Podcast
Startuprad.io™ – Europe’s Voice on Startups, VC, Innovation & Growth
Hosted by Startuprad.io™ – Europe’s Voice on Startups, VC, Innovation & Growth · EN
Startuprad.io™ is Europe’s English-language podcast for startups, venture capital, innovation, and growth.
Hosted by Joe Menninger, Startuprad.io™ provides regular analysis and in-depth interviews with founders, investors, venture capitalists, operators, policymakers, and ecosystem builders shaping Europe’s startup economy.
The show covers European startups, venture capital trends, startup funding, fintech, AI startups, deep tech, climate tech, B2B SaaS, scale-ups, innovation policy, and the startup ecosystems of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the broader European market.
Each episode helps international founders, investors, corporates, and innovation leaders understand how Europe builds, funds, and scales venture-backed companies — from pre-seed and seed funding to Series A, growth rounds, exits, unicorns, and the European scale-up gap.
Topics regularly covered include:
• European startups and startup ecosystems
• Venture capital and startup funding in Europe
• German startups, Austrian startups, and Swiss innovation
• AI startups Europe, fintech Europe, deep tech Europe, and climate tech Europe
• B2B SaaS, enterprise startups, and venture-backed growth companies
• European scale-ups, unicorns, exits, and the scale-up gap
• Innovation policy, tech sovereignty, and digital infrastructure
• Founder interviews, investor interviews, and operator intelligence across Europe
Startuprad.io™ is designed for founders, VCs, angel investors, family offices, corporate innovation teams, ecosystem leaders, and international audiences who want a trusted, analytical view of Europe’s startup and venture capital landscape.
Startuprad.io™ is Europe’s Voice on Startups, VC, Innovation & Growth.
Explore the European Startup Knowledge Graph:
https://www.startuprad.io/post/knowledge
Explore our AI / LLM visibility hub:
https://www.startuprad.io/llm
Partner with Startuprad.io™:
https://www.startuprad.io/become-a-partner
Discover all Startuprad.io™ links:
https://linktr.ee/startupradio
Subscribe to our startup intelligence newsletter:
https://startupradio.substack.com
Read show notes, founder interviews, and startup analysis:
https://www.startuprad.io/blog/
Publisher / Herausgeber
Startuprad.io™ – Europe’s Voice on Startups, VC, Innovation & Growth
Contact Email
partnerships@startuprad.io
Website URL
https://www.startuprad.io/post/knowledge
45episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Climate Tech SaaS Is Ending Greenwashing | Irene Rosique, Nuvio Planet
Aug 2800:30:38Tap to summarizeGreenwashing is everywhere — from supermarket shelves to corporate ESG reports. But are those “eco-friendly” claims worth anything without data to back them up? In this episode of Startuprad.io, host Jörn “Joe” Menninger speaks with Irene Rosique-Conesa, CEO & Co-Founder of Nuvio Planet, a climate tech SaaS spun out of BASF. Irene believes the solution to greenwashing isn’t more PR — it’s better data. You’ll learn: Why half of sustainability labels lack verifiable evidence How lifecycle assessment (LCA) software makes compliance repeatable and affordable The hidden flaws in ESG reporting and why CSRD will change the rules A case study: reducing milk’s carbon footprint by 8% = 1M Berlin–NY flights Irene’s founder journey: leaving BASF corporate life for startup uncertainty Her bold 2030 prediction: environmental data will matter as much as price Guest Spotlight: Irene Rosique-Conesa, CEO & Co-Founder of Nuvio Planet. With over a decade of LCA expertise and a corporate career at BASF, Irene is building a SaaS platform that transforms sustainability compliance into growth. If you’ve ever wondered how startups can win in regulated markets, or how founders transition from corporate to climate tech, this episode is for you. 💡 Don’t just follow green labels — follow the data. Blog Post: https://www.startuprad.io/post/climate-tech-saas-how-nuvio-planet-ends-greenwashing Youtube Full Video: https://youtu.be/LHK7BNjjul0 Timestamps: 00:00 – What is greenwashing in 2025? 05:30 – Why sustainability claims collapse without data 09:45 – Lifecycle assessment vs. averages 14:20 – From compliance cost to growth driver 20:00 – Case study: Milk carbon footprint cut by 8% 24:30 – CSRD and supply chain transparency 29:07 – Irene’s bold 2030 prediction ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger Primary keywords (“climate tech SaaS”, “greenwashing”, “lifecycle assessment”, “CSRD compliance”) used in title, description opening, and early show notes. Secondary keywords (“supply chain transparency”, “founder journey”, “BASF spinout”) sprinkled naturally in description + notes. Startuprad.io™ - All Rights Reserved
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Productionizing AI: AWS Bedrock, MCP & Agentic Workflows for Startups
Aug 2100:57:14Tap to summarizeWhat does it really take to move from a GenAI prototype to a production-ready system? In this episode, AWS AI Engineering Specialist Dennis Traub breaks down the hard truths behind scaling, securing, and monitoring AI systems — and why the future belongs to startups who learn how to productionize AI fast. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why most GenAI prototypes fail when pushed to production The role of MCP (Model Context Protocol) in securely connecting AI to APIs How agentic workflows differ from simple prompt chains Why observability and cost monitoring are non-negotiable for startups The AWS Bedrock + Agent Core stack for startups scaling AI in Europe Counterintuitive lessons: when not to use AI 🚀 Meet Our SponsorAWS Startups is a proud sponsor of this week’s episode of Startuprad.io. Visit startups.aws to find out how AWS can help you prove what’s possible in your industry. The AWS Startups team comprises former founders and CTOs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and mentors ready to help you prove what’s possible. Since 2013, AWS has supported over 280,000 startups across the globe and provided $7Billion in credits through the AWS Activate program. Big ideas feel at home on AWS, and with access to cutting-edge technologies like generative AI, you can quickly turn those ideas into marketable products. Want your own AI-powered assistant? Try Amazon Q. Want to build your own AI products? Privately customize leading foundation models on Amazon Bedrock. Want to reduce the cost of AI workloads? AWS Trainium is the silicon you’re looking for. Whatever your ambitions, you’ve already had the idea, now prove it’s possible on AWS. Visit aws.amazon.com/startups to get started. Guest: Dennis Traub, AI Engineering Specialist at AWS Full Blog Post: https://www.startuprad.io/post/how-startups-can-succeed-at-productionizingai-without-breaking-at-scale Youtube Full Video: https://youtu.be/UkYwxbM_834 ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8 💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger Startuprad.io™ - All Rights Reserved
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How Startups Can Use GenAI Without Breaking GDPR or Trust
Aug 1400:48:10Tap to summarizeStartups love GenAI. But most founders are using it unsafely — and exposing their team, their customers, and their legal risk without even realizing it. In this episode of Startuprad.io, we sat down with Dennis Traub, AI Engineering Specialist at AWS, to unpack what safe adoption of Generative AI really means for founders, CTOs, and product leads. Dennis introduces the “Artificial Intern” framework — a practical way for startups to implement GenAI without hallucinations, GDPR violations, or broken trust. He walks us through where to start, what not to do, and how to pick your very first AI use case. 🚀 Meet Our SponsorAWS Startups is a proud sponsor of this week’s episode of Startuprad.io. Visit startups.aws to find out how AWS can help you prove what’s possible in your industry. The AWS Startups team comprises former founders and CTOs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and mentors ready to help you prove what’s possible. Since 2013, AWS has supported over 280,000 startups across the globe and provided $7Billion in credits through the AWS Activate program. Big ideas feel at home on AWS, and with access to cutting-edge technologies like generative AI, you can quickly turn those ideas into marketable products. Want your own AI-powered assistant? Try Amazon Q. Want to build your own AI products? Privately customize leading foundation models on Amazon Bedrock. Want to reduce the cost of AI workloads? AWS Trainium is the silicon you’re looking for. Whatever your ambitions, you’ve already had the idea, now prove it’s possible on AWS. Visit aws.amazon.com/startups to get started. 📌 What you’ll learn in this episode: Why treating GenAI like a cofounder is a dangerous myth What AI should (and should never) touch inside your startup How to adopt GenAI tools without violating GDPR The hidden risk in giving LLMs access to your inbox Why AWS Bedrock offers a safer backend for compliant AI use How to automate annoying work — not strategic work What most founders misunderstand about AI “power” 📝Show NotesGuest: Dennis Traub, AI Engineering Specialist at AWS Full Blog Post: https://www.startuprad.io/post/how-to-safely-adopt-genai-without-leaking-customer-data Youtube Full Video: https://youtu.be/7e_UQbmYIE8 ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8 💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger
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How Count Finance Tackles Millennial Money Anxiety with Automation & Empathy
Aug 7, 202500:30:34Tap to summarizeWhat if your money app actually reduced your anxiety instead of triggering it?In this episode, Laura Cornely shares how she walked away from private equity to build Count — a fintech that’s deeply personal, empathy-led, and built for millennial mental clarity. What You'll Learn: How money anxiety is the unspoken epidemic of our generation — and how Count tackles it Why sales psychology is baked into the onboarding of personal finance tools How Laura conducted 100+ user interviews before writing a single line of code What bootstrapping a fintech with your co-founder husband really looks like Why female fintech founders often see pain points that others miss The startup advantage of designing for emotion, not just metrics How Count prioritizes trust, transparency, and mental ease in their UX Why VCs misunderstand tools built for mental health + money Guest Spotlight:Laura Cornely, founder of Count Finance, is a former private equity executive who turned to fintech after realizing the deep emotional disconnect in traditional financial tools. She bootstrapped Count alongside her husband, driven by a mission to solve real user anxiety with radical transparency and calm tech. If you’ve ever opened five apps to see how broke you are — this is the episode for you.Follow Startuprad.io, subscribe on Spotify & Apple Podcasts, and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review if it helped you think differently.Don’t forget to share this with fellow founders, UX designers, and fintech product leads.Guest Name: Laura Cornely | CEO and co-founder of Count App Blog Post: https://www.startuprad.io/post/from-stress-to-confidence-the-financial-anxiety-app-built-for-real-life Youtube Full Video: https://youtu.be/DQajoeLWeSURelevant Resources:https://www.count-finance.com/https://www.startuprad.io/post/fintech-review-2024-navigating-trends-and-innovations-in-startups Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Money Anxiety Meets Product Design 02:15 – Laura’s Leap from Private Equity to Purpose 06:40 – 100+ User Interviews: Groundwork for Fintech Clarity 10:50 – What Millennials Really Feel About Finances 13:00 – Bootstrapping a Calm Tech Fintech with Your Partner 16:00 – UX Design That Reduces Financial Panic 19:30 – Sales Psychology Meets Emotional Transparency 25:00 – Advice for Founders Building Emotionally Sensitive Tech ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.ioSubscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger Subscribe across platforms: https://linktr.ee/startupradio money anxiety, startups, sales psychology, tech entrepreneurs, german startups, startup scene, fintech innovation, female founder fintech, eco innovation, startup insights, startup growth, startup leadership, financial wellness tools, digital mental health, startup UX design
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Second-Life EV Batteries: How Voltfang Raised €15M to Replace Coal in Europe
Jul 24, 202500:25:33Tap to summarizeWhat if the key to Europe’s energy independence lies in the batteries of yesterday’s electric cars? This isn’t science fiction—it’s Voltfang’s reality. Today’s episode takes you inside the world of second-life EV batteries, where German climate tech startup Voltfang is repurposing used electric car batteries to stabilize power grids, decentralize energy systems, and replace coal-fired plants across Europe. With a €15M funding round and partnerships with major players like Stuttgart Airport, Voltfang is scaling from humble camper van hacks to operating Europe’s largest second-life battery factory. What You'll Learn: How second-life EV batteries can transform renewable energy storage. Why energy decentralization is critical for Europe’s climate future. The startup journey from garage project to €15M scale-up. Lessons on resilience and leadership from Voltfang’s co-founders. Common misconceptions about scaling cleantech startups. Insider insights into Germany’s and DACH’s energy transition. Guest Spotlight: David Oudsandji, CEO & Co-Founder of Voltfang, shares the story of how three friends turned a side project into one of Europe’s most ambitious clean energy startups. With a background in industrial engineering and a bold vision to shut down coal plants like Weissweiler (1.6 GW), David unpacks the challenges and triumphs of scaling in a high-impact sector. 🎧 If you’re inspired by stories of startups driving global impact, hit “Follow” on Spotify or “Subscribe” on Apple Podcasts. ⭐ Leave us a 5-star review and share this episode with fellow founders and investors. 💬 What’s your moonshot for the future of energy? Tell us on LinkedIn or Threads using #Startupradio. Guest Name: David Oudsandji, CEO & Co-Founder at Voltfang Blog Post: https://www.startuprad.io/post/second-life-ev-batteries-powering-europe%E2%80%99s-energy-future Timestamps: 00:00 – Can Second-Life Batteries Replace Coal? 02:15 – The Camper Van Experiment That Sparked Voltfang 06:40 – From Prototype to €15M Raise 10:55 – Pivoting From Home to Industrial Energy Storage 15:30 – Decentralizing Europe’s Energy Grids 20:05 – Lessons in Cleantech Startup Leadership 23:00 – Voltfang’s Moonshot Vision for a Coal-Free Europe 25:10 – Closing Reflections and Future Plans ✉️ Work with us: partnerships@startuprad.io 💬 Feedback: https://forms.gle/Qp53eVuc9P1RMqWj8 💼 Follow Jörn on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=joernmenninger startups, second life EV batteries, energy decentralization Europe, german startups, tech entrepreneurs, capital growth, startup scaling cleantech, angel investors, DACH startup ecosystem, climate tech founders, venture capital cleantech Germany Startuprad.io™ - All Rights Reserved
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