Tim Schigel's life and career have been shaped by his Cleveland roots, a large ethnic family, and a passion for music. In this interview transcript, Tim shares his journey from growing up in Cleveland to becoming a pioneering figure in the tech and venture capital space. His VC firm, Refinery Ventures, has invested in top-tier companies like bitewell, FRAYT, StoryFit, and Livegistics.

Tim Schigel On Building One Of The Fastest Growing Companies In America By Enabling Information Sharing And Now Investing In Other Entrepreneurs

Welcome to the DealMakers show, hosted by Alejandro Cremades. Alejandro is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling author, and cofounder at Panthera Advisors (M&A and fundraising advisory). On this podcast you will find weekly interviews with entrepreneurs that have been very successful at raising capital or getting their company acquired. You can learn more at https://alejandrocream.wpengine.com

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Entrepreneurship

Federico Malek, a seasoned entrepreneur from Buenos Aires, Argentina, has navigated the complex waters of startups and acquisitions, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the business world. His journey, marked by strategic decisions and keen insights into the dynamics of emerging markets, offers a wealth of knowledge for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Federico's latest venture, Wonder Brands has attracted funding from top-tier investors like Alarko Ventures, Kube VC, Mountain Partners, and Spectra Investments.

In this episode, you will learn:

 	Building startups in emerging markets like Argentina requires strong unit economics and sustainability from day one due to macro and political fluctuations.
 	Early exposure to successful entrepreneurs inspired Malek to pursue entrepreneurship in Argentina's burgeoning tech scene.
 	The high-growth, high-burn model is less suitable for emerging markets, where stable capital markets are scarce.
 	After selling his first company to Groupon, Malek shifted to developing sustainable, profitable business models.
 	Wonder Brands focuses on creating consumer discretionary brands for Latin America's rising middle class, emphasizing sustainable and profitable growth.
 	Raising capital in Latin America is more challenging and time-consuming compared to more mature markets like the US and Europe.
 	Aspiring entrepreneurs should carefully choose their market, considering both potential and challenges, rather than being attached to their home country.

 



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Federico Malek On Selling An E-Commerce Company To Groupon And Now Building A $100 Million Revenue Brand In LatAm

From a humble beginning in South Africa to becoming a serial entrepreneur in the United States, Wayne Slavin's story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of innovation. As a young immigrant in Southern California during the late 80s, Wayne experienced a world where possibilities seemed endless despite the initial challenges his family faced.

Wayne Slavin On Raising $123 Million To Build The Rails That Connect Consumers To Digital Insurance

Steven Zhao has had an inspiring entrepreneurial journey that started from humble beginnings to groundbreaking innovations in the world of virtual reality. He is the dynamic founder behind Sandbox VR. His story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a dream.

Steven Zhao On Raising $100 Million To Build An Immersive Virtual Reality World For In-Person Interactions

When it comes to building a billion-dollar company, doing it once might be considered luck, but doing it twice is a testament to skill and perseverance. Sami Inkinen, the entrepreneur behind two successful ventures, shares his journey from humble beginnings on a Finnish farm to founding companies like Trulia and Virta Health.

Sami Inkinen On Building Two Billion-Dollar Companies, Raising $360 Million For The Second To Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

Shahar Alster's career is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and strategic thinking in the tech industry. As a multiple-time founder, Shahar has navigated the complex landscape of startups, scaled businesses, and led successful exits.

Tim Schigel On Building One Of The Fastest Growing Companies In America By Enabling Information Sharing And Now Investing In Other Entrepreneurs

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