Today, I’m sharing a conversation with Mr. Jannik Lawaetz, a European entrepreneur, dad, and now a champion of entrepreneurship and innovation freedom in Europe.  I came across Jannik on LinkedIn (his natural habitat, I believe).

He was making a strong case for how innovation and entrepreneurship are being stifled in Europe by bad policies and unnecessary red tape.

He also explains why this is crucial if Europe wants to remain competitive with the rest of the world, especially the USA.

Jannik’s passion is clear.
He’s the real deal, having launched multiple ventures.
His current success stories, LuggageHero and HotelsHero, are going gangbusters.

Please enjoy my conversation with Mr. Jannik Lawaetz.

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Jannik Lawaetz is cintactable on Linked In (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dklawaetz/) 

Join us for an engaging conversation with Mr. Ugo Quaglino, an accomplished Italian entrepreneur born in Turin in 1966. Influenced by his family’s entrepreneurial spirit, Ugo developed a strong work ethic and a love for travel. At 16, after overcoming a brain tumor that took him to Paris for treatment, he joined his father’s textile business. By 19, he was expanding the company’s international markets and traveling globally.

Ugo’s career led him and his family to live in Paris and later New Jersey, where he worked in the textile and fashion industry. Always seeking new challenges, he eventually moved to Hong Kong to start a sourcing company. There, he met Anne, his life partner and now wife. They returned to southern France in 2016.

Following his father’s passing in 2019, Ugo inherited a large ranch in Argentina. In 2023, he and his son Francesco founded RIFORESTANDO, a reforestation and carbon sequestration project. By planting eucalyptus and pine trees on the ranch and using advanced tracking technologies, they offer European companies a transparent way to offset their carbon emissions.

Now at 58, Ugo combines his extensive professional experience with his passion for the environment, aiming to create a meaningful legacy that benefits the planet and future generations. This episode is special as it highlights entrepreneurship focused on sustainability—our first “green” episode. Sit back and enjoy this inspiring conversation with the delightful Ugo Quaglino from RIFORESTANDO.

CONTACT: 

[email protected] 

www.riforestando.com

>>>>SPONSOR<<<<
Brought to you by:  Digital Asset Custody Solutions Pty Ltd

Since 2019, Digital Asset Custody Solutions Pty Ltd (DACS) has provided a boutique concierge service for SMSFs, small businesses, and family offices to add Bitcoin (BTC) to their portfolios. In 2022, DACS began offering Digital Asset Attestations (DAA) for SMSF clients in response to a demand for independent reports to comply with stringent ATO audit requirements. Over the past three years, DACS has become the market leader in this space, experiencing exponential demand for these novel attestations.

If you want to “Get off Zero Bitcoin” in your SMSF or Business, contact us on [email protected] or phone 1300 346 495 | WhatsApp: +61 412 133 363.

This is part two, of a four part series (Entrepreneurship.AU Startup Series) where I talk to startups ‘in flight’ where they are navigating growth and in some cases the chasm of doom.

I met with the extraordinary Paz Pisarski in July(2024) when she took me through the beginnings of the Community Collective (TCC) specialising in helping organisations build communities as part of their marketing and community engagement strategies. In this episode we discuss what’s happened in the last four months with TCC, and how Paz has been trying to achieve her goals, track meaningful metrics and navigating uncertainty.

All entrepreneurs have unique characteristics that set them apart, and Paz is definitely that. She brings her ‘A’ game to every conversation and delivered some powerful insights and wisdom, decades beyond her years.

I think this was the the most fun I’ve had recording since I started the podcast.

Enjoy my discussion with the inspirational Paz Pisarski.

(BTW if you have a startup you think we might be interested in, zap me an email at [email protected]. I’ll respond to all emails.)

Here are some links:

Please enjoy my discussion with Mr Ian McGregor.

In this episode, I chat with Paz Pisarski , the phenomenal Co-Founder of The Community Collective. Paz is a professional musician and now Entrepreneur who is building impactful communities and supporting 200+ businesses, including Canva, MYOB, CSIRO, Blackbird Ventures, Founders Factory Africa, and more! 🚀

You may recall the concept of a Key Wo/Man business we mentioned in the last episode,..  well here she is!!

Her journey is nothing short of inspiring. From managing Australia’s largest startup community at The Startup Network to growing RMIT Activator’s community from 500 to 5000+, and designing 10 Accelerator programs, Paz has done it all. She’s also automated tasks at Happy Spaces coworking and empowered migrant women through SisterWorks. 💪

Now, living along the Surf Coast, Australia, Paz continues her mission with The Community Collective. She enjoys sipping Chamomile tea and creating relaxation music as Paz Sounds. 🌊✨

Contact Paz at The Community Collective or via her Music at Paz Sounds.

>>>>SPONSOR<<<<
Brought to you by:  Digital Asset Custody Solutions Pty Ltd

If you want to “Get off Zero Bitcoin” in your SMSF or Business, contact us on [email protected] or phone 1300 346 495 | WhatsApp: +61 412 133 363.

Entrepreneurs live or die based on their ability to access capital. Grants are an option for whatever stage of your entrepreneurial journey, like them or hate them.
In this episode, I enjoyed interviewing Mr. Steve Dowling from Grant Helper. Over the past decade, Steve has developed specialist expertise in government relations, focusing on accelerating business growth through securing government grants. He has worked with various companies in value-added processing, fabrication, textiles, food and beverage, software development, tourism, agriculture, and community services.

Steve’s impressive track record includes securing over $30 million in grants for projects with a combined value of over $250 million. Some notable successes include a $3.5 million grant for a clean energy manufacturing plant fit-out, $1.5 million for a brewery discovery centre, $870,000 for a sports centre redevelopment, $1 million for a bionic eye MedTech startup, $600,000 for a preschool centre refurbishment, and $500,000 for a fruit processing plant fit-out.

Steve has helped tens of businesses achieve their growth potential through grant funding. If you have a big idea for your business, no matter how ambitious, and believe it might be eligible for a grant, reach out today to explore the possibilities. Steve is here to encourage and guide you in your grant funding journey.

Contact Steve at Grant Helper

https://granthelper.com.au/

>>>>SPONSOR<<<<
Brought to you by:  Digital Asset Custody Solutions Pty Ltd

If you want to “Get off Zero Bitcoin” in your SMSF or Business, contact us on [email protected] or phone 1300 346 495 | WhatsApp: +61 412 133 363.

In this episode, I discuss Erik Zimmerman’s remarkable journey. Influenced by his psychologist mother and futurist father, who profoundly impacted my own entrepreneurial philosophy, Erik has developed a keen understanding of human behaviour and business innovation.

Erik’s entrepreneurial journey was sparked in 2006 after viewing “A Crude Awakening” at the Melbourne Film Festival. This experience led him to found Rezeko Pty Ltd, a renewable energy company later acquired by AGL in 2011. His commitment to sustainable solutions continued with his investment in Echo Group Corporation Pty Ltd, focusing on energy efficiency and solar technologies, which was acquired by Energy Australia in 2019.

As CEO of Sitetech Solutions, Erik oversees operations that support over 2,850 building sites across Victoria with pioneering fencing and safety technologies, including the exclusive E Bracket, Kingfence, and Fence-Lok systems. He is also a major shareholder and Director of the upcoming Edutech startup Alcazar, which will launch in mid-2024, and a foundation investor in Treecoin.

During our discussion, we covered the key elements that have contributed to Erik’s success and his vision for making a difference in the world.

His latest endeavor, the Wonga Forest project, aims to plant 100,000 trees near Daylesford, embodying his commitment to addressing global challenges and transforming consumer trends into successful business ventures. Join us as we delve into how Erik’s rich background and innovative mindset drive his mission to create impactful change.

Join me in a most extraordinary conversation with Mr Erik Zimmerman.

Contact Erik at Sitetech Solutions.

This week, I enjoyed reconnecting with an old friend and fellow blockchain enthusiast, David Ritter. Our paths first crossed in 2017 in Shanghai, and David’s intellect and passion for innovation in the financial services immediately stood out in our interactions.  After rekindling our connection a year ago, I was eager to have him share his insights on the show.

David’s journey is inspiring and deeply informative, especially in today’s digital age, where privacy is paramount. He is currently making waves in the privacy sector, leveraging his extensive background in blockchain technology.

David is CEO and co-founder of Privacy Lock, a pioneering company that offers privacy-compliant solutions to banks and financial institutions. His academic journey began at USC and was enriched by his professional experiences in China and the USA. Before Privacy Lock, David co-founded a blockchain company that played a critical role in enabling Web 3.0 technologies, which I believe was a landmark initiative in the field.

David has spent six years specialising in compliance technologies for banks and financial entities. His previous venture involved creating tax compliance solutions for multinational banks—a testament to his innovative approach to complex challenges.

Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, David also contributes to the broader privacy community. He chairs the Colorado Privacy Policy Commission and is an active member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

David Ritter is a true visionary in the intersecting realms of privacy and blockchain. 

Please enjoy my conversation with Mr David Ritter.

Here’s my conversation with Gaynor Lawton, an inspiring mentor helping both small businesses and teenagers navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.

Gaynor believes that self-doubt can immobilise even the most confident entrepreneurs. This observation led her to focus on Business Development and Mentoring, ensuring that individuals grow along with their ventures.

She has harnessed these insights to create TeenBoss, a dynamic training program that has the power to transform the aspirations of 16-18-year-olds, igniting their business ideas into reality.

Join me as we explore Gaynor’s own journey and discuss how she aims to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to conquer doubt and realise their business aspirations.