What motivated you to become an entrepreneur?
I should have done it much earlier. But I also had a time of my life working for Spotify, which I joined at series B as an employee no. 150 and leaving when it was a post-IPO streaming giant with 8K+ employees. I was not sure what my next dream job could be, I just knew it had to be at the intersection of content, tech and media, hence I started my own startup with my dear co-founder, another ex-Spotifier, Riccardo Buzzotta.
What should leaders understand about their own role and responsibility?
There are no overnight miracles, it's very hard work: both physically and emotionally. Requires resilience, grit, strategic approach and grind.
What's an attitude that we should pay more attention to in the workplace?
Balance rest and work, as rest is an essential part of being productive.
What was a pivotal moment where your business made a big leap forward?
To come yet, we are just a bit more than 1 year old. We’ve raised a little pre-seed round during the summer of 2023 after having faced 120+ rejections from investors. It allowed us to build the initial tech, launch our beta and start getting the first paying customers.
What book do you recommend the most?
Right now, I am re-reading Gabriel Weinberg’s “Traction.”
We’re building the largest library of insights and wisdom by and for founders and entrepreneurs.
Once a month we'll send you the latest interviews straight to your inbox. No fluff, just value. For free.
Here’s More, From Other Founders Around the World
What's the biggest insight you learned in recent years?
It’s always a good idea to be connected to your product – even if you have to deal with high-level topics, always remember the things you offer.
What personal habit helped you accelerate your personal growth?
In one of the hardest times of my life so far, I started journaling for 1-2h on Sundays. Not digital, but with paper and pen. Always answering the same questions related to self, social life and work. This brutally honest and regular reflection once a week helped me identify problems early and iterate fast.
When times are tough, who or what is an anchor for you?
My co-founders are my anchor in work-related topics. Having an environment where failure is welcomed with a helping hand and where weakness is valued as openness, once you are down those people will drag you up.
What's a mistake that you're happy you've made?
When I was 16 (way before the internet) I founded a travel-partner agency to connect people from different backgrounds seeking travel companions. After a year, I had to close the agency due to a lack of customers and the confusion some callers had regarding the nature of the “service.” Despite this setback, I gained invaluable insights into sales, communication and people’s needs, solidifying my desire to run a business that helps people.