The Pool Podcast

In Episode 8 of The Pool Podcast, we dive into the exciting world of The Pool of Talent, an innovative project connecting the vibrant youth of Marbella with the dynamic business community.

Join Christian and Elizabeth for episode 7 of The Pool Podcast as they welcome Bob van Winden, a key figure in the fintech industry. In this episode, Bob shares his experiences at Stripe and discusses his new role at Bridge, a startup focused on building stablecoin infrastructure. Learn about the remarkable $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge by Stripe and the evolving landscape of digital payments.

In this episode of The Pool Podcast, Elin Bergman, referred to as the Circular Economy Queen, and Johannes Paul-Schwarz discuss the rebranding of their vertical from AgTech to CleanTech. The rebranding aims to encompass a broader range of sustainability-focused technologies and foster inclusivity within the sector. They detail the upcoming CleanTech event scheduled for November 14th, focusing on topics like circular economy and new EU product legislation. Johannes also shares insights about his work on lab-grown wood, highlighting the challenges of innovative, sustainable solutions and the need for better communication and collaboration between scientists and businesses.

Magnus Jern, a tech entrepreneur originally from Sweden, shares his journey and experiences in the tech industry. He recounts his early start in tech entrepreneurship, inspired by his father, and his involvement in the IT boom in the '90s. After facing challenges during the IT bubble burst, Magnus moved to London and worked for Vodafone, where he gained insights into the mobile world and co-founded Golden Gekko, a mobile app development company. Despite initial skepticism from major brands, his company eventually thrived with the rise of the App Store, leading to a successful run and eventual sale to a US company. Magnus later focused on sustainability by founding TAPP Water, a venture aimed at reducing bottled water consumption with innovative water filters. Despite initial challenges in changing consumer behavior, the company grew and was later acquired by Bluewater, allowing Magnus to focus more on family and new opportunities.

Alba Marquez Canalejo, the Global Head of Expansion at Google Cloud Security, discusses her professional journey and experiences with Christian and Elizabeth. Alba shares her background, including her studies in advertising and criminology, and her early career in Spain and the US. She details her move to Silicon Valley for personal reasons and how she navigated the challenges of finding a job at Google despite language barriers and lack of local experience. Alba's perseverance and dedication eventually led her to secure a full-time position at Google after initially working as a temp. She emphasizes the importance of community support and networking in achieving her goals.

Chris and Elizabeth chat with Vicente Ortiz, a cryptocurrency expert lawyer, entrepreneur, and investor . Vicente shares his background, detailing his journey from studying law and business to moving to Marbella in 2010, where he ventured into real estate and technology. He recounts his initial success with an app and subsequent investments as a business angel in various companies. Vicente highlights his involvement in significant tech developments like artificial intelligence and Bitcoin, and his deep dive into blockchain technology, which became a focal point of his endeavours.

Amit, a communication trainer and public speaking coach, shares his diverse background and professional journey. Having grown up in multiple countries and moving to Europe for university, he eventually settled in Prague, Czech Republic, where he has been organizing a major TEDx event for nearly a decade. Amit's motivation to join The Pool, a coworking space in Spain, stemmed from his desire to work around people rather than in isolation. He emphasizes the importance of community and learning the local language to integrate fully into new environments, despite the challenges, such as mastering Czech.

In this podcast transcript, the host welcomes Elin Bergman, a prominent advocate for the circular economy, who runs Cradlenet, one of the oldest circular economy networks in the world, based in Sweden. Elin discusses her journey, her role in promoting circular economy principles, and her accidental founding of the Nordic Circular Hotspot, which aims to foster collaboration across Nordic countries. She highlights her involvement in various initiatives, such as a lecture tour and speaking engagements at significant events, and her decision to organize an event in Marbella after observing environmental issues like droughts. Elin emphasizes the importance of addressing water scarcity, not just for luxury conveniences but for essential needs such as food production and living conditions.