This is the brutally honest startup story every founder needs to hear. Benedetta shares how she built a fintech app to half a million users and raised $10M—yet still failed.
You’ll learn why chasing big partnerships can backfire spectacularly, how a seemingly successful startup can quietly fall apart, and how to set yourself up to avoid common but deadly fundraising mistakes.
This isn’t just another success story; it’s a real guide on how not to fail.
Why You Should Listen
- Discover why even rapid growth and millions raised might not save you.
- Find out the hidden dangers of relying on corporate VCs.
- Learn why equal founder equity splits might not be a good idea.
- Hear the biggest fundraising mistakes early-stage founders make (and how to avoid them).
- Get practical advice on how to truly validate your startup before building tech.
Keywords
startup failure, fundraising mistakes, fintech startup, founder lessons, corporate VC, startup partnerships, product validation, founder equity split, early-stage fundraising, startup growth challenges
00:00:00 Early Days at Uber and Moving into Fintech
00:07:00 Launching a Consumer Fintech App in Europe
00:13:37 Validating Without Tech Building an MVP by Hand
00:19:22 Why US Startup Models Don’t Work in Europe
00:23:07 Raising Money Quickly—and the Hidden Costs
00:28:56 Running Out of Cash When COVID Hit
00:32:15 Tough Decisions Layoffs, Sales, and Shutdown
00:37:53 How Big Partnerships Can Sink Your Startup
00:43:41 Staying Optimistic Even When Everything Falls Apart
00:46:38 Crucial Fundraising Advice for Early-Stage Founders
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