Felice Biancardi runs 4 companies — across sports, real estate, cyber and hospitality — all while living and working fully remote.

And he’s not chasing unicorns. He’s building freedom.

In this episode:

- Why his first startup failed (and why that was the best thing that happened)

- How he scaled in one of Italy’s slowest-moving markets

- How a “side hustle” made €1.5M+ in 18 months

- Why not every business needs to chase unicorn status

One of the most refreshing “build your own game” founder stories we’ve had.

Hit play. This one will stick with you.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introductionto Felice Biancardi and His Ventures

00:02:28 - The Journeyfrom Bocconi to Entrepreneurship

00:06:44 - FoundingGole: The Start of a Sports Tech Revolution

00:10:28 - NavigatingChallenges During the Pandemic

00:13:39 - Digital Transformation in Sports Clubs

00:16:29 - Understanding Decision-Making in Sports Organizations

00:19:50 - Expanding Horizons: Managing Multiple Ventures

00:25:38 - The Personal Cost of Entrepreneurship

00:26:54 - Diverse Ventures and Entrepreneurial Success

00:30:00 - Pitching Ideas and Gaining Investor Confidence

00:32:51 - The Importance of Co-Founders

00:36:57 - Unique Business Methodology and Personal Well-Being

00:42:47 - Future Aspirations and Industry Focus

00:46:00 - Motivation and Problem-Solving Mindset

Two Stanford physicists left the lab to fix a broken system: computer chips that waste too much energy and can’t keep up with AI.

Their startup, Lightium, is using light (yep, actual light) to make chips faster, cooler, and ready for the next tech wave — from AI to quantum.

In this episode, we get into:
- Why traditional chips are hitting a ceiling
- How they explained photonic tech without losing the room
- The inside story of raising €7M as deeptech outsiders
- What it really takes to turn hard science into a real business

If you like big tech bets, underestimated founders, and startups building the invisible stuff that powers the future — hit play.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Lightium and Its Founders

00:02:53 - The Journey into Photonics and Deep Tech

00:05:48 - Transitioning from Academia to Entrepreneurship

00:09:03 - The Birth of Lightium: From Frustration to Innovation

00:11:46 - Navigating Competition in the Photonics Industry

00:14:52 - Understanding Photonics: Misconceptions and Realities

00:23:57 - The Future of Data and Photonic Solutions

00:24:43 - The Future of Electric Vehicles and Autonomous Driving

00:26:33 - Co-Founders: Balancing Roles and Responsibilities

00:31:02 - Building a Strong Team Culture in Deep Tech

00:37:54 - Navigating Customer and Investor Relationships

00:39:42 - The Future Impact of Lightium on Data Consumption

00:45:56 - Finding Momentum in the Startup Journey

Meet Sofia Radley — pharmacist-turned-cofounder of AXMED — a company on a mission to fix how low-income countries access medicines.

In this episode, we talk:

- Why building a global marketplace for medicines is 100x harder than it sounds- How fundraising and team building happened while giving birth to her second kid- What it really takes to co-found a mission-driven company (hint: brutal honesty) and the importance for social entrepreneurs to be system thinkers - The gap between opportunity and talent, as well as between US and EU startup landscape - The moments she asked herself: “Should I walk away?”.

This one’s raw, real, and ridiculously inspiring.

Hit play — it’ll stay with you.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Introduction to AxMED and Sophia Radley

00:02:58 - Sophia's Journey: From Pharmacist to Entrepreneur

00:05:51 - The Importance of Co-Founders in Startups

00:09:14 - Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

00:12:06 - The Role of Harvard in Startup Success

00:15:07 - Differences Between US and European Startup Ecosystems

00:18:08 - Navigating Investor Expectations and Company Direction

00:31:12 - Choosing the Right Investors

00:32:30 - Vision for AXMED's Future

00:33:59 - The Marketplace for Medicines

00:36:20 - Social Entrepreneurship Challenges

00:39:02 - Balancing Mission and Margin

00:44:25 - Overcoming Personal Challenges as a Founder

00:54:48 - Finding Personal Momentum

What happens when a 24-year-old ex-BCG consultant takes on Europe’s slow, dusty real estate market? You get Casavo — a platform that once bought $30M in homes a month... then pivoted hard.

In this episode, Giorgio Tinacci shares:

How he raised $800M+ (with zero VC experience)

The real story behind their near-death moment (hint: interest rates)

Lessons from running a real estate rocket ship in 4 countries

Why he loves building things that create “ecosystem value”

It’s a masterclass in company success, founder intuition, and the art of pivoting under pressure. If you like big swings, big numbers, and bigger lessons — this one's for you.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Introduction to Casavo and Giorgio Tinacci

00:00:56 - The Birth of Casavo: Early Challenges and Validation

00:05:49 - Funding the Vision: Securing Initial Investments

00:10:08 - Navigating the COVID Era: Investor Support and Challenges

00:13:06 - Building Relationships with Investors

00:16:50 - Lessons from the VC World: What Founders Should Know

00:21:05 - Cultural Differences in Investment: US vs. European VCs

00:24:03 - Facing Crisis: Near-Death Experiences in Entrepreneurship

00:25:27 - Navigating Near-Death Experiences in Entrepreneurship

00:26:11 - The Impact of Interest Rate Changes on Startups

00:28:00 - Transitioning to an Asset-Light Model

00:30:22 - Preparing for Market Changes

00:32:21 - Cultural Shifts in Business Strategy

00:35:33 - Expanding into International Markets

00:39:00 - Challenges of Merging Company Cultures

00:41:31 - Shifting Mindsets: From Growth to Profitability00:46:20 - The Founder’s Spirit: Balancing Leadership and Operations

What do Formula 1 and nanotechnology have in common? Andrea Giovannelli.

At 23, while Italy’s startup scene was barely on the map, Andrea launched Nanotech — betting on the smallest materials to solve the biggest engineering challenges. Fast forward: today, his company is powering faster F1 cars, safer airplanes, and the future of advanced materials.

We dive into the early days of building from scratch, landing €50K in business plan competitions, convincing partners when deeptech wasn’t “cool” yet, and why real innovation doesn’t chase trends — it creates them.

If you've ever dreamed about building something hard, this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Nanotech and Its Vision

00:05:03 The Journey of Co-founding Nanotech

00:09:51 The Role of Sports in Entrepreneurship

00:15:02 Transitioning from Consulting to Entrepreneurship

00:19:56 Understanding Nanotechnology and Its Applications

00:24:53 Breaking into Formula One and Early Success

00:25:37 Entering the World of Formula One

00:29:14 Navigating Challenges and Innovations

00:31:02 Overcoming Early Struggles

00:38:35 The Courage to Start

00:42:47 Vision for the Future

00:46:11 Finding Momentum and Motivation

In this episode, we dive into how he built Vianova, a mobility data platform used by cities to make better decisionsaround transport and infrastructure. He shares what it’s really like to sell to governments, validate a product in public, and pitch an idea before the market is ready.

00:00:00 - Introduction to Vianova and Its Mission

04:26:00 - The Journey of Thibault Castagne: From Finance to Mobility

12:41:00 - The Evolution of Vianova: Data-Driven Urban Mobility

16:06:00 - Challenges in Partnering with Cities and Governments

20:06:00 - Vianova's Presence and Market Focus

24:17:00 - Navigating Urban Mobility Challenges

27:27:00 - The Entrepreneurial Journey: Personal Insights

31:34:00 - Lessons from the Startup Experience

37:13:00 - Funding and Investor Relations

41:11:00 - Building a Strong Technical Team

45:55:00 - Finding Momentum in Entrepreneurship

Chandralika Hazarika is a walking power surge.

No tech background, no co-founder, no safety net—and yet, she’s partnering with global fashion giants to bring AI to your online shopping cart.

As co-founder of Bigthinx 3D AI, she’s building cutting-edge tech that powers 3D body scans, virtual try-ons, and digital twins for the world’s biggest fashion and luxury brands.

(You know that moment when you wish you could see a 3D view of the bag you’re about to buy online? That’s her tech.)

In this episode, we talk:

⚡ Turning rejection into rocket fuel

⚡ Building credibility without a tech CV

⚡ Selling to big brands before the market was ready

⚡ Showing up bold in rooms that want you quiet

Chapters

00:00:00 - Revolutionizing Fashion with AI

00:07:27 - The Journey from Architecture to Fashion Tech

00:14:52 - Overcoming Challenges in the Fashion Industry

00:19:35 - Navigating Funding in Fashion Tech

00:25:39 - Building a Strong Founding Team

00:31:29 - Global Expansion and Headquarters Strategy

00:34:41 - Challenges Faced During Growth

00:38:30 - Personal Impact of Entrepreneurship

00:40:20 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

00:42:13 - Competitive Advantages in the Market

00:44:09 - Motivation and Team Development

Cristina Jäger spent years advising millionaires at UBS—then left it all to fix what the industry ignores: the gender wealth gap.

In this episode, she shares how Her Financial Freedom was born from a few conversations over Prosecco and turned into a fast-growing platform that’s helping thousands ofwomen invest with confidence.

We cover:

💸 Real estate vs. market investing

👶 The ETF plan she started for her 4-week-old niece

⚠️ The biggest mindset mistakes women make about money

🧠 What Europe can learn from Hong Kong billionaires

If you’ve ever thought“I’ll start investing when I have more money” — this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction to Financial Empowerment

00:03:01 Cristina's Early Influences and Career Path

00:05:59 Wealth Management Insights from Asia and Europe

00:09:06 The GenderWealth Gap and Financial Literacy

00:11:54 The Birth of Her Financial Freedom

00:14:56 Transitioning from Banking to Entrepreneurship

00:17:53 Mission and Vision of Her Financial Freedom

00:20:57 Addressing Misconceptions About Wealth

00:23:47 The Importance of Financial Education for Women

00:27:26 Gendered Communication and Its Impact on Financial Confidence

00:30:35 The Importance of Early Investment

00:33:54 Starting Small: Building Financial Confidence

00:39:37 Transforming Financial Education for Future Generations

00:46:35 Creating a Supportive Community for Women in Finance