Beginner's Mind

EP 162 - Alex Oppenheimer: The Secret Investors Use Before Writing the First Check

Here’s the harsh truth: If your business model can’t survive a spreadsheet, it won’t survive the market.Every year, ambitious founders pour months into product, pitch, and brand—yet the single biggest reason startups die isn’t funding, it’s flawed modeling.What are the four variables investors use to spot winners before anyone else?In this episode, investor and hands-on builder Alex Oppenheimer (Founder & GP at Verissimo Ventures, ex-Facebook IPO, ex-NEA, Monday.com advisor) reveals why most startup advice misses the point—and how the best founders reverse-engineer success long before a single euro is raised.🎧 Watch now to learn: 1️⃣ The business model simulation Alex uses to kill (or greenlight) a deal in under an hour 2️⃣ The one thing top VCs always ask founders—but almost nobody prepares for 3️⃣ Why a founder’s “calling” is more important than their credentials 4️⃣ How to avoid the European trap of ignoring leverage and failing to scale 5️⃣ The subtle mindset shift that separates bold investors from the herd—and how to apply it to your own company👤 About Alex Oppenheimer Stanford-trained engineer, ex-Morgan Stanley tech banker, NEA Series A investor, Monday.com operator, and now founder of Verissimo Ventures—a fund that bets on weird tech and next-gen software models in Israel, the US, and Europe.💬 Quotes That Might Change How You Think: (00:59:00) “If I don't build this, nobody else will—that’s the founder’s true calling.” (01:12:45) “How can you know what data to collect if you don’t know the model?” (01:22:36) “The real job of an investor is helping great founders not mess it up.”🧭 Timestamps to Explore: (00:04:00) Quitting Corporate Venture—The Decision That Changed Everything (00:11:50) What Business Modeling Is (and Isn’t) (00:18:30) Trusting the Founder Over the Deck (00:24:40) Venture Capital and the Power of Naivete (00:34:03) Inside the Facebook IPO Data Room (00:44:38) Lessons from Betting on Outliers (00:49:48) Leaving NEA to Build Israel’s Next Scaleups (01:02:32) From Frustration to Founding a Venture Fund (01:10:57) Why Business Modeling Remains a Blind Spot (01:14:09) Redefining Value Investing in Venture Capital (01:15:50) Decoding Value with Core Variables (01:22:36) Helping Founders Avoid Unnecessary Pitfalls Early 🔔 Like what you hear? Follow the show and share this episode with one builder, founder, or investor you respect. Every share helps us bring new industry leaders and sharper insights straight to you. Subscribe now—your next breakthrough could be one episode away.🎙️ Beginner’s Mind Top 10% globally. The leading podcast for VCs, operators, and anyone obsessed with building what comes next.Send us a textSupport the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link

EP 161 - Enis Hulli: VC Secrets Exposed: Why Only US-Based Startups Dominate (and How to Beat the Odds)

Why do Europe’s brightest founders still feel forced to leave for Silicon Valley—no matter how much money or talent we pour into the region? Every year, ambitious startups across Europe and CEE struggle to scale—not for lack of ideas, but because of invisible barriers that keep global success out of reach.Is it really just about capital—or is there a deeper mindset and playbook that only a handful of founders ever discover?In this episode, venture insider Enis Hulli (General Partner at e2vc, investor in 40+ startups, 3 unicorns, and builder of bridges from Istanbul to the Bay) pulls back the curtain on the real reasons US-based startups keep winning—and how founders from Turkey, Eastern Europe, and beyond can finally turn the tables.🎧 Watch now to learn: 1️⃣ The “power law” that decides which founders build generational companies—and why most never see it coming 2️⃣ Why relationships, not pitch decks, determine who actually gets funded—and how to break through if you don’t have the right connections 3️⃣ How emotional resilience and founder mindset shape the fate of entire regions—not just individuals 4️⃣ The little-known risks of playing the European “safe game”—and how to engineer luck for outsized results 5️⃣ Tactical lessons on team building, brand, and why your anti-portfolio (the deals you missed) might matter even more than your winners👤 About Enis Hulli Enis is General Partner at e2vc, a leading early-stage venture fund focused on scaling tech startups from Emerging Europe to global markets. With investments in 40+ companies (including three unicorns), he’s spent his career helping founders unlock the path from local player to world-class leader.💬 Quotes That Might Shift Your Thinking: (01:30:44) “I don’t think we’ll see founders choosing Europe over the US in our…” (01:34:37) “There are twenty different ways to kill a reputation on any side of the…” (01:38:31) “To avoid complacency, I surround myself with people who make me feel like I…”🧭 Timestamps to Explore: (00:16:58) How the Bay Area’s Talent Network Effect Became Unstoppable (00:20:48) Work-Life Balance vs. Blitzscaling—What It Really Takes to Go from Zero to One (00:25:43) Why Founders Trump Pitch Decks Every Time (00:30:38) The Perils of Planning for an Exit Too Soon (00:34:34) The Three Qualities Every VC Looks For—And Why Mindset Still Wins (00:40:30) How IPO Markets Shape (and Break) Venture Capital (00:43:52) Fundraising Mistakes That Kill FOMO and Crush Deals (01:12:58) Why Bay Area Mindset Still Outpaces Europe’s Best (01:30:44) The Real Reason Europe Loses Its Unicorns (01:34:37) Reputation, Relationships, and the Hidden Dangers of VC Control (01:38:31) How Top Investors Avoid Complacency and Stay Hungry🔔 Follow the show and leave a review. Every follow, like, and share brings new global voices, industry leaders, and sharpest insights straight to you.🎙️ Beginner’s Mind ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the leading deep tech podcast for scientific entrepreneurship.Send us a textSupport the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link

EP 160 - Vadim Fedotov: Elevate Your Wellbeing: How Data-Driven Choices Create Peak Performance

Still trying to optimize your health with guesswork and generic advice?Most people settle for “one-size-fits-all” supplements and hope for the best-missing out on the breakthroughs that only real data and personalization can offer.In a world flooded with empty promises, few realize how quickly tailored, science-backed solutions can transform energy, focus, and longevity.Enter Vadim Fedotov—ex-pro athlete, CEO, and co-founder of Bioniq, the health tech company bringing truly personalized care to the world’s top leaders, innovators, and athletes.In this eye-opening conversation, Vadim reveals why your biology is as unique as your fingerprint—and why the future belongs to those who personalize, measure, and adapt.Discover the systems, mindsets, and science behind optimizing human potential—without wasting time, money, or hope on outdated approaches.🎧 Watch now to explore: 1️⃣ The fatal flaw in “one-size-fits-all” wellness—and how personalization is rewriting the rules 2️⃣ How AI, data, and regular feedback loops empower you to outpace your peers—at work, in health, and in life 3️⃣ Lessons from elite sports: why discipline, team dynamics, and feedback matter in business 4️⃣ The “feedback loop” secret that’s changing the supplement industry forever 5️⃣ Vadim’s vision for a future where your fridge, wearable, and AI coach work together to help you thrive👤 About Vadim Fedotov Vadim is the co-founder and CEO of Bioniq, former CEO at Groupon, and a former professional basketball player with the German National Team and Buffalo Bulls. Driven by his passion for health optimization, he’s building a global, interdisciplinary network of thought leaders to put cutting-edge, personalized care within everyone’s reach.💬 Quotes That Might Shift Your Thinking: (00:08:27) "Personalized health isn't a trend; it's the future of wellness."(00:15:54) "There is no single right diet, exercise, or routine—every body truly needs something different."(00:44:11) "Personalization in health is not a luxury anymore; it’s quickly becoming a necessity."(01:06:26) "You only fail when you give up—resilience defines success."(01:23:21) "Seventy percent of your health is determined by nutrition, not pharmaceuticals or medicine."🧭 Timestamps to Explore: (00:03:32) Why Visionary Leaders and Families Move to Dubai (00:08:27) Personalizing Health Revolution How Data-Driven Wellness Changes Everything (00:09:27) Health as the New Wealth Post-Covid Insights (00:15:52) Busting Health Myths There’s No One-Size-Fits-All (00:18:28) Data Over Opinion Navigating Health Complexity (00:21:03) Olympic Research Sparks Personalized Health Innovation (00:23:51) When Obvious Solutions Don’t Exist—The Birth of Bioniq (00:25:40) When a "Dumb Idea" Becomes a Massive Opportunity (00:31:01) Setting Personal Health Goals With AI and Data (00:34:40) Real-World Feedback Loops Cut Through Wellness Hype (00:40:07) Data-Driven Breakthroughs That Save Lives (00:44:11) Why Health Personalization Is Now a Necessity (00:54:31) Leadership, Discipline, and Lessons from Elite Sports (01:01:04) Finding Pride and Resilience Against All Odds (01:23:21) Redesigning Healthcare Starting With Nutrition🔔 Follow the show. Leave a review. 🎙️ Beginner’s Mind ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the Send us a textSupport the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link

Angeli Möller | Building the Future of Health with Precision, Vision, and Heart (SPARK20 – 142)

How do you lead at the cutting edge of health, data, and AI—while staying deeply human?Angeli Möller has led global data science teams across pharma giants, co-founded one of Europe’s most ambitious AI alliances, and now builds high-performance biotech strategies with precision. But what truly sets her apart isn’t just her technical fluency—it’s her clarity, courage, and care in how she builds teams, solves problems, and pushes the boundaries of innovation.In this episode, Angeli opens up about the quiet frustrations that fuel her mission, the invisible cost of ignoring innovation, and the principles that guide her client work today. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or policymaker, her journey will reshape how you think about leadership, AI, and what truly moves the needle in healthcare.Here’s what you’ll take away:Why most AI projects fail—and how to spot the ones that won’t.How to lead technical teams with vision, warmth, and accountability.Why proprietary data matters more than fancy algorithms.What real innovation feels like—and how to know when you’re missing it.At the center of it all: a calm, fiercely smart leader who sees through the noise and builds what matters.As she says: “Start with the real problem. If you don’t understand the problem, AI won’t help you.”Timestamps & Topics📌 (01:08) Missed AI Integration Costs – “It’s faster, more effective, cheaper—but it’s not part of the core business yet.”📌 (03:57) AI vs. Real-World Drug Impact – “The question isn’t: does it use AI? It’s: does the medicine work?”📌 (04:48) Post-Hype AI Fallout in Pharma – “Fraud led to disillusionment. And investors paid the price.”📌 (06:39) Corporate Blind Spots in Innovation – “It’s a danger in business to think there’s nothing to learn from others.”📌 (09:40) Building a European AI Alliance – “At first, pharma didn’t take us seriously. That changed with the data.”📌 (11:02) Data Ethics and Regulatory Risk – “You can massively hurt your business through accidental bias.”📌 (13:19) Data Access for Rare Diseases – “The only solution is to make that data safely available.”📌 (15:22) Leadership Shift: From Bayer to Startup – “It felt too obvious. I needed something riskier, more meaningful.”📌 (21:23) Three Core Leadership Traits – “Vision. Technical understanding. And knowing when to bring in others.”📌 (22:27) Frictionless Health Tech Adoption – “It’s inevitable. The economics—and behavior nudges—are already shaping it.”This episode offers more than insight—it’s a playbook for building what’s next in health, tech, and leadership.👉 Listen now, and share it with someone ready to shape the future.🎙️ With over 200 interviews, panels, and livestreams, Beginner’s Mind ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the leading deep tech podcast for biotech, AI, and scientific innovation. Send us a textSupport the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link

#159: No Rules Rules — 7 Culture Principles That Made Netflix Unstoppable

Most founders add layers to gain control. Reed Hastings built an empire by removing them. This episode unpacks No Rules Rules—the leadership playbook behind Netflix’s rise from a DVD mail service to a global entertainment powerhouse. Co-authored by founder Reed Hastings and INSEAD professor Erin Meyer, the book reveals how to scale not through policy, but through trust, talent density, and extreme transparency. But this isn’t just about Netflix. It’s about you—if you’re building or investing in companies between Series A and IPO, where culture either compounds performance or quietly kills it. I walk you through 7 operational principles that deep-tech teams can apply now—lessons forged in crisis, growth, and reinvention. You’ll learn how to sunshine mistakes, pay like a pirate, and lead without becoming a bottleneck. Each principle is translated into coaching prompts, ready to implement this week. Key Takeaways: Culture Outruns Capital: Don’t optimize the engine—reinvent the vehicle.Pro Team > Family: Loyalty is earned through excellence, not tenure.Candor Drives Speed: Build feedback loops that fuel progress.Pay Top of Market: Buy peace of mind. Unlock creative flow.Bet Boldly: Seek dissent. Test. Learn. Repeat.Context Beats Control: Share the why. Let them own the how.Transparency = Trust: Open up, even when it’s uncomfortable.Timestamps: (00:00) Intro – Why Netflix Scaled Faster by Removing Rules, Not Adding Them (04:30) Who Is Reed Hastings? – From Math Teacher to Global Disruptor (09:13) Book Snapshot – What Makes No Rules Rules a Real Operating System (11:35) Lesson 1: Culture Outruns Capital – How Netflix Survived 4 Disruptions, Blockbuster Didn’t Survive One (17:25) Lesson 2: Build a Pro Team, Not a Family – Talent Density Over Loyalty (22:48) Lesson 3: Radical Candor = Speed – The Feedback Model That Fuels Innovation (27:34) Lesson 4: Pay Like a Pirate – Why Netflix Pays Top of Market—No Games, Just Outcomes (32:20) Lesson 5: Bet Bold, Fail Proudly – The 4-Step Innovation Cycle That Keeps Netflix Ahead (39:12) Lesson 6: Lead with Context, Not Control – Scaling Leadership Without Becoming a Bottleneck (43:28) Lesson 7: Transparency Builds Velocity – How Truth-Telling Became Netflix’s Superpower (48:15) 7 Key Takeaways – The Culture Playbook Every Growth-Stage Founder Needs (50:15) Personal Reflection – What I Questioned, What I’ll Steal, What Gave Me Pause (52:00) Call to Action + What’s Next – Support the Show + Tease of the Next Episode Why Listen: Learn how Netflix scaled without micromanagementGet 7 principles that push your org design, talent strategy, and leadership edgeDiscover where you're still playing defense—when your culture should be your offenseUpgrade your leadership thinking with real examples and immediate applicationsFound this useful? Like, share, and follow. Every signal grows the show—and brings in more elite guests ready to share the truths behind high-growth success.  🎙️ - Beginner's Mind. Top 10% global. #1 deep tech podcast. 200+ episodes. Send us a textSupport the showJoin the Podcast Newsletter: Link