Exit or Die

About Exit or Die

Welcome to Exit or Die – the unfiltered podcast for founders who know there’s no Plan B. Hosted by FoundersToday, this show goes behind the pitch decks, press releases, and polished LinkedIn posts to uncover what really happens when you're building a startup that has to scale – or die trying. Each week, we talk to the people in the arena: funded founders, operators, and investors who’ve made the hard calls, burned the boats, and pushed past the breaking point. If you’re here for buzzwords and tech-bro platitudes, you’re in the wrong feed. 🚀 Real stories. 💥 Brutal lessons. 🎯 No BS.

Publisher

FoundersToday

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

3 Sept 2025

Latest episode

7 May 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 May 2026

   Secure or Die: Why Startups Can’t Ignore Compliance Anymore

   Security isn’t optional anymore. But most startups still treat it like a problem for “later.” ⁠⁠⁠Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/)⁠⁠⁠ speaks with ⁠Fabiola Munguia⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiola-munguia/?locale=de), Co-Founder of ⁠Secfix⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/secfix/), about why security and compliance have become critical for every modern startup — and how founders can automate the process before it becomes a blocker. From SOC 2 and ISO certifications to enterprise security reviews and cybersecurity risks, Secfix is helping startups build trust without slowing down growth. After speaking with hundreds of CTOs and founders, Fabiola realized a clear pattern: Most companies only think about security when they’re about to lose a deal — or after something goes wrong. Instead of treating compliance as painful paperwork, Secfix is rebuilding it as automated infrastructure — connecting directly into company systems like AWS, GitHub, Jira, and Google Workspace to simplify security from day one. From enterprise sales and startup operations to regulations, trust, and cybersecurity culture, this episode dives deep into one of the most underestimated challenges in building scalable companies today. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why startups ignore security until it becomes a revenue problem How compliance impacts enterprise sales and customer trust Why security is becoming a competitive advantage The biggest mistakes founders make with compliance How automation can simplify SOC 2 and ISO certification Why trust will matter more than features in the future If you think security is just a “nice-to-have” — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, CTOs, operators, and anyone building products in today’s increasingly regulated digital world.

2. 

   29 Apr 2026

   Pixun Technologies: Building Sunlight as Infrastructure

   We spend over 90% of our lives indoors. But what if the light we live under is fundamentally broken? ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/) speaks with Liliana Lettieri (https://www.linkedin.com/in/liliana-lettieri-phd/) and Peter Veto (https://www.linkedin.com/in/pveto/), Co-Founders of Pixun Technologies (https://www.pixun.co/), about why artificial light is one of the most underestimated health problems of modern life — and how they’re building a solution that sounds almost futuristic: Bringing real, full-spectrum sunlight indoors. Instead of optimizing LEDs, Pixun is rethinking light from the ground up — combining hardware, fiber optics, and AI to deliver natural sunlight into any indoor space. From circadian rhythms and health impacts to building entirely new infrastructure inside buildings, this episode dives deep into a topic most people never question — but should. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why artificial light can’t replace real sunlight How lack of daylight impacts health, sleep, and performance Why most buildings are designed for efficiency — not humans How Pixun brings sunlight indoors using fiber optics Why this is not just a product — but a new infrastructure category How AI can personalize light for health and productivity If you think light is just about visibility — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone interested in health, hardware, and the future of how we live and work indoors.

3. 

   13 Apr 2026

   Mattias Protzmann & Blockbrain: Why AI Fails in Most Companies

   Most companies think AI will fix their problems. It won’t. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ speaks with Mattias Protzmann (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattias-protzmann-21aa1a14/), Co-Founder of Statista and now building Blockbrain (https://blockbrain.ai/), about why AI is failing in most organizations — and what companies get fundamentally wrong before they even start. After building one of Europe’s leading data platforms and multiple successful companies, Mattias is now tackling a problem almost every company has: Internal knowledge chaos. From data silos and broken processes to cultural resistance and knowledge drain, this episode dives deep into why AI doesn’t fix companies — it amplifies them. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI fails in companies without clean processes The real problem behind most failed AI projects Why data silos destroy efficiency and decision-making What separates real AI transformation from “innovation theater” How to turn internal knowledge into a strategic advantage Why culture — not technology — is the hardest part of AI adoption If you think implementing AI is the solution — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and executives who want to build real AI-driven companies — not just experiment with hype.

4. 

   27 Mar 2026

   Move Faster or Lose: How Seva Ustinov Built Plurio to Reinvent Marketing

   Speed isn’t a nice-to-have in marketing anymore — it’s the only advantage left. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/) speaks with Seva Ustinov (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sevaustinov/), founder of Plurio (https://www.plurio.ai/), about why most marketing teams are fundamentally broken — and how AI agents are about to replace the entire execution layer. After building a performance marketing agency with 100+ employees and managing over $50M in ad spend, Seva realized a hard truth: Even with perfect data, teams still move too slow. From dashboards and manual workflows to fully automated AI-driven execution, this episode dives deep into what it really takes to build AI-first organizations — and why speed is becoming the ultimate competitive edge. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why dashboards and manual workflows are fundamentally broken How AI agents can automate marketing execution end-to-end Why speed alone can change customer acquisition costs by up to 40% The difference between using AI tools and building AI-first teams Why execution — not data — is the real bottleneck in marketing today If you think better data will fix your marketing — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, marketers, and operators who want to stay competitive in a world where AI moves faster than any team ever could.

5. 

   18 Mar 2026

   Alexander Kölpin, seed + speed Ventures: What Investors Really Want in AI Startups

   Raising €90M in today’s market isn’t luck — it’s a signal. ⁠Peter Oberlik⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik) speaks with ⁠Alexander Kölpin⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/koelpin/), Managing Director at Seed + Speed Ventures (https://www.linkedin.com/company/seedandspeed/), about what it really takes to build and fund the next generation of AI startups in Europe. After tripling their original fund target, Alexander shares a behind-the-scenes look at early-stage investing — and why trust, execution, and resilience matter more than hype. From backing AI-driven B2B and enterprise startups to helping founders scale beyond local markets, this episode dives deep into the realities of building in today’s ecosystem. In this episode, you’ll learn: What VCs actually look for in early-stage AI founders Why most startups fail not because of tech — but lack of reflection How European founders can compete globally in AI Why sales, PR, and go-to-market matter more than your code The biggest red flags investors see in the first seconds of a pitch If you think raising capital is the hardest part — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating early-stage growth, fundraising, and the pressure to scale fast in a rapidly changing AI landscape.

6. 

   4 Mar 2026

   The Next AI Layer: AI Agent Orchestration with Mindra Co-Founder & CEO Zeynep Yorulmaz

   Everyone is talking about AI agents.But what happens when they need to collaborate? FoundersToday (https://www.founderstoday.news/) CEO, Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), sits down with Zeynep Yorulmaz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeynepyorulmaz/), Co-Founder & CEO of Mindra (https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindra-co/), to explore the next frontier of artificial intelligence: orchestrating autonomous agents that can communicate, coordinate, and optimize workflows in real time. AI agents alone aren’t the future. The real breakthrough happens when they work together. From winning back-to-back AI hackathons to building a platform where agents can collaborate and even transact through micropayments, Zeynep explains why today’s fragmented AI tools fail inside companies — and how orchestration could become the operating system of the AI economy. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI agents fail when they can’t communicate How agent orchestration could replace traditional workflows Why corporations struggle to adopt AI at scale How agent-to-agent micropayments could create new digital economies What founders misunderstand about building AI infrastructure Why the next generation of companies will be built on autonomous workflows If AI agents are the workers of the future, orchestration platforms might become the factories. This episode is a must-listen for founders, AI builders, and anyone trying to understand how autonomous systems will reshape the way companies operate.

7. 

   18 Feb 2026

   Nicholas Abele: Ultra-Low Latency Voice & the Future of Competitive Gaming

   Most voice tools feel “good enough” — until milliseconds decide who wins. FoundersToday (https://www.founderstoday.news/) CEO, Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), sits down with Nicholas Abele (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasabele/), deeptech entrepreneur, multi-time founder, and CEO of Sonics (https://www.sonix.gg/de/startseite), to uncover why real-time audio is the hidden backbone of competitive gaming and digital communities. Latency isn’t just technical. It changes how people connect, compete, and build communities. From 50+ patent families to ultra-low latency AI audio developed in Switzerland, Nicholas explains why traditional voice tools can’t keep up with 700 million competitive gamers — and how Sonics is building the infrastructure between Discord and Twitch. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why current voice platforms fail competitive gamers How AI eliminates latency and background noise in real time Why Twitch & Discord leave a massive gap in the market How gaming communities can monetize beyond streaming What founders underestimate when building deeptech consumer products Why “audio is everything” in digital interaction If your communication feels delayed, your community already is. This episode is a must-listen for founders, gamers, deeptech builders, and anyone shaping the future of real-time digital interaction.

8. 

   29 Jan 2026

   Stablecoins Without the Hype - Alex Novozhenov on Stablecoins, Compliance & Global Scale

   FoundersToday (www.founderstoday.news) CEO, Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), sits down with Alex Novozhenov (https://www.linkedin.com/in/novozhenov/), serial founder, fintech veteran, and CEO of NODU (https://nodu.fi/), to unpack why global payments still struggle to work — and why stablecoins are quietly becoming the most important infrastructure layer in finance. Innovation is loud. Infrastructure is silent. And that’s the point. From building online games with millions of users to powering banking and payment infrastructure across 170+ countries, Alex explains why most fintech products fail at scale — and why compliance isn’t a blocker, but a prerequisite for real-world adoption. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why banks still can’t talk to crypto Why stablecoins are becoming the backbone of global commerce Why compliance is a product feature — not legal overhead What founders get wrong about scaling payment infrastructure How invisible systems beat flashy fintech every time If your fintech vision only works in a demo environment, it won’t survive the real world. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and investors building at the intersection of crypto, payments, and regulation — where the future of finance is decided quietly, behind the scenes.

9. 

   11 Dec 2025

   Aurimas Bakas: The Security Illusion — Why Compliance Won’t Save You

   Most companies look secure on paper — until something real happens. ⁠FoundersToday (https://www.founderstoday.news/) CEO, Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), ⁠ sits down with ⁠Aurimas⁠ Bakas (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aurimasbakas/), serial founder with multiple exits and now CEO of Copla (https://copla.com/), to expose the uncomfortable truth behind today’s cybersecurity landscape: Compliance is easy. Real security is hard. From building core banking infrastructure to fighting AI-driven attacks that never sleep, Aurimas shares why traditional audits create a dangerous illusion of safety — and how Copla is building the bridge between certification and true operational resilience. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why ISO and SOC2 don’t mean you’re actually secure The rise of AI-powered cyberattacks — and what it means for every business Why failing a stress test might save your company How nine failures taught Aurimas more than his exits ever did What early-stage founders get dangerously wrong about cybersecurity If your security strategy fits neatly in a PowerPoint, it probably won’t survive the first attack. This episode is a must-listen for founders, CTOs, and anyone responsible for protecting customer data in a world where robots — not humans — are hacking you.

10. 

    26 Nov 2025

    Why Canadian Tech Doesn’t Stay Canadian: Raymond Luk’s Mission to Keep Canadian Innovation at Home

    Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), Founder & CEO of FoundersToday⁠ speaks with ⁠Raymond Luk⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayluk-founder/) — serial founder, investor, and founder of ⁠Source Canada⁠ (https://www.sourcecan.ca/) — about fixing one of the biggest blind spots in innovation: helping large corporations actually buy from startups. From founding and exiting multiple ventures to launching Canada’s first corporate-startup summit in just 76 days, Raymond shares bold insights on why procurement — not funding — might be the real key to scaling national innovation. In this episode, he dives into: Why Canadian (and European) startups struggle to sell locally How corporate culture and “risk aversion” kill innovation What founders get wrong about storytelling and fundraising Why the best startups don’t move fast — they move with purpose If you care about building ecosystems that keep innovation at home, this episode is a must-listen.

11. 

    12 Nov 2025

    Crypto Isn’t Dead — But the Hype Is. The BitMEX Reinvention Story.

    BitMEX (https://www.bitmex.com/) was once the king of crypto derivatives — now it’s rebuilding for a new era. CEO Stephan Lutz (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-lutz-7957a6a/) joins FoundersToday CEO Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/) to talk about scaling without hype, staying 92% founder-owned, and running a profitable exchange in the post-bull-market world. A raw look at resilience, focus, and reinventing relevance in crypto.

12. 

    29 Oct 2025

    Beyond the Cable: How MOON POWER builds the Infrastructure for an Electric Europe

    Everyone talks about electric cars — but the real revolution happens behind the plug. ⚡ ⁠Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), Founder & CEO of FoundersToday⁠ (https://www.founderstoday.news/) speaks with ⁠Markus Tatzer⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/markustatzer/), CEO of ⁠MOON Power⁠ (https://www.moon-power.com/), one of Europe’s leading players in e-mobility and energy infrastructure. A 100% subsidiary of Porsche Holding, MOON is building what most only talk about: the physical foundation of the electric future — from smart charging to battery storage and grid integration. From scaling regional infrastructure across Europe to navigating regulation and competition with giants, Markus shares how MOON is pioneering the ecosystem that will power millions of EVs. If you think e-mobility is just about cars, think again — this episode is about energy, innovation, and the race to electrify everything. Don’t miss this inside look at how Europe can build its own Tesla-level infrastructure.

13. 

    13 Oct 2025

    From Bootstrapping to $150M Exit – Roger Sholanki on Building and Selling SaaS Companies

    Building, scaling, and selling — not once, but three times. ⁠Peter Oberlik⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/), Founder & CEO of FoundersToday, speaks with ⁠Roger Sholanki⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sholanki/), a three-time founder and now Managing Partner at ⁠SeedTwo Capital⁠ (https://www.seedtwo.com/), who bootstrapped his SaaS company Book4Time into one of the world’s leading wellness tech platforms — before exiting for over $150 million. From coding through the .com era to building vertical SaaS before it was cool, Roger shares his hard-earned lessons on scaling without funding, focusing on profitability, and why founders should pay themselves last. Discover what truly separates unicorn chasers from real builders — and why in today’s market, focus beats hype every time. Don’t miss this masterclass in founder mindset, exits, and the art of scaling smart.

14. 

    30 Sept 2025

    Decarbonizing Europe’s Housing Stock: The VARM Story with CEO Christian Gruener

    Buildings are Europe’s biggest CO₂ monsters — and one Founder is on a mission to change that. FoundersToday CEO ⁠Peter Oberlik⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/) speaks with ⁠Christian Gruener (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiangruener/), Co-Founder and CEO of ⁠VARM⁠, the startup building Europe’s champion for insulation. With a bold goal to retrofit 1 million homes in 10 years, VARM (https://www.varm.earth/) combines technology, training, and local insulation hubs to make homes energy-efficient at scale. From leaving top-tier consulting to getting hands dirty in the field, Christian shares what it takes to turn climate ambition into real-world impact — including hard lessons in fundraising, scaling “unsexy” businesses, and why profitability is sexy after all. Don’t miss this story of operational climate tech that’s less about slides and more about saving energy, money, and the planet. Don’t miss out on any news and follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/founderstoday) ⁠.

15. 

    19 Sept 2025

    No More Integration Nightmares and Why Ops Should Be Invisible - Juha Berghäll, CEO & Co-Founder ONEiO

    Integrations power every digital business — yet they’re messy, invisible, and often broken. ONEiO wants to change that. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/) speaks with ⁠⁠Juha Berghäll⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jberghall/), CEO and co-founder of ⁠ONEiO⁠, the Finnish startup pioneering Integration Ops as a Service. Instead of endless projects, fragile middleware, and mounting costs, ⁠ONEiO⁠ (https://www.oneio.cloud/) makes complexity disappear with automation, AI, and a subscription model. From cutting wasted hours to scaling IT across global enterprises, discover why making the invisible simple might be one of the most important innovations in tech. Don’t miss out on any news and follow us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/founderstoday).

16. 

    3 Sept 2025

    From Stroke Detection to Muscle Intelligence: Suoyi Feng, Co-Founder Vitaly Medical

    Muscles power every movement we make — yet no wearable has ever tracked them. Until now. Peter Oberlik (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/) speaks with Suoyi Feng (https://www.linkedin.com/in/suoyi-feng/), co-founder of Vitaly Medical, about Vitband (https://vitband.com/), the first device that turns raw muscle signals into real-time insights. From athletes avoiding injuries to older adults staying mobile, discover how this pivot could redefine health, performance, and aging. Don't miss out on any news and follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/founderstoday).

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