The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: The $5BN Company Built from the Belgian Countryside | The Story of Odoo: The Company with No Plans to Sell, IPO & Their Billionaire Founder Who Does Not Care About Money with Fabien Pinckaers, Founder & CEO @ Odoo
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Feb 12, 2025 
Fabien Pinckaers, the visionary Founder and CEO of Odoo, shares his unconventional journey from a young software creator to leading a $5BN company based in Belgium. He discusses the flaws of traditional management, advocating for title-less structures and unique hiring practices focused on talent over age. Fabien reveals his indifference to money, explaining his reluctance to sell or IPO. He also reflects on the rejections from VCs, imparting lessons on pitching and the significance of remaining private to foster innovation.
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Early Start
- Fabien Pinckaers started his first business at 13, creating management software.
- This wasn't about money; he enjoyed building software that people found useful.
T-Shirt Company
- While at university, Pinckaers continued developing various software, including an e-commerce site for t-shirts.
- This experience highlighted the logistical challenges of selling physical products.
Art Marketplace
- Before Odoo, Pinckaers ran an online art marketplace that outsold eBay in Belgium.
- Despite selling 15,000 pieces monthly, the business model wasn't profitable.