EUROPE BUILDS by BORRN

Self-awareness, equanimity and adaptability are essential traits for founders - especially if they’re on a mission to redefine how companies around the world create healthy and fulfilling cultures. On this episode, we are joined by Andreas Konstantinou, Founder of Rethink Culture, a venture that is on a mission to help businesses audit their culture and build cultures people love to work for. Previously, Andreas founded SlashData and grew it into the leading developer analyst firm, helping the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Facebook understand developers through data. He has also held various leadership positions at Entrepreneurs Organisation, and is also an educator and podcaster. We discuss the key components of quantifying and improving company culture, and why it’s an effort that should begin with the CEO and not be shafted on to HR. We also delve into how to overcome challenges as a second-time founder, and discuss the value of candor, openness and Andreas’ purpose to be “a multiplier for multipliers”. Learn more about EUROPE BUILDS: https://byborrn.substack.com/p/does-europe-build-real-innovation  🪴Listen to Andreas talk about how to create trust and growth with the right insights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzQbc_oefSg

How much passion and ambition does it take to build the intelligence of the robots of today and tomorrow? On this episode we are joined by Minas Liarokapis, Co-Founder and CTO of Acumino, a world leading Robotics and AI company working on next generation, foundation robot models for the execution of highly dexterous tasks. Acumino is headquartered in the US and has operations in New Zealand and Greece, and its solutions empower robots' capabilities to perform complex tasks to diverse real-world environments and with high reliability, tapping into what Minas calls “a trillion dollar opportunity”. Minas breaks down how Acumino increases the penetration of robotics-based automation in factories today, how it develops its commercialization strategies in robotics, and how it builds hardware agnostic solutions for the robots of today and tomorrow. We also discuss the leap from academia to entrepreneurship, the importance of risk in decision making, and the potential of Europe’s role and value in the future of robotics and AI. Learn more about EUROPE BUILDS: https://byborrn.substack.com/p/does-europe-build-real-innovation 🤖 Watch Minas discuss a new approach to robot skill learning at the MARS 2024 conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aUyMAEH_xA 

How much vision and grit does it take to become a global pioneer in influencer marketing and insights? On our fourth episode, we are joined by Jenny Tsai, Founder and CEO of WeArisma, a leading earned influencer analytics company that works with companies like Marc Jacobs, Westfield and Polaroid to help them measure and grow their influencer marketing. Founded in 2015, way before the influencer phenomenon took off, today WeArisma is used by over 40 global brands, including some of the world’s most valuable luxury and Fortune 500 brands. Join us for a discussion on the strategies that help a start-up build strong relationships with leading brands, the evolution of influencer marketing, the importance of adaptation, and the role of AI or cultural nuances in scaling up a global influence analytics company.  Learn more about EUROPE BUILDS: https://byborrn.substack.com/p/does-europe-build-real-innovation Read an interview by Jenny on how We Arisma transforms influencer marketing, social media ranking and building brand affinity with Gen Z: https://www.maddyness.com/uk/2023/08/09/knowing-and-growing-your-influence-with-wearsima/ 

How much motivation and focus does it take to innovate in the circular economy? On our third episode, we are joined by Valentina Cerolini, co-founder and CEO of Deesup.com, a curated marketplace for luxury second-hand furniture which launched in Milan in 2017. Staying true to its goal of making the furniture supply chain more ethical and sustainable, Deesup has expanded well beyond Italy, consolidating its presence in multiple European markets.  We discuss strategies to generate consumer interest for second-hand furniture, the adaptability it takes to transition from Peer-to-Peer to Business to Consumer, and growing investment interest in the circular economy. Join us for a deep-dive into what it takes to build scalable marketplaces in the intersection of luxury and sustainability. Learn more about EUROPE BUILDS: https://byborrn.substack.com/p/does-europe-build-real-innovation Read about how Deesup built a resale-as-a-service platform https://www.doorwayplatform.com/en/network/news/deesup-lancia-il-white-paper-e-pensa-a-piattaforma-di-resale-as-a-service 

How much stubbornness does it take to build a user-base of 150 million users? In our second episode, Co-founder and CEO of Sweatcoin, Anton Derlyatka, walks us through the key ingredients of ultra-high consumer growth. Sweatcoin has inspired more than 150 million people worldwide to move more via behavioral nudges and real-time incentives, and was the most downloaded health and fitness app globally in 2022. We discuss the role of robust referral programs and tapping early into the influencer market, as well as the power of storytelling and the challenges of scaling up across borders and boundaries. This episode is a deep dive into the tools, strategies and persistance that founders need in order to build large and loyal consumer bases. 👓Learn more about EUROPE BUILDS: https://byborrn.substack.com/p/does-europe-build-real-innovation 🏃Read about how Anton Derlyatka built an app converting your steps into currency: https://www.maddyness.com/uk/2022/01/06/meet-sweatcoin-the-app-converting-your-steps-into-currency/ 

How important is tenacity, stamina, and honesty in the fundraising process? On our first episode we are joined by Alex Loizou, a computer scientist turned entrepreneur who founded TROUVA in 2013, a leading platform for discovering and shopping independent boutiques and brands across Europe. Trouva has raised a total funding of $41.1M over 6 rounds. We discuss successful and unsuccessful strategies of securing capital, the nuances of fundraising in the US as a European founder, and key decision-making criteria such as when to raise funds, how much to seek, and from whom. This episode is a deep dive into the strategic and honest approach to building enduring relationships with investors, essential for any startup’s growth. 🔨 Learn more about EUROPE BUILDS: https://byborrn.substack.com/p/does-europe-build-real-innovation🔍 Read about how Alex Loizou Built an International Company and Sold it Twice https://fastforward.com.cy/tech-ecosystem/how-alex-loizou-built-international-company-and-sold-it-twice

Welcome to EUROPE BUILDS, a podcast dedicated to diving deep into the real stories behind Europe’s startups.