Follow the Gradient

For many founders, an exit is the ultimate goal. But what happens after the deal is done? Is it the finish line—or just the start of a whole new challenge? Jessica Holzbach knows this firsthand. She’s a serial fintech founder and angel investor who co-founded Penta, scaled it to 35,000 SMEs, and later exited both Penta and her second venture, Pile. In this episode, we dive deep into three critical moments in every founder’s journey: Pivots: When do you know it’s time to change direction? And how do you pivot without losing your team? Exits: What founders often overlook, the emotional rollercoaster, and why selling your company isn’t always the fairy tale it seems. Starting Again: The single most important question to ask before launching your next venture. If you’re a founder, operator, or thinking about what’s next, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss. 🎧 Plus, get exclusive insights from Jessica in this week’s newsletter—sign up at followthegradient.io

At 20, Nils Feigenwinter co-founded Bling and turned a pocket money app into a full financial platform for families – covering banking, investing, and mobile plans. In this episode of Follow the Gradient, he breaks down how he scaled fast, raised funding without connections, and turned being underestimated into an advantage. What you'll learn: Flipping skepticism into an asset – Winning as a young founder. Fundraising without connections – How he got VCs to bet on him. Scaling without losing focus – When to expand vs. when to double down. Gen Z leadership – What startups get wrong about hiring & motivating young talent. The Child CEO experiment – Why Bling appointed a 12-year-old Chief Executive. 👉 Get exclusive insights from this episode at followthegradient.io

Leoni Runge, the founder and CEO of Zaya Care, shares her incredible journey of building a healthcare company while navigating the complexities of solo entrepreneurship. She discusses how she adapted her business model through strategic pivots and the importance of building a robust network in new markets. Leoni offers valuable insights on managing uncertainty with a step-by-step MVP approach and highlights the emotional challenges of being a solo founder. Her story is packed with practical advice for overcoming obstacles and building resilience.

In this episode, Lena Hackelöer, founder and CEO of Sweden-based Brite Payments, shares her journey scaling a fintech company across 27 markets and multiple verticals. From entering new markets without local teams to hiring senior talent and balancing frugality with growth, Lena offers valuable lessons on building a sustainable and efficient business. Key Takeaways: How to enter new markets without local teams Why personal outreach and customer recommendations matter in B2B Balancing vertical vs. regional sales strategies Lessons on hiring senior leaders at the right time The importance of maintaining a lean and cost-conscious approach 🎧 Tune in for practical advice on scaling your business, growing your team, and navigating the complexities of international expansion! Sign up for exclusive content from this episode and more at followthegradient.io. Connect with Us: 📬 Newsletter: ⁠followthegradient.io⁠ 🐦 X: ⁠@followgradient⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠@followthegradient⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠@followthegradient⁠ 🎵 TikTok: ⁠@followthegradient⁠

In our first episode of Season 2, Christina Stahl, Co-Founder of AMELI Zurich, shares how she and her husband turned an idea into a thriving handbag brand - starting with community feedback, DIY prototypes, and an authentic social media presence. From bootstrapping with personal savings to learning tough lessons in paid marketing and scaling internationally, Christina reveals the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Key Takeaways: How to build a community before launching your product The importance of testing fast and saving costs early on Lessons learned from managing everything in-house vs. hiring experts Why “done” is better than “perfect” when starting a business Strategies for staying energized while growing a startup 🎧 Tune in for actionable insights on starting small, embracing imperfection, and learning as you go! Sign up for exclusive content from this episode and more at followthegradient.io.

In this engaging discussion, Ruth Barnett, a seasoned communications expert and founder of Grid and Inc., shares vital strategies for startup success. She emphasizes the art of storytelling to engage investors and customers effectively. Ruth also delves into crisis management, highlighting the need for transparency and preparation. Additionally, listeners gain insights into working with PR agencies, avoiding common mistakes, and crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. This conversation is a goldmine for founders looking to elevate their communication game.

Stanislaw Grunstein, founder of CNTRD and a specialist in leadership and organizational psychology, shares valuable insights on shifting from individual contributor to effective leader. He discusses overcoming delegation fears and the importance of empowering feedback that inspires teams. Intrinsic motivation is highlighted as essential for high-performing groups, along with the need for first-time managers to seek support during their transition. Grunstein’s expertise offers practical strategies for anyone looking to thrive in a startup environment.

Before diving into this special replay, we’d love your feedback! As we prepare for an exciting Season 2 launching on January 9th, your input will help us create even more valuable content for you in 2025. Take just one minute to share your thoughts at bit.ly/follow-survey. Your feedback means the world to us! This week, we’re revisiting one of the standout episodes from Season 1 featuring Amy Lewin, Editor of Sifted, Europe’s leading media platform for startups. Amy delivers a masterclass in media engagement, covering: How to successfully pitch journalists and avoid common mistakes. The importance of knowing your purpose for media attention. Tips for managing negative press and crisis communication. Key tech journalism trends, including AI and climate tech. Whether you’re a founder looking to secure your first article or an operator refining your media strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help your startup stand out. We’ll be sharing more of the best moments from Season 1 over the next three weeks, so stay tuned—and don’t forget to fill out the survey at bit.ly/follow-survey to help shape what’s coming next!

As we wrap up an incredible SEASON 1 of Follow the Gradient, join us - Melanie and Christian - in this reflective and deeply personal finale. In this episode, we share: Melanie’s Annual Life Review Technique: A structured, thought-provoking process to reflect on personal growth, failures, and success. Christian’s Weekly Write-Up Routine: A practical tool for accountability, clarity, and peace of mind amidst the chaos of startup life. What’s Coming in 2025: A sneak peek at the exciting next season, community collaborations, and why Europe has what it takes to build the next big thing. A PERSONAL ASK TO YOU We’re taking Follow the Gradient to the next level in 2025, and we need your input to make it even better! Please share 1 minute of your time to help us improve by filling out this quick survey. Thank you so much for taking the time and for being part of this journey! And if you haven't already, sign up for our newsletter with exclusive insights (such as the template we're talking about in this episode) and more at ⁠followthegradient.io⁠. HOW TO REACH US Reach out us on LinkedIn: ⁠Melanie⁠ and ⁠Christian⁠ 📬 Newsletter:⁠⁠ ⁠followthegradient.io⁠⁠⁠ 🐦 X:⁠⁠ ⁠x.com/followgradient⁠⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠@followthegradient⁠⁠⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠@followthegradient⁠⁠⁠ 🎵 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@followthegradient⁠⁠⁠

Paddy Lambros, Talent Director at Atomico, shares over a decade of expertise in scaling engineering teams and supporting startups. He discusses the importance of strategic hiring for long-term growth and how accountability fosters a resilient team. Paddy emphasizes effective onboarding to ensure new hires add value and aligns team culture with startup goals. He also tackles the challenges of navigating growth and transitions, providing practical strategies for founders facing layoffs and evolution.