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.
VentureTales
Claim This Podcastby Alex Zafeiris
5 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇪🇺
Podcast Overview
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.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/21/2025
1 verified contact email on file for VentureTales
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
December 4, 2025
How Top VCs Find Future Unicorns Before Everyone Else | AI Deal Sourcing with Evertrace
<p>👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast" target="_blank"><b>https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast</b></a></p><p>👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive our 5-minute startup deep dives right in your inbox: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.venturetales.co/" target="_blank"><b>https://www.venturetales.co/</b></a></p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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!</p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>In This Episode:</p><p>00:00 - Intro 0</p><p>3:30 - Why They Chose NOT to Take VC Money (Despite Being in the VC Industry) </p><p>06:28 - The AI Platform Finding Pre-Seed Investments Opportunities </p><p>12:45 - Operating Lean: Building a Profitable SaaS with Just 4 People </p><p>17:33 - The AI Infrastructure Cost Risk </p><p>24:15 - Growth Through M&A: 3 Acquisitions in 2 Months</p><p>28:40 - The Future: AI Agents That Automate Deal Sourcing 24/7 </p><p>33:50 - Raising from Angels vs VCs: Why High-Intentionality Investors Matter </p><p>38:10 - The Principle That Prevents Founder Breakups </p><p>38:10 - Why Nordic Startups Are Winning the Startup Growth Race </p><p>44:10 - The Path to €1M ARR & What's Coming Next for Evertrace</p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>Connect with Jacob: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-graubaek-houlberg/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-graubaek-houlberg/</a> </p><p>Learn more about Evertrace: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.evertrace.ai/" target="_blank">https://www.evertrace.ai/</a></p><p></p><p>-------</p><p></p><p>Follow Alex on LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/" target="_blank"><b>https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/</b></a></p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>👉Start your podcast with Riverside: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U" target="_blank"><b>http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U</b></a> <i>👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv: </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/49cxfdy" target="_blank"><b><i>https://bit.ly/49cxfdy</i></b></a><i> </i>👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4otVxUY" target="_blank"><b>https://bit.ly/4otVxUY</b></a></p><p><i>👉Work with Alex: </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/venturetales" target="_blank"><b><i>https://bit.ly/venturetales</i></b></a></p><p></p><p>Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you.</p><p></p><p>-------</p><p></p><p>🎙️ 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.</p><p></p><p>-------</p><p></p><p>#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</p>
November 27, 2025
The Hidden Revenue Streams 95% of Independent Artists Miss | Inside the Platform Changing Everything
<p>👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast</a> </p><p>👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive our 5-minute startup deep dives right in your inbox: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.venturetales.co/" target="_blank">https://www.venturetales.co/</a> </p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>In This Episode: </p><p>00:00 - Intro </p><p>01:04 - From Philosophy Student to YouTube Music </p><p>07:03 - How AI & No-Code Tools Changed Everything for Music Startups </p><p>14:30 - The Revenue Streams Independent Artists Don't Know Exist </p><p>22:15 - What Most Musicians Misunderstand About Platforms </p><p>30:45 - Why Royalty Systems Are Built to Confuse & How to Beat Them </p><p>38:45 - The Hidden Cost of Building as an Immigrant </p><p>43:12 - Google's Golden Handcuffs </p><p>45:29 - Korda's Next Move: Royalty Orchestration & Micro-Label Management </p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>Connect with Alina: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaverbenchuk/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaverbenchuk/</a> </p><p>Learn more about Korda: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://korda.co/" target="_blank">https://korda.co/</a> </p><p>Alina's Book "How Platforms Work": <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/48iE9vL" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/48iE9vL</a> </p><p>-------</p><p>👉Start your podcast with Riverside: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U</a> <i> 👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv: </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/49cxfdy" target="_blank"><i>https://bit.ly/49cxfdy</i></a><i> </i> 👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4otVxUY" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4otVxUY</a> <i> </i></p><p><i>👉Work with Alex: </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/venturetales" target="_blank"><i>https://bit.ly/venturetales</i></a><i> </i></p><p></p><p>Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you. </p><p></p><p>-------</p><p>Follow Alex on LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/</a> </p><p>-------</p><p></p><p>🎙️ 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. </p><p></p><p>-------</p><p></p><p>#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</p>
November 6, 2025
How to Build an AI Startup with No Money or Technical Skills | Bootstrapped Founder Tips
<p>👉Try BetterPic with our special offer*: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4opuAlx" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4opuAlx</a> </p><p></p><p>Build your startup the lean way; no investors, no marketing budget, no technical expertise. | VentureTales Ep. 3 </p><p></p><p>👉Subscribe for more European startup insights: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@VentureTales_Podcast</a> </p><p>👉Join our FREE newsletter to receive our 5-minute startup deep dives right in your inbox: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.venturetales.co/" target="_blank">https://www.venturetales.co/</a> </p><p>Subscribe on Spotify: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNbXBe1JWtHPxltGpxSd1" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNbXBe1JWtHPxltGpxSd1</a> </p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>IN THIS EPISODE </p><ul><li>Affiliate marketing as a key growth driver.</li><li>Bootstrapping creativity and strategic planning.</li><li>Human interaction remains vital in AI-driven operations.</li><li>Compliance is essential for scaling in enterprise markets.</li><li>Building in public enhances transparency and internal growth.</li><li>The importance of design.</li><li>Belgium's startup ecosystem.</li><li>European vs US fund raising.</li></ul><p></p><p>-------</p><p>Connect with Ricardo: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-ghekiere/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-ghekiere/</a> </p><p>Learn more about BetterStudio: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://betterstudio.io/" target="_blank">https://betterstudio.io/</a> -</p><p></p><p>👉Start your podcast with Riverside*: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/4hhkT5U</a> <i> 👉Start your newsletter with Beehiiv*: </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/49cxfdy" target="_blank"><i>https://bit.ly/49cxfdy</i></a><i> </i> 👉Find Your Next Startup Job with Jack&Jill*: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4otVxUY" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4otVxUY</a> <i> </i></p><p><i>👉Work with Alex: </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/venturetales" target="_blank"><i>https://bit.ly/venturetales</i></a><i> </i></p><p></p><p>*Affiliate links - using these supports the podcast at no cost to you.</p><p>-------</p><p>Follow Alex on LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexzafeiris/</a> </p><p>-------</p><p>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. </p>
5 total episodes available
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This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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