The Young Founders Collective is a podcast spotlighting young entrepreneurs and future leaders across industries, from art and social impact to business and tech. Hosted by Defne Gurkan, each episode explores beyond the business ventures, and dives into personal journeys, values, and defining moments behind the next generation shaping the world.
Young Founders Collective
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6 episodes
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Podcast Overview
The Young Founders Collective is a podcast spotlighting young entrepreneurs and future leaders across industries, from art and social impact to business and tech. Hosted by Defne Gurkan, each episode explores beyond the business ventures, and dives into personal journeys, values, and defining moments behind the next generation shaping the world.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/19/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 15, 2026
How to Build a Startup With Friends and Handle Pivots | Maxim Khodzhaev
<p>How to Build a Startup With Friends and Handle Pivots | Maxim KhodzhaevIn this episode of Young Founders Collective, Defne sits down with Maxim Khodzhaev, co-founder of Lende, a marketplace for everyday appliances where people can buy and sell second-hand, to explore what it really takes to build a startup alongside your closest friends.From identifying a problem he experienced firsthand while living in a student residence to navigating the pivots that reshaped Lende, Maxim shares how he and his friends transformed an idea into a company. Through communication, trust, and choosing the right people to build with, Maxim reflects on how he handled and navigated disagreements within the founding team, what he did when people's visions were no longer aligned, and the lessons he learned from experiencing a founder breakup.Together, Defne and Maxim explore one of the most overlooked aspects of entrepreneurship: relationships. This conversation is a reminder that while great ideas matter, strong partnerships often matter even more.🎧LISTEN NOW ON:YouTube: https://youtu.be/gi6e_Z3uE64?si=Xbx_P2g2fHv90MuTSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2hQk...Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast...FOLLOW US ON:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngfounde...Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youngfounders...FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Maxim KhodzhaevLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxim-khodzhaev/Lende App Website: https://lendeapp.com/Nominate a future guest: https://yfcollectivemedia.com</p>
April 23, 2026
Building Young: AI Startup, University Life & Turning Down an Equity Offer | Mert Demirel
<p>Building Young: AI Startup, University Life & Turning Down an Equity Offer | Mert Demirel</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode of Young Founders Collective, Defne sits down with Mert, a student founder co-building an AI-powered platform, to explore what it really looks like to balance university life and building a company.</p><p><br /></p><p>The conversation quickly moves into something more personal, the weight of making decisions most people don’t face until much later. Mert shares the story behind turning down a $500,000 equity offer, the kind of opportunity many founders chase, and the internal factors that shaped his decision-making.</p><p><br /></p><p>He also reflects on how growing up across international cities influenced his discipline and ambition, and how that global lens continues to shape the way he builds today.</p><p><br /></p><p>Together, they explore how a globally raised generation approaches building differently, and why being young gives you the confidence that if something happens once, it can happen again, giving you more flexibility in the decisions you make.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>🎧LISTEN NOW ON:</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?is=fKkDmVWne3AYSsRB&v=R2VWVhqHd6w&feature=youtu.be</p><p><br /></p><p>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16qggwb2hrTx9wYLeYMohQ?si=qb_Ffit_QU6ApdPVmNNKqg&nd=1&dlsi=b730f41271444f04</p><p><br /></p><p>Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/young-founders-collective/id1879274392?i=1000760411681</p><p><br /></p><p>FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Mert Demirel</p><p><br /></p><p>Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mert-demirel-</p><p>Bases Insight Website: https://www.basesinsight.com</p><p><br /></p><p>Nominate a future guest: https://yfcollectivemedia.com</p><p><br /></p>
April 9, 2026
Creating Spider Silk Without Spiders - Enzo Jerez
<p>In this episode, Defne Gürkan sits down with Enzo Jerez, founder of deep-tech biomaterial startup Spideytek, for a conversation on building a highly technical company at a young age and redefining the future of materials.</p><p><br /></p><p>They dive into how Spideytek began, from father–son conversations during long car rides to developing the world’s first plant-based spider silk production platform. Enzo shares how his passion for physics evolved early on and continues to shape the way he approaches building and problem-solving.</p><p><br /></p><p>This episode is for anyone interested in building with family and deep-tech innovation.</p><p>FOLLOW US ON:</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngfounderscollective</p><p>Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youngfounderscollective_</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>#labgrownspidersilk #bioengineeredspidersilk #sustainabletextiles #biotechinnovation #advancedmaterials #futureofmaterials #deeptech #spideytek #plantbasedmaterials #founderstory #youngfounders #startupjourney #youngfounderscollective #entrepreneurship #spiderman #familybusiness #buildingwithfamily #siemens #pioneerspodcast #startupsfromdreamstoreality</p><p><br /></p>
6 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Young Founders Collective?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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