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.
How to Build a Startup With Friends and Handle Pivots | Maxim Khodzhaev
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
23 Apr 2026
Building Young: AI Startup, University Life & Turning Down an Equity Offer | Mert Demirel
Building Young: AI Startup, University Life & Turning Down an Equity Offer | Mert Demirel
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.
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.
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.
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.
🎧LISTEN NOW ON:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?is=fKkDmVWne3AYSsRB&v=R2VWVhqHd6w&feature=youtu.be
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/16qggwb2hrTx9wYLeYMohQ?si=qb_Ffit_QU6ApdPVmNNKqg&nd=1&dlsi=b730f41271444f04
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/young-founders-collective/id1879274392?i=1000760411681
FOLLOW OUR GUEST: Mert Demirel
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/mert-demirel-
Bases Insight Website: https://www.basesinsight.com
Nominate a future guest: https://yfcollectivemedia.com
9 Apr 2026
Creating Spider Silk Without Spiders - Enzo Jerez
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.
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.
This episode is for anyone interested in building with family and deep-tech innovation.
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Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youngfounderscollective_
#labgrownspidersilk #bioengineeredspidersilk #sustainabletextiles #biotechinnovation #advancedmaterials #futureofmaterials #deeptech #spideytek #plantbasedmaterials #founderstory #youngfounders #startupjourney #youngfounderscollective #entrepreneurship #spiderman #familybusiness #buildingwithfamily #siemens #pioneerspodcast #startupsfromdreamstoreality
18 Mar 2026
Building an Education Initiative & Reflecting on Creativity – with Derin Erdem, Co-Founder of Yeşil Dünyamız (Our Green Earth)
In this episode, Defne Gürkan sits down with her close friend and co-founder Derin Erdem for a candid conversation about building a social initiative at a young age, centered around education and environmental awareness. They reflect on the founding journey of Yeşil Dünyamız (Our Green Earth), discussing what they learned through the process and what they would do differently if they were starting again today.
Beyond the initiative, the conversation expands into the education system and the role of creativity within it. Studying Media and Culture, Derin talks about how traditional education systems often lack space for creativity and hands-on learning. Together, they explore what a more creative and community-driven education model could look like, one that prioritizes collaboration and experimentation.
LISTEN TO US ON:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bEv8QLzdQiZU9waDbFbId?si=2488ae7ff9de494d
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/young-founders-collective/id1879274392
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngfounderscollective?igsh=MWI4ZnY3cmZudGxqMw==
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#YoungFoundersCollective
#TeenEntrepreneur #SocialInitiative #YouthLeadership #CreativeProcess #FounderStory #TeenStartup #MakingADifference #SocialImpact #TeenFounder #CreativityTips #BuildingABrand #YoungChangemakers #CommunityProjects #TeenBusiness #YouthEmpowerment #SocialEnterprise #StartingYoung #TeenInspiration #CreativeThinking
#YoungFoundersCollective #GenZFounders #NextGenLeaders #StartupJourney #EntrepreneurLife #YouthInnovation #Changemaker #BuildInPublic #StartupMindset #FutureLeaders #PurposeDriven #ImpactDriven #FounderLife #PersonalGrowth #BehindTheBuild
6 Mar 2026
Breaking Habits & Redefining Success: The Story of Synex Founder Martin Kostadinov
In this episode, Defne sits down with Martin Kostadinov, founder of a SYNEX, a software and consulting platform that addresses EU sustainability compliances. Together they explore how he changed his habits and stepped up to build something meaningful when no one forced him to change. From his Bulgarian roots to his structured routine as a student in Spain, Martin reflects on the internal shift that pushed him to build something meaningful on his own terms. He shares how rational thinking guide his decisions as a founder.
The conversation dives into the early pivots at SYNEX, unpacking how strategy evolved through trial. Beyond the operational side, they speak about the friendships that have remained steady as everything else changed, and the challenge of balancing ambition with personal relationships. The episode also explores how sports outside of work fuel Martin’s motivation.
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xMZ...
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19 Feb 2026
From Idea to Impact: A Young Founder’s Mental Health Mission- Diego Verhamme Carmena
In this debut episode, Defne Gürkan sits down with Diego Verhamme Carmena for a candid conversation about building a mental health start-up at a young age and the personal experiences that shaped his mission. As the founder of Diveinside, Diego opens up about stepping into the complex world of mental health entrepreneurship and why he chose to dedicate his early career to addressing one of the most urgent challenges facing young people today.
They explore the problem Diveinside is trying to solve, how the platform works with schools, and the key trends emerging among students. Rather than pursuing a fully traditional corporate path or starting entirely on his own, Diego chose to join and scale an early-stage venture, taking on responsibility while building within a growing structure. He reflects on the realities of being a young founder, the challenges of being his own boss, and learning when to disconnect and pause. A candid look at building a start up while keeping mental health at the center.
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