The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch 20VC: The Wild Story Raising $450M From Masa and Softbank | Why My Biggest Mistakes Came From Listening to VCs | Why 100 VCs Turned Us Down | Why European Founders Are Tougher Than US Founders with Johannes Reck, GetYourGuide
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Jun 23, 2025 
In this conversation, Johannes Reck, Founder and CEO of GetYourGuide, shares his entrepreneurial journey from modest beginnings to a $2 billion valuation. He reveals the tough lessons learned from his early fundraising mistakes and the significant impact of dilution. Reck discusses the stark differences between the VC landscapes in Europe and the US, and how European founders often face tougher challenges. He recounts the wild story behind raising $450 million from Softbank and his personal experiences with hiring missteps and pandemic-induced revenue drops.
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Early Years of GetYourGuide
- Johannes Reck and Tao initially struggled with GetYourGuide, getting only 3 to 5 bookings in two years, mostly from his mother.
- They pivoted after realizing the large market for experienced providers in Europe was not digitized.
Focus Narrowly Post-Series A
- Avoid expanding too broadly early on and hiring senior people not suited for your growth stage.
- Instead, focus narrowly on your core products and customer segments to maintain momentum and growth.
Booking.com's Founder Mentor
- Case Colon, founder of Booking.com, invested and joined GetYourGuide's board during a crisis.
- His mentorship helped Johannes refocus and restructure the company, leading to recovery.