The Inside Story of Building Businesses

In this episode of the Inside Story of Building Businesses podcast, I sit down with Simone La Torre, Director of Business Development at Stellar, entrepreneur, and startup coach.

We dive deep into the real challenges of building companies, the importance of having the right co-founders, and why execution matters more than ever in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Simone shares lessons from building multiple startups, the pitfalls he’s seen founders fall into, and the traits that separate successful entrepreneurs from the rest.

💡 Some key takeaways from our conversation:

• Entrepreneurship is tough — having a co-founder makes all the difference.

• Founder alignment is crucial to avoid costly mistakes.

• Obsess over your customers, not your idea.

• The best founders know when to pivot.

• Execution beats technology. Every. Single. Time.

  
  

🎧 Listen in for practical advice on how to validate ideas, attract investors, and build businesses that last.

🔑 Chapters:

00:00 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins
01:36 Traps and Challenges Founders Face
03:20 Lessons from Early Pitfalls
04:59 What I’d Do Differently Next Time
08:04 Why B2B Over B2C
10:19 Founder Mistakes and Blindspots
13:38 Delivering End-to-End Client Solutions
16:05 Traits of Successful Founders
17:50 Coaching That Transformed My Thinking
19:55 Solving Real Problems (Not Ideas)
22:26 Finding Product–Market Fit
25:01 What Makes a Startup Investable
28:53 Why Solo Founders Struggle with Investors
30:48 Choosing the Right Co-Founder
34:43 Investor Red Flags
36:59 The Future of Entrepreneurship

What does it take to build a startup that simplifies relocation, connects people with homes, and balances tech with a human touch?

In this episode, I sit down with Joao Mesquita(CEO) and Alec Hilbert (Chief Growth Officer), the co-founders of StaysCo, a tech-enabled service company based in Luxembourg. Their mission? Make relocation seamless for expats, HR teams, and business travellers by connecting them with trusted property managers and quality housing solutions.

🚀 In this episode, you'll learn:

✔︎ What they would do differently if starting again

✔︎ Why market understanding must come before building

✔︎ How they approached building and testing their MVP

✔︎ Why they chose not to raise external funding

✔︎ The power of focus, resilience, and filtering advice

✔︎ Why StaysCo is built as a service-first company powered by tech

Whether you're a founder, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is a masterclass in early-stage decision-making.

Chapters

00:00 Rebuilding the Startup: What We’d Do Differently

02:29 The Birth of Staysco: Identifying Market Gaps

04:06 Steps to Build an MVP and Join a Startup Incubator

06:34 Testing the MVP with Initial Customers

09:54 Business Model: How StaysCo Generates Revenue

12:36 Service Enabled Tech Company

14:26 The Vision Beyond Luxembourg

15:53 Why Not to Raise External Capital

19:32 The Cost of Commitment: Working Without Pay

23:35 Navigating Pivots: Adapting to Change in Startups

30:24 Struggles and Solutions: The Entrepreneurial Journey

🚀 What’s the #1 skill every founder needs to master but most ignore?

Sales.

In this episode of the Inside Story Podcast, I speak with Panos Meintanis, founder of DealsUp and Deelan, a sales acceleration platform built specifically for startups. Panos brings years of frontline experience - from closing deals at Talkwalker to helping founders transform their mindset around selling.

We talk about why sales is the foundation of any business, why founders must learn to sell before they scale, and how Deelan is changing the game by making elite, AI-powered sales training accessible to everyone.

Whether you're a startup founder, sales lead, or early-stage team member—this conversation is packed with practical lessons on sales strategy, personal growth, and how AI can level the playing field for startups with limited time and budget.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Sales Training

05:07 – Panos’ Sales Journey at Talkwalker

11:43 – Developing a Sales Persona and Philosophy

16:32 – Building Thought Leadership as a Salesperson

18:14 – Common Sales Mistakes Made by Startups

24:28 – Why Every Founder Must Learn to Sell

32:14 – What Really Motivates Entrepreneurs (Hint: It’s Not Money)

33:02 – Best Budget-Friendly Ways to Train Your Sales Team

37:47 – Using Sales as a Vehicle to Achieve Life Goals

🤔 Ever moved to a new country, started from scratch, and wondered how to make people see your value?

That’s exactly what Lisa Burke did — and not just once.

In this episode of the Inside Story Podcast, I speak with Lisa Burke: seasoned broadcaster, event host, and the powerhouse behind launching RTL Today’s English-language news in Luxembourg.

💬 We talk about:

✔︎ Reinventing yourself professionally in a new environment

✔︎ Why public speaking is a life skill, not just a stage skill

✔︎ The balancing act of career, family, and self-care

✔︎ Building credibility when no one knows you (yet)

✔︎ Why kindness—to yourself—is critical on the entrepreneurial journey

Lisa’s story reminds us that the path to confidence often starts with a single step and that every skill is learnable with time, patience, and self-belief.

🎧 Listen now on Inside Story wherever you get your podcasts.

👇 What’s one skill that’s helped you grow more confident in your career and business?

Chapter Titles:

00:00 – Lisa Burke on Career, Change & New Beginnings

06:45 – How to Build a Network in a New Country

10:25 – Coaching, Clients & Public Speaking Work

13:38 – Launching RTL Today in Luxembourg

21:52 – Building Credibility and Visibility from Scratch

29:47 – Gaining Confidence Through Small Wins

35:04 – Core Skills That Matter Most in Any Career

36:33 – Learning From Failure and Being Kind to Yourself

Meet Marco Houwen, the founder of Zentrapreneur and serial tech entrepreneur who sold it all to help leaders build businesses aligned with who they truly are. He joins Inside Story podcast to share how spiritual intelligence, failure, and inner clarity are the keys to lasting success in today’s fast-paced world.

After two decades building and scaling high-impact tech businesses like Datacenter, LuxCloud, and EuroDNS, Marco achieved outward success but felt disconnected on the inside. That led him to sell his companies and embark on a deeply personal transformation. He now helps leaders and organizations align their inner identity with outward success. 

We discussed why, 

• You don’t have to go it alone - partnership matters.

• Failure is the catalyst, not the end.

• Aligning your business strategy with your authentic identity and purpose.

• Bootstrap thoughtfully, delaying funding until it supports the mission, not derails it.

• Rebranding starts from your values and spiritual clarity.

• Spiritual intelligence (SQ) is the missing piece in the AI era of leadership.

• Happiness and fulfillment aren’t side-effects - they’re core business metrics.

🎧 Listen now and let me know: How do you balance success with purpose?

Chapter Titles

00:00 — From Success to Spiritual Search: Marco’s Career Shift

01:59 — How Failure Paved the Way for Growth

03:29 — The Evolution from Tech Ventures to Purpose-Led Coaching

06:59 — Discovering Your Growth Identity & Mission

10:32 — Launching One Venture After Another

12:35 — Overcoming Key Entrepreneurial Challenges

16:23 — When to Bootstrap & How to Approach Fundraising

20:47 — Rebranding with Authentic Values & Spiritual Alignment

29:36 — Bringing Spiritual Intelligence into Business Strategy

36:30 — What Animal Reflects Your Entrepreneurial Path?

🎙️In this episode of Inside Story, I talk to Imeshi Weerasinghe, co-founder and CEO of WEO, a Luxembourg-based startup transforming satellite data into climate resilience tools.

🤔 Imeshi shares the journey of founding WEO with a clear mission: to create real-world environmental impact, not just chase profits. She opens up about the challenges of long sales cycles, resisting pressure to scale at all costs, and the financial balancing act of working with both grant funding and paying clients.

🤓 We also dive into the experience of being a woman founder, why WEO is committed to a family-friendly work culture, and what “balance” truly looks like when you're building a startup and raising a family.

‼️ This episode is a must-listen for anyone building purpose-led businesses, especially in climate, tech, or impact-driven sectors.

Chapters:

00:00 | Intro: WEO’s Mission and Vision

06:33 | Making Satellite Data Actionable for Clients

08:23 | Choosing the Right Clients in the Early Days

11:21 | Navigating Long Sales Cycles Without Burning Out

14:07 | Expanding WEO’s Work into the Humanitarian Sector

17:22 | Grants vs. Paid Projects: Finding the Right Funding Mix

21:37 | Why WEO Chose Not to Chase Exponential Growth

25:10 | Staying True to Your Mission While Scaling

30:05 | Being a Female Founder in the Climate Tech Space

33:29 | Building a Family-First, Flexible Startup Culture

35:46 | The Ongoing Challenge of Balancing Life and Leadership

What do investors really look for in startups?

And why do so many promising ventures still fail to scale?

In this episode of Inside Story, I speak with Daniel Biedermann, Investment Partner at NewSpace Capital and seasoned startup coach, about what it takes to grow and fund high-impact companies, especially in the fast-changing space industry. 🌍🛰️

From spotting the right investment opportunities to understanding why so many startups struggle with turning tech innovation into market value, Daniel brings an insider’s view into both entrepreneurship and early-stage investing.

We cover:

✨ Why innovation alone isn’t enough - founders must understand market demand

✨ What are the real deal-breakers and red flags for investors ✨ How public funding can sometimes make startups too comfortable

✨ Why failure is normal and should be encouraged, especially in Europe

✨ And how the space sector is becoming more open to smaller, agile companies.

This episode is packed with lessons for anyone building or backing early-stage ventures — in space or here on Earth.

🎧 Listen now and let me know:

👉 Which of these takeaways resonates most with your own journey?

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Inside Story Podcast

03:17 The Biggest Opportunities Emerging in the Space Sector

09:18 How Investors Evaluate Scaleups in the Space Industry

14:24 What Makes or Breaks a Deal: Investment Red Flags

18:09 Investor Expectations: Where There’s Flexibility (and Where There Isn’t)

21:52 Common Startup Struggles: From Tech-Driven to Demand-Driven

27:59 The Startup Ecosystem in Europe: Optimism Meets Reality

34:13 Innovation vs. Market Need: Finding the Right Balance

🎙️In this episode of Inside Story, I sit down with Dorothy Germain, Managing Director of Spa Escape in Luxembourg.

Dorothy shares her inspiring journey from launching a home-based wellness business in Canada to building a successful spa in Luxembourg. Along the way, she opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship—navigating financial hurdles, adapting to a new market, and building strong customer relationships that fuel business growth.

💪 If you're a current or aspiring entrepreneur, especially in the wellness space, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons on resilience, adaptability, and turning passion into purpose.

🎧 Tune in to learn how Dorothy turned her basement into a business—and her business into a brand.

Chapters

00:00 | Starting with Passion: Dorothy’s Entrepreneurial Beginnings

03:00 | Leaving the 9–5: Taking the Leap into Business

06:02 | From Basement Studio to First Wellness Brand

07:20 | A New Chapter: Relocating to Luxembourg

09:36 | Launching Spa Escape in a Foreign Market

14:10 | Tackling Financial and Administrative Hurdles

22:38 | Becoming Profitable: Turning the Spa into a Sustainable Business

29:26 | What I Didn’t Expect: Hard Truths of Entrepreneurship

31:41 | Building Loyalty: How Spa Escape Keeps Clients Coming Back

The fashion industry is evolving — and Vestis Labs is leading the charge. My guest, Fonny Bunjamin, founder & CEO of Vestis Labs, is on a mission to revolutionize how small and medium-sized fashion brands operate through technology, sustainability, and digital transformation.

🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:

✅ The biggest challenges fashion brands face — and how tech can solve them

✅ Why resilience, adaptability, and trusting your instincts are key to success

✅ The reality of startup life: co-founder struggles, pivots, and learning from failure

✅ How startup programs can provide structure and mentorship for founders

✅ The balance between passion and building a financially sustainable business

💭 Whether you're in fashion, tech, or building your own startup, this episode is packed with insights on innovation, entrepreneurship, and making bold moves.

🔔 Follow and listen to the full episode!

Chapters

00:00 – The Vision Behind VESTIS LABS: Transforming Fashion with Technology

07:32 – From Finance to Fashion: Fonny’s Unconventional Journey

10:54 – Lessons Learned from Past Business Ventures

15:45 – Pivoting vs. Staying the Course: Finding the Right Balance

18:04 – Choosing the Best Startup Incubator: What Founders Need to Know

22:20 – The Co-Founder Dilemma: Challenges and Misaligned Visions

24:56 – The Unexpected Hurdles of Building a Startup

26:59 – The Mindset and Skills Every Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed

What does it really take to build a business while managing family, life, and all the doubts that come with it?

In this inspiring episode of Inside Story Podcast, I sit down with Katy Dyzewska, Founder of AMC Services, to talk about the real entrepreneurial journey — the highs, the lows, and the mindset shifts that make success possible.

Katy shares her personal story of starting a business in Luxembourg, navigating motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the inner work needed to grow a business when confidence is low and challenges are high.

💡 If you're an entrepreneur (or thinking of starting something on your own), this episode will remind you that:

✔️ Confidence is built, not given.

✔️ Failure is part of growth.

✔️ Planning and patience are your secret weapons.

✔️ A positive mindset can change everything.

Whether you're struggling to believe in yourself or balancing a million roles, Katy's story will give you practical insights and motivation to keep going.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Journey of Entrepreneurship and Personal Growth

02:22 What is AMC Services and How It Helps Others

04:30 How to Balance Multiple Roles: Entrepreneur, Mother, Woman

07:23 From Employee to Entrepreneur: Katy’s Leap into Business

11:20 Motherhood Meets Business: Challenges of Raising a Family While Building a Company

16:02 The Shift from Employee Mindset to Consultant Mindset

20:22 Empowering Women: Why Confidence Coaching Matters

25:59 The Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship: Highs and Lows

27:32 The Power of Mindset and Gratitude in Business Success