VentureTales

About VentureTales

VentureTales is helping you discover the European startup scene. In this podcast we interview startup founders, investors and operators to uncover the stories, opinions and mentality behind Europe's innovators. The podcast is an extension of the VentureTales newsletter, where readers learn about early-stage startups, strategic analysis and market data. Head over to www.venturetales.co for more information.

Publisher

Alex Zafeiris

Category

business · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Oct 2025

Latest episode

4 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Dec 2025

   How Top VCs Find Future Unicorns Before Everyone Else | AI Deal Sourcing with Evertrace

   👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast) 👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive our 5-minute startup deep dives right in your inbox: https://www.venturetales.co/ (https://www.venturetales.co/) ------- n this episode, we sit down with Jacob Houlberg (co-founder of Evertrace and former VC at PSV) to reveal how top investors are using AI to discover pre-seed companies the moment they're incorporated. From scanning 100,000+ data points to automating deal flow that used to take weeks, Jacob breaks down the future of early-stage investing. Whether you're a VC looking for better deal sourcing, a founder trying to understand how investors find companies, or someone fascinated by how AI is transforming business, this conversation is for you! ------- In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 0 3:30 - Why They Chose NOT to Take VC Money (Despite Being in the VC Industry) 06:28 - The AI Platform Finding Pre-Seed Investments Opportunities 12:45 - Operating Lean: Building a Profitable SaaS with Just 4 People 17:33 - The AI Infrastructure Cost Risk 24:15 - Growth Through M&A: 3 Acquisitions in 2 Months 28:40 - The Future: AI Agents That Automate Deal Sourcing 24/7 33:50 - Raising from Angels vs VCs: Why High-Intentionality Investors Matter 38:10 - The Principle That Prevents Founder Breakups 38:10 - Why Nordic Startups Are Winning the Startup Growth Race 44:10 - The Path to €1M ARR & What's Coming Next for Evertrace ------- Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-graubaek-houlberg/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-graubaek-houlberg/) Learn more about Evertrace: https://www.evertrace.ai/ (https://www.evertrace.ai/) ------- Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/) ------- 👉Start your podcast with Riverside: http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U (http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U) 👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv: https://bit.ly/49cxfdy (https://bit.ly/49cxfdy) 👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill: https://bit.ly/4otVxUY (https://bit.ly/4otVxUY) 👉Work with Alex: https://bit.ly/venturetales (https://bit.ly/venturetales) Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you. ------- 🎙️ ABOUT VENTURETALES VentureTales uncovers the untold stories of European startup founders, VCs, and operators building the next generation of innovation. Hosted by Alex Zafeiris, we go beyond the headlines to discuss real challenges, honest failures, and contrarian insights shaping European entrepreneurship. ------- #StartupFounder #AITools #TechEntrepreneur #StartupJourney #VentureTales #business #startupnews #technology #startupnews #business #entrepreneur #vc #venturecapital #investing #ceo #startups #innovation #ai #openai #aistartup #europe #siliconvalley ##businesspodcast #funding #unicorn #businessadvice #automation #startupstory #interview #techstartup #businessstrategy #denmark #angelinvestor #saas #evertrace

2. 

   27 Nov 2025

   The Hidden Revenue Streams 95% of Independent Artists Miss | Inside the Platform Changing Everything

   👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast) 👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive our 5-minute startup deep dives right in your inbox: https://www.venturetales.co/ (https://www.venturetales.co/) ------- From YouTube Music to building an all-in-one platform for independent music artists, Alina reveals the insider knowledge most artists never learn about royalties, music rights, and the real reason creators struggle monetizing their work. Whether you're an independent artist, a founder interested in music tech or someone fascinated by how AI and innovative software infrastructure are disrupting the music industry, this conversation is packed with insights you won't find anywhere else. ------- In This Episode: 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - From Philosophy Student to YouTube Music 07:03 - How AI & No-Code Tools Changed Everything for Music Startups 14:30 - The Revenue Streams Independent Artists Don't Know Exist 22:15 - What Most Musicians Misunderstand About Platforms 30:45 - Why Royalty Systems Are Built to Confuse & How to Beat Them 38:45 - The Hidden Cost of Building as an Immigrant 43:12 - Google's Golden Handcuffs 45:29 - Korda's Next Move: Royalty Orchestration & Micro-Label Management ------- Alina Verbenchuk is the co-founder of Korda, an all-in-one music business platform empowering independent musicians to manage everything from distribution to monetization. ------- Connect with Alina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaverbenchuk/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaverbenchuk/) Learn more about Korda: https://korda.co/ (https://korda.co/) Alina's Book "How Platforms Work": https://bit.ly/48iE9vL (https://bit.ly/48iE9vL) ------- 👉Start your podcast with Riverside: http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U (http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U) 👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv: https://bit.ly/49cxfdy (https://bit.ly/49cxfdy) 👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill: https://bit.ly/4otVxUY (https://bit.ly/4otVxUY) 👉Work with Alex: https://bit.ly/venturetales (https://bit.ly/venturetales) Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you. ------- Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/) ------- 🎙️ ABOUT VENTURETALES VentureTales uncovers the untold stories of European startup founders, VCs, and operators building the next generation of innovation. Hosted by Alex Zafeiris, we go beyond the headlines to discuss real challenges, honest failures, and contrarian insights shaping European entrepreneurship. ------- #MusicRevenue #IndependentArtists #MusicRoyalties #MusicTechStartup #YouTubeMusic #StartupFounder #MusicMonetization #MusicIndustry #AITools #NoCode #MusicBusiness #CreatorEconomy #RoyaltyTracking #IndependentMusic #MusicPlatform #TechEntrepreneur #StartupJourney #VentureTales #MusicTech #suno #musiccopyright #business #startupnews #technology #startupnews #business #entrepreneur #vc #indiemusic

3. 

   6 Nov 2025

   How to Build an AI Startup with No Money or Technical Skills | Bootstrapped Founder Tips

   👉Try BetterPic with our special offer*: https://bit.ly/4opuAlx (https://bit.ly/4opuAlx) Build your startup the lean way; no investors, no marketing budget, no technical expertise. | VentureTales Ep. 3 👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast) 👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive our 5-minute startup deep dives right in your inbox: https://www.venturetales.co/ (https://www.venturetales.co/) Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNbXBe1JWtHPxltGpxSd1 (https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNbXBe1JWtHPxltGpxSd1) Ricardo Ghekiere, co-founder of BetterPic and BetterStudio, joins Alex to discuss his companies’ growth, the role of affiliate marketing, and the challenges of bootstrapping. They explore the importance of human touch in AI-driven businesses, the impact of compliance on scaling, and the dynamics of the startup ecosystem in Belgium. Ricardo shares insights on building in public, the significance of design, the differences between Europe and USA startup environment and the future of deep tech investments. IN THIS EPISODE Affiliate marketing as a key growth driver. Bootstrapping creativity and strategic planning. Human interaction remains vital in AI-driven operations. Compliance is essential for scaling in enterprise markets. Building in public enhances transparency and internal growth. The importance of design. Belgium's startup ecosystem. European vs US fund raising. ------- Connect with Ricardo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-ghekiere/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-ghekiere/) Learn more about BetterStudio: https://betterstudio.io/ (https://betterstudio.io/) - 👉Start your podcast with Riverside*: http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U (http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U) 👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv*: https://bit.ly/49cxfdy (https://bit.ly/49cxfdy) 👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill*: https://bit.ly/4otVxUY (https://bit.ly/4otVxUY) 👉Work with Alex: https://bit.ly/venturetales (https://bit.ly/venturetales) *Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you. ------- Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/) ------- VentureTales uncovers the untold stories of European startup founders, VCs, and operators building the next generation of innovation. Hosted by Alex Zafeiris, we go beyond the headlines to discuss real challenges, honest failures, and contrarian insights shaping European entrepreneurship.

4. 

   29 Oct 2025

   How an AI Startup Unlocked $200B+ in Secondary Market Liquidity & Beat Wall Street at Its Own Game

   How an AI Startup Beat Wall Street at Its Own Game | VentureTales Ep. 2 👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast) 👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive a weekly 5-minute startup deep dive right in your inbox: https://www.venturetales.co/ (https://www.venturetales.co/) Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNbXBe1JWtHPxltGpxSd1 (https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNbXBe1JWtHPxltGpxSd1) -------- In this episode of Venture Tales, Alex interviews Daniel, the CTO and co-founder of Rebloom, who shares his unique journey from astrophysics to the world of venture capital and startups. Daniel discusses the challenges of operating a young AI startup in a heavily regulated market, the rise of secondary markets, and the importance of agility in business. He emphasizes the value of building in public and transparency in customer acquisition, as well as the significance of education in the secondary market. The conversation also touches on the startup environment in Denmark, funding strategies and the impact of AI on the industry, IN THIS EPISODE: Why Goldman Sachs spent $1B on secondaries while a 12-month-old startup is already winning The real reason Revolut and Deel block secondary trades How to scale from freemium to $200M institutional deals with zero marketing budget Why "you'll never go 100% AI" in finance—even from an AI company CTO The broker problem costing investors millions: "Everyone is taking 2%" Execution speed vs. capital: Why lean startups beat legacy institutions Honest take on AI valuations: Which unicorns won't survive and why ........... Connect with Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-bobruk/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-bobruk/) Learn more about ReBloom: https://rebloom.ai/ (https://rebloom.ai/) --------- 👉Start your podcast with Riverside*: http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U (http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U) 👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv*: https://bit.ly/49cxfdy (https://bit.ly/49cxfdy) 👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill*: https://bit.ly/4otVxUY (https://bit.ly/4otVxUY) 👉Work with Alex: https://bit.ly/venturetales (https://bit.ly/venturetales) *Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you. ------- Follow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/) ------- VentureTales uncovers the untold stories of European startup founders, VCs, and operators building the next generation of innovation. Hosted by Alex Zafeiris, we go beyond the headlines to discuss real challenges, honest failures and contrarian insights shaping European entrepreneurship.

5. 

   21 Oct 2025

   Europe's Startup Problem Isn't Money │ ScaleFund VC Reveals The Truth

   Why European startups fail has nothing to do with money! Thomas Pav from ScaleFund joins VentureTales to reveal the post-seed death trap killing European companies, why government funding often backfires, and what Belgium's startup mafia teaches us about building ecosystem wealth. From biking to a founder's office to close a deal to rejecting the "spray and pray" VC model, Thomas shares unfiltered insights on deep tech investing, the AI funding bubble, and why Estonia's "unicorn mindset" is reshaping European innovation. IN THIS EPISODE: The unconventional path from KPMG to venture capital. Why stealth mode isn't the problem - public funding is. Can Europe actually compete with Silicon Valley? How European institutions are blocking their own innovation. ScaleFund's boutique thesis: Only 5 investments per partner. The AI bubble: Why every OpenAI update kills 20% of startups When founders reject investor money! Belgium's ESOP disaster & the Delaware incorporation dilemma. Scaling from startup chaos to operational maturity. European startups you need to know! Life advice: Journaling, and the 8-out-of-10 rule. CONNECT WITH THOMAS PAV: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspav/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspav/) Work with Thomas: https://letsgeta.coffee/mentors/thomas-pav/ (https://letsgeta.coffee/mentors/thomas-pav/) ScaleFund: https://www.scale-fund.com/ (https://www.scale-fund.com/) RESOURCES: 👉 Get our FREE 5-minute startup newsletter: https://www.venturetales.co/ (https://www.venturetales.co/) 👉 Start your podcast with Riverside: http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U (http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U) 👉 Start your newsletter with Beehiiv: https://bit.ly/49cxfdy (https://bit.ly/49cxfdy) 👉 Find your next startup job with Jack&Jill: https://bit.ly/4otVxUY (https://bit.ly/4otVxUY) 👉 Work with Alex: https://bit.ly/venturetales (https://bit.ly/venturetales) VentureTales uncovers the untold stories of European startup founders, VCs, and operators building the next generation of innovation. Hosted by Alex Zafeiris, we go beyond the headlines to discuss real challenges, honest failures and contrarian insights shaping European entrepreneurship. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast) Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/) Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alex.venturetales (https://www.tiktok.com/@alex.venturetales) Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturetales.co (https://www.instagram.com/venturetales.co) Some of the links are affiliate - using these supports the show at no cost to you.

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.