Follow the Gradient

Andreas Klinger calls himself a technical founder turned investor turned lobbyist. He was CTO at Product Hunt, helped build AngelList and OnDeck, and now runs Prototype Capital, a solo GP fund backing ambitious founders.Andreas is also the co-initiator of EU Inc, the proposal for a true pan-European legal entity that could finally allow startups to scale across Europe without the friction of 27 national company regimes.In this episode we talk about:Why European founders are still forced to play on hard modeWhat EU Inc really means for startups and investorsHow Europe can raise its ambition and build moonshotsLessons from Europe’s Most Ambitious StartupsA conversation about fixing the system, raising ambition, and building sovereign European giants, while staying sane along the way.For additional insights Andreas shared that did not make it into the episode, check out our newsletter at followthegradient.io/p/andreas-klinger-podcast.

In this episode, Nicole Büttner - investor, entrepreneur, and political leader - shares why Europe has all the ingredients for AI leadership, but still struggles to scale its breakthroughs into global companies.From navigating corporate partnerships without falling into “POC limbo” to reframing courage as a core leadership trait, Nicole breaks down the mindset shifts and structural changes founders need to succeed. She also shares candid reflections on the weight of responsibility leaders carry and how to sustain energy in the long run.You’ll learn:How to build collaborations that actually move the needle with corporatesWhy speed and courage matter more than perfection in scaling startupsHow to create defensibility in AI by going deep into real-world workflowsWhy European founders must shed local ambition and aim global from day oneNicole’s insights are a playbook for founders who want to build enduring, globally relevant companies out of Europe.Get bonus insights from Nicole that didn’t make it into the episode at ⁠followthegradient.io⁠.

In this episode, Jake Bornstein — executive coach to founders and co-founder of Studio Medis — shares how personal growth and leadership frameworks can unlock scale when startups hit the limits of chaos.From reframing coaching as a billion-dollar investment to building minimum viable structures that keep teams aligned, Jake breaks down what every founder needs to know to stop being the bottleneck.You’ll learn:How to measure the ROI of coaching in real business termsWhy trust is the non-negotiable ingredient in choosing the right coachHow to use radical responsibility to shift from blame to transformationWhat minimum viable structure looks like in practice — and why it drives speedJake’s insights are a playbook for founders who want to scale not just their companies, but themselves.Get bonus insights from Jake that didn’t make it into the episode at ⁠followthegradient.io⁠.

In this episode, Simone Rüschenberg - finance leader behind Gorillas, SoundCloud, and TIER - shares how she helped scale some of Europe’s fastest-growing startups by building finance teams that actually enable growth.From ditching Excel at the right moment to avoiding ERP nightmares, Simone breaks down what every founder and CFO needs to know to stay sane while scaling.You’ll learn:How to scale your finance function across Series A, B, and CWhy the first three finance hires are absolutely pivotalHow to avoid painful financial cleanups (and investor panic)What it means to lead with strategy - not just spreadsheetsSimone’s story is a playbook for modern finance leaders navigating speed, scale, and change.Get bonus insights from Simone that didn’t make it into the episode at followthegradient.io.

In this episode, Victoria Ransom, founder of Wildfire (acquired by Google) and Prisma, shares the scrappy, principled, and deeply human approach that shaped her startup journey - from asparagus farming in rural New Zealand to building and selling a high-growth tech company.Victoria opens up about how she scaled Wildfire from a humble tool to 400 employees, maintained a strong culture during hypergrowth, and navigated an acquisition without losing the soul of the company. She also shares the realities of co-founding with her husband and raising three kids while running startups — without burning out or burning bridges.You’ll learnHow to scale without diluting culture or valuesWhy scrappiness can be a superpower in startup executionHow to navigate acquisitions while keeping your team engagedWhat it takes to co-found a company with your life partnerVictoria’s story is proof that you don’t need a Silicon Valley pedigree to build something world-class — just grit, clarity, and a whole lot of heart.Get bonus insights from Victoria that didn’t make it into the episode at ⁠followthegradient.io⁠.

David Oort Alonso, co-founder of Bloom and a Y Combinator alum, shares his journey as a European founder navigating the competitive startup incubator landscape. He discusses the importance of knowing when to pivot and emphasizes that YC values market potential over tech innovation. Tune in to discover his fast fundraising tactics that brought in $3.4M in just five days, and learn how to master investor pitches using compelling demos and storytelling. Team dynamics and resilience are also crucial elements he highlights for success.

In this episode, Rob Snyder, founder of Waffle and Reframe and Harvard Innovation Labs Fellow, shares his no-nonsense approach to finding product-market fit for early-stage B2B startups. After spending two years in what he calls the "pain cave" without traction, Rob developed four key frameworks that have helped founders grow from zero to over one million in annual recurring revenue.You’ll learnHow to define and track product-market fit in practical termsFour frameworks to escape the pain cave and build real tractionHow to develop a minimum viable sales processWhat it takes to engage the right early customersRob's approach is grounded in experience and focused on results. If you're navigating early-stage growth, this episode offers clear, actionable advice.Sign up for exclusive insights from Rob that didn’t make it into the episode at followthegradient.io.

As part of our most-listened replays this holiday season, we’re bringing back one of the standout episodes of Follow the Gradient. In this replay, Ruth Barnett—former Comms Lead at Sequoia Capital and ex-journalist—breaks down how startup founders can sharpen their storytelling, build reputation, and handle crisis communication like a pro.You’ll learn:How to craft a narrative that resonates with investors, customers, and your teamWhat most founders get wrong about PR (and how to fix it)Why reputation is everything—and how to protect itCrisis communication 101: be ready before it hitsHow technical founders can learn to lead with the “why”

Christina Stahl, co-founder of AMELI Zurich, shares how she bootstrapped a premium handbag brand to over 50'000 sales across 60 countries. She explains how to test demand fast, grow with limited resources, and avoid early-stage mistakes.Key takeaways:Build a community before launchingValidate demand with scrappy prototypesKnow when to hire experts vs. do it yourselfFocus on “done” over perfectStay energized while scaling🟢 And before you go, subscribe to our free newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠followthegradient.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Twice a week, we break down startup and tech news, share exclusive insights from our podcast guests, highlight top job openings from European startups, and provide food for thought you won’t find anywhere else. 🟡

From Klarna to Brite Payments, Lena Hackelöer has built fintechs that thrive across 27 markets—without blowing the budget. In this episode, she shares battle-tested strategies for international expansion, hiring senior talent at the right moment, and balancing growth with financial discipline. Whether you're entering a new market or navigating leadership hires, Lena breaks down what actually works—and what doesn't.You’ll learn:How to break into new markets with no local teamWhy vertical-first selling beats regional scaling (until it doesn’t)What founders get wrong about hiring senior leadersWhen to prioritize profitability vs. growthHow to stay lean without limiting ambitionLena’s approach to building a capital-efficient, scalable business is a must-hear for any founder aiming to do more with less—and stay sane doing it.🟢 And before you go, subscribe to our free newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠followthegradient.io⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Twice a week, we break down startup and tech news, share exclusive insights from our podcast guests, highlight top job openings from European startups, and provide food for thought you won’t find anywhere else. 🟡