Fishman, a data scientist whose journey took him from prestigious roles at Microsoft and Walt Disney to launching his own startup.

Peter is the founder behind Mozart Data, a startup that simplifies the data consolidation and analysis process, making it accessible to a wider audience. 

Having navigated Mozart Data through Y Combinator, Peter and his team have since propelled the company to secure over $19M in funding. 

This conversation dives into Peter’s experiences, from the inception of Mozart Data, through the rigorous journey of Y Combinator, to the ongoing challenge of building a successful startup.

In this episode, we explore:

• Peter’s transition from data scientist at global giants to founding Mozart Data, and the inspiration behind this innovative venture.
• The pivotal role of Y Combinator in Mozart Data’s growth trajectory, including the lessons learned and opportunities unlocked through the accelerator.
• The philosophy of working tirelessly for customers and future customers, often without immediate financial reward, and how this customer-centric approach has been a cornerstone of Peter’s success.
• Insightful anecdotes (you’ll really like this one) and advice from Peter’s journey, shedding light on the complexities of startup life and the relentless pursuit of solving real-world problems.

Peter’s story is not just about building a startup; it’s about crafting a vision where data becomes a harmonious tool for businesses of all sizes. 

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, business leader or startup enthusiast, this episode offers a unique blend of technical wisdom, entrepreneurial spirit, and practical insights into bringing a startup to life.

In this episode, Ahana Banerjee, CEO of Clear, recounts her journey from a physics student at Imperial College London to founding a social commerce app for skincare. 

Her hard work on the project led her to Y Combinator, and a Forbes 30 under 30 award, despite all the struggles she had as a female founder who was, as she put it “often dismissed due to her gender.”

In this conversation, we delve into:

• The genesis and evolution of Clear
• Strategies for overcoming startup challenges
• Insights on securing venture capital and recognition
• Balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with personal growth

Join us to learn from Ahana’s experience in transforming a dorm room idea into a globally acclaimed enterprise.

This episode shines a spotlight on Diane Prince, whose entrepreneurial career launched with a bang through her first venture, Onstaff, which quickly grew to a $50M ARR business. 

Diane’s journey didn’t stop there; it was merely the beginning of a 30-year-long odyssey through the startup ecosystem, where she built multiple startups, achieving five successful exits. 

Beyond her entrepreneurial success, Diane has also made her mark as a highly regarded business coach, sharing the lessons learned from her extensive experience.

Today, we delve deep into the timeless lessons learned with Onstaff, the recruitment startup that set the stage for Diane’s career. 

In this episode, we explore:

• The genesis and growth of Onstaff, detailing how Diane transformed a niche idea into a major player in the recruitment industry.
• Key takeaways from Diane’s transition from a first-time founder to a seasoned serial entrepreneur and mentor, emphasising the timeless lessons of entrepreneurship she’s shared over the years.
• Insights into strategic planning, goal setting, and the critical importance of understanding what you want to achieve with your startup.
• Diane’s perspective on the evolution of the startup world over three decades, offering both historical wisdom and advice that remains relevant for today’s entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re embarking on your first startup venture, scaling your current business, or exploring potential exits, there’s something you’ll be able to take away from Diane’s story.

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Jags Kandasamy, a visionary entrepreneur whose latest venture, Latent AI, is setting new standards in the artificial intelligence sector. 

Founded in 2018, Latent AI has quickly garnered success, securing over $22M in funding through its unique approach to AI development. Jags and his team are on a mission to make AI accessible, efficient, and scalable for deployment on edge devices, thereby empowering organisations to harness the power of AI in real-time and resource-constrained environments.

Join us as Jags shares the compelling story behind Latent AI and its journey to success. 

In this episode, we explore:

• The inception of Latent AI and the driving force behind its mission to revolutionise the AI development process.
• How Latent AI’s platform facilitates significant efficiency improvements, cost reductions, and scalability for its users.
• Jags’ entrepreneurial path, including the strategies that have fueled Latent AI’s fundraising success and market penetration.
• Essential advice for startups looking to make a substantial impact in the tech industry, with a focus on accelerating the development and deployment of AI technologies.
• A look into the future of AI, as envisioned by Jags, and how Latent AI plans to continue leading through innovation and efficiency.

This enlightening conversation with Jags Kandasamy offers a deep dive into the mechanics of successful startup growth in the realm of AI technology. Whether you’re forging your own path in the tech industry or simply fascinated by the potential of artificial intelligence, this episode provides a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration from one of the field’s trailblazers.

Join us as we sit down with Louwrens Van Schalkwyk, a seasoned entrepreneur with a rich background in building and leading companies in the Fintech sector. 

Today, we’re diving deep into one of his hallmark ventures, MyBucks. This Fintech giant has made headlines for its comprehensive range of financial solutions, from insurance to banking, marking a significant footprint in the industry. 

The recent buzz? MyBucks’ public offering, which nearly hit the $143M mark, and its groundbreaking achievement as the first African-focused FinTech company to list on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

In this episode, we’ll uncover:

• The inception and evolution of MyBucks, from its early days to becoming a Fintech powerhouse.
• The challenges and milestones in taking MyBucks public, and what it means to be a trailblazer in the African financial sector.
• Insights into Louwrens’ entrepreneurial journey, the strategies that have guided his success, and the lessons learned along the way.
• Practical advice for entrepreneurs and startups navigating the complexities of the Fintech landscape.
• Louwrens’ vision for the future of financial technology and how MyBucks continues to innovate and lead in the sector.

Don’t miss this enlightening conversation with Louwrens Van Schalkwyk, as we explore the trials, triumphs, and transformations of building a leading Fintech company. Discover the strategies behind MyBucks’ success and the visionary leadership driving its expansion and innovation.

A few years ago, Atul saw an inefficiency in the way insurance products were sold in India.

Calling on his two decades of Fintech experience and expertise, he set out to solve it with his company, Scripbox.

Atul had to take a lot of time and effort to educate the market that their money would be safe. As people at the time weren’t used to digital banking or transferring money online.

To achieve this, his core priorities when it came to customer relationships were transparency and honesty.

And it paid off. He was able to convince customers that their money would be safe with Scripbox – changing the market’s behaviours and ultimately finding success.

Fast forward to today, and Scripbox has evolved to become India’s leading digital wealth management platform, raising over $34M in the process and is in the top 1% of companies in his market for customer satisfaction.

Moreover, Scripbox has been recognised by LinkedIn as the second most influential financial services brand in the world and has won numerous awards such as Financial Express’ Best Bank Award.

In this episode, we break down the following:

• The process for validating the business idea behind Scripbox
• The road to product-market fit
• The lessons Atul learnt from dealing with investors
• Key insights on building an early-stage startup team
• Balancing the intense work every entrepreneur faces with their personal life
• Advice on every facet of the entrepreneurial journey

Tune in as Atul shares his journey building Scripbox, as well as the insights that come from a 20-year career in entrepreneurship.

Roger Van Duinen is the co-founder of Varo Money – an “entirely new kind of bank” that uses tech to bring financial inclusion and opportunity to all of its users.

With 25 years of experience working as a C-level executive in the banking and financial services sector – he brought a lot of industry expertise to the table.

In that time, he built and nurtured an extensive network of like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders.

In fact, it was that network that led him to co-found Varo Money in the first place.

It started when a mutual connection put Roger in contact with Colin Walsh.

Colin was also a veteran in the banking industry but had taken a very different path than Roger.

They got to talking and realised that, despite their different paths, they saw a lot of the same problems in the industry.

Before long, Roger and Colin had co-founded Varo Money. Fast forward to today, and Varo has raised over $990M to date – most recently raising $510M in their Series E round, at a $2.5B valuation.

In this episode, Roger and I dive deep into:

• The idea behind Varo
• The road to product-market fit
• The lessons Roger and his team learnt from dealing with investors
• Key insights on building an early-stage startup team
• Balancing the intense work every entrepreneur faces with their personal life (something Roger admits, was a huge challenge for him)
• Advice on every facet of the entrepreneurial journey

Tune in as Roger shares entrepreneurial insights from a career spanning nearly three decades.

Back in 2013, Slater and his co-founder had an idea in their dorm room – to revolutionise the data industry by creating a platform that takes raw data and structures it, enabling you to build innovative, mission-critical enterprise workflows.

The idea quickly gained interest as they were accepted into Techstars Boston – and before long, Slater was questioning whether or not he needed to stay in school.

Indico Data got so successful he ended up never graduating. He was too busy scaling the backend system to handle several billion monthly API calls and a developer ecosystem of roughly 10k developers (while closing multiple six-figure enterprise contracts at the same time).

Fast forward to today, and Indico Data is worth over $30M and is consistently pushing the envelope within its vertical.

In this episode, we break down:

• The process for validating the business idea behind Indico
• The road to product-market fit
• The lessons Slater learnt from dealing with investors
• Key insights on building an early-stage startup team
• Balancing the intense work every entrepreneur faces with their personal life
• Advice on every facet of the entrepreneurial journey

Tune in as Slater delves into the trials and tribulations of launching such a huge startup between just him and his co-founder.

Today’s guest, Markus (Maex) Ament, is the founder behind Taulia, a leading provider of working capital solutions with over 1.8 million companies using it across the globe – including Airbus, Nissan & the UK Government.

And, like most successful companies, it began with a problem. In Taulia’s case, that problem was liquidity:

“When a company invoices a client, they’re generally going to have to wait anywhere between 30 to 90 days to receive payment. We wanted to solve that problem for companies.”

While this idea isn’t necessarily new, Maex and his team added a twist. They went to the biggest companies on the planet and used their cash to pay their suppliers early for a “dynamic discount”.

Tune in as Maex shares his story, and the hurdles he and his founding team faced bringing Taulia to life and scaling it to become an industry leader.

Back in 2008, Kathryn Petralia and her founding team had a vision. To use technology to give small businesses the funding tools they needed to grow and scale their companies.

A few months later, Kabbage was born. The platform quickly evolved and grew to not just provide loans to SMEs, but a full suite of cash management solutions for founders and entrepreneurs.

In this episode, we break down:

• The process for validating the business idea behind Kabbage
• The road to product-market fit
• The lessons Kathryn learnt from dealing with investors
• Key insights on building an early-stage startup team
• Balancing the intense work every entrepreneur faces with their personal life
• Advice on every facet of the entrepreneurial journey

Tune in as Kathryn shares the trials and tribulations of building Kabbage. From its humble roots providing small business loans to eBay users to raising over $2.5B in funding and getting acquired by American Express.