Startups love GenAI. But most founders are using it unsafely — and exposing their team, their customers, and their legal risk without even realizing it. In this episode of Startuprad.io, we sat down with Dennis Traub , AI Engineering Specialist at AWS , to unpack what safe adoption of Generative AI really means for founders, CTOs, and product leads. Dennis introduces the “Artificial Intern” framework — a practical way for startups to implement GenAI without hallucinations, GDPR violations, or br...
Aug 14, 2025•48 min
What if every second leadership hire in your startup fails — costing you up to €250,000? In this episode of Startuprad.io, we uncover why so many startup executive hires flop and how diagnostic hiring is rewriting the rules of leadership selection. What You'll Learn: Why more than 50% of startup VP and C-level hires fail within 18 months The real-world cost of a mis-hire (severance, lost growth, founder burnout) How behavioral and cognitive assessments outperform gut-feel interviews How to avoid...
Jul 31, 2025•29 min
What if finance wasn’t a bottleneck but your secret growth weapon? Moss CEO Ante Spittler joins Startuprad.io to reveal how his Berlin fintech is helping over 5,000 SMEs automate spend, ditch spreadsheets, and scale smarter. What You'll Learn: How Moss raised €180M and scaled to process €5B+ annually The biggest finance automation challenges for European SMEs Lessons from layoffs and scaling a regulated fintech Why user-first design is Moss’s superpower in a crowded market Insights on ERP integr...
Jul 18, 2025•49 min
Your startup isn’t failing because of your tech or funding—it’s because people don’t feel your brand. In this episode, Jakob Trpin, founder of Yesyesandtwo , breaks down why emotional branding is the hidden growth engine for startups. Discover how subconscious branding cues, human-to-human marketing (H2H), and internal culture alignment create trust and drive investor confidence. What You'll Learn: How to connect emotionally with customers to outlast competitors Why most startups fail at brandin...
Jul 10, 2025•30 min
What happens when Germany creates its second decacorn and the EU drops €10B to scale startups? This month’s news episode breaks it all down — from funding explosions in deep tech to the future of biotech, fintech innovation, and defense AI. The DACH startup scene has never been this hot. What You'll Learn Why Helsing dethroned Celonis to become Germany’s top-valued startup How ISA Aerospace , Scalable Capital , and Luma Care are fueling Europe’s unicorn pipeline What the EU’s “Choose Europe” str...
Jul 03, 2025•38 min
Startups in the DACH region are heating up — from AI unicorns to VC mega-funds. In this monthly startup news roundup, we unpack the most important trends in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland’s tech ecosystem. Learn how Parloa became Germany’s second unicorn of the year, how Quantum Systems secured €160M to dominate aerial AI, and how the EIB’s €70B initiative is reshaping venture capital in Europe. We also dive into Lyft’s FreeNow acquisition , biotech patent wars, the MiCA crypto license , and ...
May 29, 2025•31 min
What happens when an FBI-trained negotiation coach brings elite sales psychology into the startup world? You get a masterclass in influence, integrity, and investor persuasion. Today’s episode of Startuprad.io features Matthias Bullmahn , a crisis negotiation expert, former Accenture executive, and storytelling coach — here to show founders how to negotiate like pros and scale without manipulation. What You'll Learn: How to apply BATNA to investor negotiations and enterprise sales The 3 killer w...
May 27, 2025•47 min
🎧 Opening: Why do Europe’s startups scale slower than their U.S. counterparts? In this raw, revealing episode, Andy Goldstein uncovers what’s really holding back the European venture capital scene—and what we can do about it. 💡 What You'll Learn: How investor education can radically improve VC decision-making Why German founders hesitate to internationalize—and how to fix it The mindset shift European investors need to unlock global-scale success How AI sales tools and founder conviction can d...
May 22, 2025•40 min
Opening What happens when Europe's top startup operators become VCs — and use AI to disrupt billion-euro legacy sectors? Today’s episode uncovers how Marton Sarkadi Nagy , Partner at Visionaries Club , is backing founders who are rewriting the playbook for industrial tech innovation. What You'll Learn: 🔧 How applied AI is replacing legacy SaaS and transforming industries like logistics and procurement 📊 Why Europe is perfectly positioned to lead in the application layer of AI 🧠 What defines a...
May 15, 2025•57 min
Most startups talk about culture. But very few measure it. Even fewer know how to scale it. In Part 2 of our interview with Christian Conrad — coach, former Kellogg’s exec, and author of Magical Company Culture — we go deep into the execution side of culture. Forget team-building retreats. Christian outlines a leadership playbook where trust , behavioral habits , and culture KPIs like eNPS are used to build high-performing, emotionally engaged teams. 🔍 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why “100% t...
May 13, 2025•20 min
Sponsor 👉 Struggling with small biz finances? Tide’s free account + up to €400 cashback makes it a no-brainer: tide.co/Podcastsde – use code STARTUPRADIO 🎧 Opening What if your company culture was your biggest growth engine? In this episode, we dive deep with leadership coach Christian Conrad to unpack what makes startup cultures not only magnetic but measurable — and how founders can lead with emotional intelligence and trust from Day 1. 📌 What You'll Learn: How to use eNPS to measure engage...
May 08, 2025•48 min
In April 2025, DACH startups raised over €1.3 billion—while one of Europe’s top fintechs spiraled into crisis. This isn’t just another news roundup. This is your investor-grade, startup-founder-relevant, executive-level briefing from the DACH region’s leading podcast. 🚀 This episode is brought to you by Vanta . Automate your SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR compliance in weeks, not months. Learn more at vanta.com/startupradio What You'll Learn: The real story behind Trade Republic’s outages and finan...
May 01, 2025•42 min
StartupRad.io sits down with psychotherapist Imre Remenyi to explore burnout prevention, leadership, and culture for sustainable startup growth. Burnout is silently killing startups. Discover how top founders and leaders detect it early, prevent it, and scale sustainable companies. Are you a startup founder, tech executive, or investor navigating the intense world of high-growth companies? This StartupRad.io episode is your lifeline. Host Jörn 'Joe' Menninger speaks with renowned psychotherapist...
Apr 24, 2025•52 min
Are you a founder, investor, scaleup exec, or tech enthusiast looking to decode Europe's billion-euro startup engines? You’ve landed in the right place. Startuprad.io brings you the ultimate Unicorn Tracker for Spring 2025 , offering you front-row insight into the most dynamic startups and scaleups across the DACH region — Germany, Austria, and Switzerland . 🎯 Prefer the full analysis, data, and links? Dive deeper here: 👉 https://www.startuprad.io/post/dach-unicorn-tracker-2025-trends-funding-...
Apr 18, 2025•30 min
🔊 This episode is brought to you by Vanta 👉 Vanta automates security and compliance— save $1,000 with us by signing up here: vanta.com/startupradio 🛠️ Made possible by HTAI and the Enterprise Europe Network Hessen , supporting startups with grants, international networking, and innovation resources. Learn more: htai.de | een-hessen.de 🎙️ Scaling a Cybersecurity Startup: Lessons from Link11’s Journey (Part 2) In the second half of our exclusive conversation with Jens Philipp Jung , co-founder...
Apr 03, 2025•36 min
Link11 CEO Jens Philipp Jung joins Startuprad.io to reveal his blueprint for hypergrowth, cybersecurity dominance, and surviving massive DDoS attacks. 👉 Vanta automates security and compliance, save 1.000 US$ with us by signing up with this link: vanta.com/startupradio 🎯 Learn how to: • Scale a tech company without breaking it • Hire top talent & build winning culture • Defend against AI-powered attacks • Embrace zero trust architecture 💡 Whether you’re a founder, exec, or tech investor—t...
Apr 01, 2025•41 min
Sponsor Section 👉 Vanta automates security and compliance, save 1.000 US$ with us by signing up with this link: vanta.com/startupradio Introduction Dive into the DACH region's startup scene! This episode covers the latest trends in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, recorded with Chris Fahrenbach in New York City. Key Highlights Fintech Evolution: Coorsair's IDNow acquisition (€300M) and the stablecoin surge to $226B highlight fintech's dynamism. Venture Capital: Toma Bravo's €1....
Mar 27, 2025•39 min
🚀 Is Your Fintech Ready for DORA? The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is transforming financial regulations—compliance is no longer optional. But what exactly is DORA, and how can your fintech prepare? In this episode, Startuprad.io’s Joe Menninger speaks with Giles Inkson, Director of Services EMEA at NetSPI , a cybersecurity expert helping financial institutions navigate DORA. Get practical strategies to secure your business and stay compliant. 🔎 What You’ll Learn: ✅ Key principles...
Mar 18, 2025•45 min
🚀 Big news from the DACH startup world! Finn raises €1B for car subscriptions, Cherry Ventures launches a €500M AI fund, but Lilium faces insolvency. 👉 Vanta automates security and compliance, save 1.000 US$ with us by signing up with this link: vanta.com/startupradio 🤯 Finn raises €1 BILLION for car subscriptions! But is it all good news? Lilium crashes back to earth with its second insolvency. We unpack the hottest DACH startup stories: VC gold rush: Cherry Ventures' new €500M AI fund Polit...
Feb 27, 2025•25 min
Is Your Website Ready for DORA? A Cybersecurity Deep Dive with Simon Wijckmans In this episode of Startuprad.io, we're joined by Simon Wijckmans, CEO and Founder of c/side, to discuss the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and its impact on website security. While many companies focus on securing their core systems, DORA also highlights the crucial role of website security, especially when it comes to third-party dependencies like chatbots, analytics tools, and other dynamic assets. Meet ...
Feb 25, 2025•32 min
Our Sponsor Vanta 👉 Vanta automates security and compliance, save 1.000 US$ with us by signing up with this link: vanta.com/startupradio ModernIQs (AL) 🚀 Exclusive Offer: Startuprad.io listeners get 2 free SEO-optimized blog posts per month with ModernIQs.com – sign up via the link to claim yours! 🎯✨ Intro In this episode of Startuprad.io, we sit down with Til Klein, Founding Partner of Identity VC, a venture capital firm with a unique mission: investing in the next generation of disruptive s...
Feb 20, 2025•56 min
🚀 Tune in to Startuprad.io for an exclusive look into the dynamic world of German, Austrian, and Swiss startups! 🚀 This episode is jam-packed with the latest news and insights from the DACH startup ecosystem. We'll explore the hottest trends, major acquisitions, and exciting funding rounds that are shaping the future of innovation in the region. Our Sponsor Vanta Make compliance simple—get $1,000 off now at vanta.com/startupradio Here's what you'll discover: 🔥 Acquisition Frenzy: Creative Doc...
Jan 30, 2025•34 min
Welcome to Startup News Roundup: December 2024 Highlights & Key Insights , where we dive deep into the vibrant world of startups across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This episode delivers a comprehensive look at the latest developments, highlighting the most impactful stories, trends, and investments shaping the startup landscape. What’s Inside? Top News Stories: Black Forest Lab's Billion-Dollar Valuation: Discover how this Karlsruhe-based AI innovator is revolutionizing the global tec...
Dec 19, 2024•49 min
This November, the startup ecosystem in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region) is abuzz with critical updates that shape the future of technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation . Whether you're a founder, investor, or a startup enthusiast, this episode of Startuprad.io delivers everything you need to stay informed. Dive into the latest tech news , explore major funding milestones, and uncover the challenges impacting the region’s most innovative startups. What’s in This Episode? 1️⃣ ...
Nov 28, 2024•38 min
Welcome to the October 2024 edition of "This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian Startups," where we bring you essential insights into the GSA startup ecosystem. Join hosts Jörn “Joe” Menninger and Chris Fahrenbach as they unpack the month’s top stories, from groundbreaking funding rounds to unicorn achievements and major pivots in tech and innovation. Episode Highlights: 1. Lilium’s Financial Struggles and eVTOL Innovation Setbacks This month, the NASDAQ-listed eVTOL pioneer Lilium, based in G...
Oct 31, 2024•22 min
Welcome to the September 2024 Startup News from Startuprad.io! This episode covers the most impactful developments in the startup scenes of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Stay informed about key trends, funding rounds, and industry shifts that could influence your business or investment decisions. Key Highlights: Intel Pauses €30B Chip Factory in Germany Intel has halted its €30 billion chip manufacturing project in Magdeburg due to cost-cutting measures and financial challenges, despite a €...
Oct 03, 2024•48 min
Welcome to the Summer 2024 Startup News Wrap-Up from Startuprad.io! In this special Labor Day episode, we cover the most crucial updates from the vibrant startup ecosystems in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or tech enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights into the latest trends, funding rounds, and ecosystem developments shaping the future of innovation in the DACH region. 💼 New Sponsor Alert: We’re excited to announce our new partner, Moder...
Sep 02, 2024•49 min
This Month in German, Swiss, and Austrian Startups - June 2024 | Startuprad.io Welcome to our June 2024 wrap-up, where we bring you the latest news from the startup and tech entrepreneurship scenes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, all in under 30 minutes! In this episode, recorded with Chris in New York City and Joe joining from Frankfurt, we cover the top highlights from June 25th: ### Highlights: - Check24's Massive Marketing Campaign : Check24 launched a major campaign, distributing 5 mi...
Jun 27, 2024•36 min
### Podcast Description: The Path to US VC Funding: Tips from JC2 Ventures Partner Yvette Kanouff In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn "Joe" Menninger sits down with Yvette Kanouff, Partner at JC2 Ventures, to discuss the secrets to optimizing your VC pitch. Drawing from her extensive background in mathematics and technology, Yvette shares invaluable tips on crafting concise and compelling presentations, simplifying complex concepts, and understanding the perspectives of venture capitalis...
Jun 06, 2024•41 min
Welcome to our May 2024 wrap-up, delivering vital news from the startup and tech entrepreneurship scenes in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—all in 30 minutes or less! 🎧 Join Chris from New York City and Joe from Frankfurt as they bring you the latest updates in the GSA region. Due to Whit Monday and travel plans, this news cut is from May 16th. Any news not covered today will be included in our next wrap-up. #### Schedule: - Next Episode: June 27th - Summer Wrap-Up: September 2nd (Labor Day) ...
May 30, 2024•35 min
