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 gained from his many business endeavors.

Tune in to find out how, in the end, he found his way back to top-tier consulting and can still transform high-growth startups today.

Chapters:

(0:08) Intro to the episode

(0:44) Karel’s professional background: from founding alando to joining McKinsey

(13:35) Are there parallels between doing business in 1998 and today?

(27:30) How do you make an exit decision as a young founder?

(33:12) How can consultancies help fast-growing companies

(37:55) Changing external environments for fast-growing startups

(42:40) The startup ecosystem approach

(48:00) The public sector as a lead customer – a model for Germany?

(53:14) When is the right point to exit as a founder

(59:30) Books & podcast suggestions

Karel's recommendations:

Startup Insider Podcast

Benedict Evans

Flyvberg, Gardner- How Big Things Get Done

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 platforms.

This conversation highlights the challenges of navigating a highly regulated industry and emphasizes the importance of trust, innovation, and the delicate balance between rapid growth and compliance.

Dive into this episode to explore the intersection of regulation and innovation, where the future of finance is being redrawn 🚀💼🔍

Chapters:

(0:35) Tobias gives an intro to his background

(2:50) Why was the reasoning for co-founding Upvest

(4:25) What is Upvest’s investment API about?

(8:05) The role of trust in a B2B fintech

(10:53) How can a startup grow in a heavily regulated industry?

(14:30) The need for VC involvement in Upvest

(16:10) What is the culture and mindset in Upvest?

(20:08) The overall state of the fintech industry

(22:45) What is the best way to enter the finance industry as a career path?

(26:20) Podcast and book recommendations

Tobias‘ recommendations:

Janosch Kühn - Mach keinen Quatsch

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!🌟💡

Chapters:

(1:00) Introduction to Marco's Background

(3:15) Discussing the Problem of Scalability in the Case of kitchX

(5:40) Explaining What Qualimero is All About

(9:00) Overview of the Current Lead Journey and Their Pain Points

(10:00) How Qualimero Addresses These Pain Points

(11:10) Importance of Quality Assurance for LLm in Sales

(14:30) Exploring Why Conversion of Customers is Difficult for Startups

(16:30) The Drive of Being an Entrepreneur and Lessons Learned from kitchX

(20:50) Analyzing the Future of Whatsapp in the Context of Meta

(24:00) Discussion on German Conservatism

(25:15) Insights into Intrapreneurship at OBI

(30:00) Comparing No Code vs. Having a Technical Co-Founder

(34:20) MBA Program of WHU and Entrepreneurship

(36:25) Podcast and Book Recommendations

Marco's recommendations:

How Big Things Get Done