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The Lead Up

Techstars

Demo Day is the culmination of a founder’s journey through Techstars, a three month accelerator program. In one presentation they showcase their hard work to investors and the community. There’s a lot of work that goes into the pitch, but have you always wondered what happens leading up to Demo Day? The Lead Up features Techstars founders from around the world as they share their stories -- and struggles -- preparing for Demo Day.


Join Jag Singh, Managing Director of Techstars Berlin, in Season 1 as he interviews each company in the Techstars Berlin 2021 program.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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BusinessBusiness
EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship
InvestingInvesting

Episodes

Symplifi: Rethinking the world of remittances
07-05-2021
Symplifi: Rethinking the world of remittances
On this episode of The Lead Up, we catch up with Maurice and Gregoire, cofounders of SympliFi, a one of a kind fintech solution that enables migrants to help their families and loved ones back home access credit without having to send money and pay high fees.With a wealth of financial knowledge and a very ambitious vision, the team explains how they have positioned themselves in a highly competitive industry, the process of securing partnerships with organizations like the United Nations, and using those endorsements to establish trust in the communities they serve with their product.Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lightning: Enabling financial support in a flash
06-05-2021
Lightning: Enabling financial support in a flash
On this episode of The Lead Up, we catch up with Ren and her team behind Lightning Social Ventures, a fintech startup that enables charities and public sector organisations to quickly verify and process financial support applications for millions of people in financial hardship.Founded in the midst of the pandemic, the team explains their human-centric approach to building a product for a distressed audience, common misconceptions about selling to charities, and how to build a successful pool of advisors. Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bippit: Financial coaching as the employee perk of the future
06-05-2021
Bippit: Financial coaching as the employee perk of the future
On this episode of The Lead Up, we catch up with Sam, Erich, and Grace, cofounders of Bippit, a platform helping businesses provide free financial coaching to their teams.Having experienced the lack of accessible financial coaching themselves, this incredibly mission-driven team tells us about their user research process within the sensitive topic of personal finances, the relationship between money and mental health, and ways of fostering product-lead growth within their B2B2C approach.Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Yoona.AI: A tech makeover for the fashion industry
05-05-2021
Yoona.AI: A tech makeover for the fashion industry
On this episode of The Lead Up, we catch up with Anna, the founder of Yoona.ai, a company using AI to help apparel makers and fashion companies like Puma and Vaude to shorten their design processes. Inspired by the intersection of technology and design, Anna explains her approach to building an innovative product for an incumbent industry full of traditions, how she’s earned the trust of some of the biggest players in fashion, and the process of putting together a strong support system for herself as a solo founder — from a solid team to an impressive board of directors with big names from the industry. Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mockmate: Democratizing recruitment
04-05-2021
Mockmate: Democratizing recruitment
On this episode of The Lead Up, we catch up with Waina and Meg, cofounders of Mockmate, a tool helping job seekers practice interviews, while also helping companies screen candidates faster using natural language processing.Motivated by their own frustration with traditional recruitment — its lack of diversity and transparency, just to name a few elements — the founders shed light on their strategy of shifting from a B2C to B2B focus, how it’s never too early to start building your company culture, and how they’re positioning themselves as a challenger brand.  Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Faredirect: The new era of travel in the post-pandemic world
04-05-2021
Faredirect: The new era of travel in the post-pandemic world
On this episode of The Lead Up, we catch up with Niels, Aleks, and Nev, co founders of Faredirect, a software company helping airlines maximize the revenue they make from the sale of ancillary products, like seat selection and luggage.Oozing with passion and experience in the aviation industry, the team talks to us about the challenges of selling to modern enterprises like airlines that still rely on established, old-school infrastructure, finding champions within these companies as part of the sales process, adapting your positioning, and how they’ve adjusted their pricing model to de-risk their company. Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.