Sweat,Tears and Equity

Ep.08 - "You cannot put a price on vision or dreams"- Mihai Raneti, CyberSwarm

In this episode of "Sweat, Tears and Equity", our host Sorin Bădulescu sits down with Mihai Raneti, founder and CEO of Cyber Swarm - a  hardware startup developing neuromorphic computing solutions that challenge tech giants. From their Romanian R&D hub, they're exporting advanced chip technology to the US, turning geographical constraints into competitive advantages. Drawing from his experience as a founder, Mihai shares candid insights about:  👉 Why hardware startups are harder to scale but more sustainable long-term  👉 How being outside Silicon Valley's radar gave them space to innovate  👉 The reality of choosing investors and why Eastern European founders should look westward  👉 Why current AI is "just statistics" and how neuromorphic computing might change that  👉 The lonely road of deep tech entrepreneurship and why your close ones might not understand Whether you're a founder considering the hardware space, an investor interested in deep tech, or simply curious about building globally competitive startups from Eastern Europe, this episode offers rare insights into the intersection of cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurship.

Ep.07 - "The best founders are customer-centric, not VC-centric" - Bogdan Iordache, Underline Ventures

For this episode of "Sweat, Tears and Equity", Sorin Bădulescu sat down with Bogdan Iordache, General Partner of Underline Ventures and founder of How to Web, one of the leading startup conferences in Eastern Europe. Based on his 15-year journey of building the Romanian ecosystem, he shared his insights on the cultural differences that shape the startup landscape in Eastern Europe versus the West, the importance of being customer-centric, and the challenges faced by founders in the region. They also discussed why customer-centricity trumps VC-centricity, and reveals how a new generation of founders is changing the region's tech landscape. From his unique perspective as both a conference founder and venture capitalist, Bogdan offers candid observations about what truly makes founders successful and why some investors initially underestimated Eastern Europe's potential.

Ep.06-"You need to be a bit crazy to be an entrepreneur"-Grégoire Vigroux, Serial Founder & Investor

In the 6th episode of "Sweat, Tears and Equity" our host, Sorin Badulescu, sat down with Gregoire Vigroux, a French serial entrepreneur who has been building businesses in Romania since 2006. With multiple successful exits under his belt, including the sale of CallPoint (1000+ employees) to Telus International and Fenix.eco to Recommerce after just 14 months, Gregoire brings tons of experience in scaling and selling companies. As the founder of Beyond Business School and a prominent voice in the Romanian startup ecosystem, he combines his entrepreneurial journey with education to address the gaps he's observed in the local business environment. In this episode, Gregoire discusses: 👉 Why entrepreneurship is a "gigantic graveyard" and what it takes to survive 👉 The stark reality of burnout in the business world and his personal six-month recovery 👉 Why Romanian professionals excel at problem-solving but struggle with sales and risk-taking 👉 The counterintuitive approach of befriending competitors and planning exits before launch 👉 The importance of family support and mental health in the entrepreneurial journey 👉 His unique perspective on the Romanian business ecosystem after 17 years in the market

Ep.05 - "The biggest advantage for SaaS - it's like a living organism" Ciprian Cazacu, CEO EasySales

In the fifth episode of our podcast, our host, Sorin Bădulescu, sits down with Ciprian Cazacu, the CEO of Easy Sales - an accessible “no code” platform that integrates important eCommerce systems in one place, used by all online merchants who want to be present on multiple marketplaces. Discover how EasySales pivoted from e-commerce website creation to e-commerce management, adapting to market demands and customer needs. Ciprian opens up about the challenges of balancing a full-time job while nurturing a start-up and the critical lessons learned about funding, growth, and international expansion. More than that, we discussed: - The pros and cons of different funding sources, from government grants to VCs - Leveraging AI to supercharge small teams and stay competitive - The power of crowdfunding and how to double your targets - Navigating family dynamics in a tech startup - Why Romania might be the next big thing in the startup world

Ep.04 - "If you can align these 3 elements, you'll deliver a product that works" - Sorin & Felicia Bârsan

In the fourth episode of our podcast, our host, Sorin Bădulescu, sits down with Felicia and Sorin Bârsan, the co-founders of Sales Partner, an all-in-one, API-based solution for the automotive industry—from manufacturers to importers to dealerships to the end user.  They share their journey from unexpected beginnings to becoming key players in a highly regulated market. Discover the secrets behind their approach as they reveal the three critical elements that can make or break a product. Along the way, they dive into the importance of asking the right questions, understanding customer pain points, and building solutions that not only work but transform entire workflows.     Whether you're a startup founder, an investor, or simply someone interested in the process of turning ideas into impactful products, and you want to do it right, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice