Alexander Kölpin, seed + speed Ventures: What Investors Really Want in AI Startups

Secure or Die: Why Startups Can’t Ignore Compliance Anymore

Security isn’t optional anymore. But most startups still treat it like a problem for “later.” ⁠⁠⁠Peter Oberlik [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/]⁠⁠⁠ speaks with ⁠Fabiola Munguia⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiola-munguia/?locale=de], Co-Founder of ⁠Secfix⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/secfix/], about why security and compliance have become critical for every modern startup — and how founders can automate the process before it becomes a blocker. From SOC 2 and ISO certifications to enterprise security reviews and cybersecurity risks, Secfix is helping startups build trust without slowing down growth. After speaking with hundreds of CTOs and founders, Fabiola realized a clear pattern: Most companies only think about security when they’re about to lose a deal — or after something goes wrong. Instead of treating compliance as painful paperwork, Secfix is rebuilding it as automated infrastructure — connecting directly into company systems like AWS, GitHub, Jira, and Google Workspace to simplify security from day one. From enterprise sales and startup operations to regulations, trust, and cybersecurity culture, this episode dives deep into one of the most underestimated challenges in building scalable companies today. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why startups ignore security until it becomes a revenue problem * How compliance impacts enterprise sales and customer trust * Why security is becoming a competitive advantage * The biggest mistakes founders make with compliance * How automation can simplify SOC 2 and ISO certification * Why trust will matter more than features in the future If you think security is just a “nice-to-have” — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, CTOs, operators, and anyone building products in today’s increasingly regulated digital world.

Pixun Technologies: Building Sunlight as Infrastructure

We spend over 90% of our lives indoors. But what if the light we live under is fundamentally broken? ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/] speaks with Liliana Lettieri [https://www.linkedin.com/in/liliana-lettieri-phd/] and Peter Veto [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pveto/], Co-Founders of Pixun Technologies [https://www.pixun.co/], about why artificial light is one of the most underestimated health problems of modern life — and how they’re building a solution that sounds almost futuristic: Bringing real, full-spectrum sunlight indoors. Instead of optimizing LEDs, Pixun is rethinking light from the ground up — combining hardware, fiber optics, and AI to deliver natural sunlight into any indoor space. From circadian rhythms and health impacts to building entirely new infrastructure inside buildings, this episode dives deep into a topic most people never question — but should. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why artificial light can’t replace real sunlight * How lack of daylight impacts health, sleep, and performance * Why most buildings are designed for efficiency — not humans * How Pixun brings sunlight indoors using fiber optics * Why this is not just a product — but a new infrastructure category * How AI can personalize light for health and productivity If you think light is just about visibility — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone interested in health, hardware, and the future of how we live and work indoors.

Mattias Protzmann & Blockbrain: Why AI Fails in Most Companies

Most companies think AI will fix their problems. It won’t. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ speaks with Mattias Protzmann [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattias-protzmann-21aa1a14/], Co-Founder of Statista and now building Blockbrain [https://blockbrain.ai/], about why AI is failing in most organizations — and what companies get fundamentally wrong before they even start. After building one of Europe’s leading data platforms and multiple successful companies, Mattias is now tackling a problem almost every company has: Internal knowledge chaos. From data silos and broken processes to cultural resistance and knowledge drain, this episode dives deep into why AI doesn’t fix companies — it amplifies them. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why AI fails in companies without clean processes * The real problem behind most failed AI projects * Why data silos destroy efficiency and decision-making * What separates real AI transformation from “innovation theater” * How to turn internal knowledge into a strategic advantage * Why culture — not technology — is the hardest part of AI adoption If you think implementing AI is the solution — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and executives who want to build real AI-driven companies — not just experiment with hype.

Move Faster or Lose: How Seva Ustinov Built Plurio to Reinvent Marketing

Speed isn’t a nice-to-have in marketing anymore — it’s the only advantage left. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik/] speaks with Seva Ustinov [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sevaustinov/], founder of Plurio [https://www.plurio.ai/], about why most marketing teams are fundamentally broken — and how AI agents are about to replace the entire execution layer. After building a performance marketing agency with 100+ employees and managing over $50M in ad spend, Seva realized a hard truth: Even with perfect data, teams still move too slow. From dashboards and manual workflows to fully automated AI-driven execution, this episode dives deep into what it really takes to build AI-first organizations — and why speed is becoming the ultimate competitive edge. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why dashboards and manual workflows are fundamentally broken * How AI agents can automate marketing execution end-to-end * Why speed alone can change customer acquisition costs by up to 40% * The difference between using AI tools and building AI-first teams * Why execution — not data — is the real bottleneck in marketing today If you think better data will fix your marketing — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, marketers, and operators who want to stay competitive in a world where AI moves faster than any team ever could.

Alexander Kölpin, seed + speed Ventures: What Investors Really Want in AI Startups

Raising €90M in today’s market isn’t luck — it’s a signal. ⁠Peter Oberlik⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-oberlik] speaks with ⁠Alexander Kölpin⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/koelpin/], Managing Director at Seed + Speed Ventures [https://www.linkedin.com/company/seedandspeed/], about what it really takes to build and fund the next generation of AI startups in Europe. After tripling their original fund target, Alexander shares a behind-the-scenes look at early-stage investing — and why trust, execution, and resilience matter more than hype. From backing AI-driven B2B and enterprise startups to helping founders scale beyond local markets, this episode dives deep into the realities of building in today’s ecosystem. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What VCs actually look for in early-stage AI founders * Why most startups fail not because of tech — but lack of reflection * How European founders can compete globally in AI * Why sales, PR, and go-to-market matter more than your code * The biggest red flags investors see in the first seconds of a pitch If you think raising capital is the hardest part — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating early-stage growth, fundraising, and the pressure to scale fast in a rapidly changing AI landscape.