What sets exceptional founders apart from the rest? In the first episode of the brand-new Founder DNA series, Petter Made sits down with Daniel Dippold to explore the key traits that define outstanding entrepreneurs. As a serial founder and investor, Daniel shares his insights from backing early-stage startups that later became unicorns.
The conversation delves into what makes a founder truly stand out—ranging from resilience and self-reflection to the ability to attract top talent. Daniel introduces the "EVAL 4" framework, a methodology for identifying high-potential founders, and explains why self-improvement and adaptability are crucial for long-term success.
The episode also uncovers common red flags in founders, the importance of clear communication, and why investors should focus on the founder rather than the startup itself. Daniel further discusses how mathematical models reveal that the probability of success significantly increases with each new venture.
About Daniel Dippold
Daniel has a strong background in mathematics, computer science, and entrepreneurship, with studies at Cambridge, ETH Zurich, and St. Gallen. He sold his first venture in his early twenties and has since built companies valued at over €200 million. As co-founder of New Now Group GmbH, he enables clients like Deutsche Bank, Postbank, Eon, Philips, and Wella to fine-tune algorithms post-deployment through their software. He also founded and scaled Sigma Squared Society e.V., now the world’s largest community of U26 entrepreneurs, spanning over 30 countries with 200 global directors. Many Sigma members have gone on to become unicorn founders. Additionally, Daniel has been an early investor in several unicorns and has invested in over 50 companies to date.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieldippold/
About EWOR
EWOR gives rebels, nerds, and visionaries an unfair advantage in building companies that matter on a global scale.
We offer:
- Up to €150,000 in immediate funding
- Access to the top 0.1% of founders, peers and investors
- Support in securing a multi-million euro funding round within 12 months
EWOR was built by founders for founders. We’ve founded and exited companies such as SumUp, Adjust, ProGlove, Felyx, United Domains, New Now Group (collectively worth over €12bn), initiated the largest global entrepreneurship society for those under 26 (Sigma Squared Society), and made more than 100 private angel investments.
Website: https://www.ewor.com/
About Petter Made
Petter Made is a fintech pioneer with over 25 years of experience. He co-founded SumUp, a global company valued at €8.5B, serving over 4 million SMBs across 36 countries. Then, as CPTO at Drooms, he led the development of the world’s fastest virtual data room, scaling the business to nine figures. Petter’s earlier career saw him in leadership roles at Inatec Payment AG, Ongame Networks, and Chinsay AB.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pettermade/
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