EU-Startups Podcast | Episode 86: Jan Reichelt, founding partner of 10x Founders
In this episode, we catch up with Jan Reichelt, Founding Partner of 10x Founders and an accomplished entrepreneur who has founded and successfully exited two companies. He was named “European Founder of the Year” by TechCrunch. With a career deeply rooted in the tech and digital media sectors, Jan now focuses on using his experience to help early-stage startups thrive through 10x Founders.
For those who may not be familiar, 10x Founders is a network-driven investment firm backed by over 200 entrepreneurs and angels. Known for its impressive portfolio, 10x Founders has supported unicorns like Adyen and Palantir, with investments leading to 16 unicorns, 40 exits, and 8 IPOs over the last 16 years. Their strategy centres around leveraging their extensive network and industry expertise to help founders scale their startups and achieve sustainable success.
In this conversation, Jan reflects on entrepreneurship as a lifestyle, offering insights into selling companies, navigating the emotional highs and lows of startup life, and transitioning from founder to investor. He highlights the importance of storytelling, trusting one’s instincts, and supporting unconventional ideas. Jan also talks about balancing the hustle of entrepreneurship with his personal life, sharing his experience as a salsa instructor, and much more.
Video version of episode 86:
Audio version of episode 86:
Key Takeaways
- Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle choice that impacts your whole life.
- Managing emotions is crucial for founders during their journey.
- Investors should not dictate the direction of a startup; founders must trust their instincts.
- Storytelling is essential for both fundraising and internal motivation.
- Red flags in startups are subjective; each opportunity should be evaluated on its own merits.
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