What It Takes

From Volleyball to Venture - Bereme's Entrepreneurial Journey In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Bereme, co-founder of UpFund, a data-driven platform aimed at revolutionizing the real estate industry. Bereme shares his journey from being a professional volleyball player to becoming an entrepreneur, discussing the challenges and lessons learned along the way....

The Unique Experience of Salva's Barbershop In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Salva, a successful barber and entrepreneur based in Oslo. Salva shares his journey from struggling to find his path to owning a thriving barbershop. He emphasizes the importance of mindset, positivity, and self-belief in achieving success. Salva also discusses the significance of...

From Physical Therapist to Business Coach - with Nathan Farrugia In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Darren Valen interviews Nathan Farrugia, an inspiring figure known for running 27 marathons in 27 consecutive days across 27 countries. Nathan shares his journey from being a physical therapist to running multiple businesses related to sports events and coaching CEOs. He discusses the imp...

The Power of Networking in Business - Lars Postmus In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Darren Valen interviews Lars Postmus, a digital marketing agency owner who transitioned from a corporate job to entrepreneurship. Lars shares his journey, discussing the challenges and motivations behind starting his own agency, the importance of networking, and the current state of the marketing indus...

Passion and Purpose - Building We Work at Home In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Heiner Hofer, the founder of We Work at Home. Heiner shares his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, discussing the challenges and motivations behind starting his own business. He emphasizes the importance of passion, risk-taking, and the need for a supportive n...

The Power of Coaching - Insights from Brent Scott In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Brent Scott shares his inspiring journey from military service to becoming a successful real estate professional and coach. He discusses the challenges he faced as a single father, his transition from retail to real estate, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures in his career. Brent em...

From Adversity to Entrepreneurship - The Journey of Nicholas Herta In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Nicholas Herta, the CEO and founder of NeilTekstile, a company focused on creating fully circular textiles from innovative materials. Nicholas shares his inspiring journey from a challenging childhood in the Czech Republic to becoming an entrepreneur dedicat...

Navigating the Complex World of Bitcoin with Uxio Fraga  In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Darren Valen interviews Uxío, the founder of Material Bitcoin, a revolutionary way to store Bitcoin physically. Uxío explains the simplicity and durability of his product, designed for non-tech-savvy individuals. He discusses the future of Bitcoin, his personal journey from a traditional career t...

The Art of Packaging Solutions with Mike Noldus In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Mike Noldus, CEO of Karten BV, a leading producer of corrugated board boxes in the Netherlands. Mike shares his journey from aspiring entrepreneur to CEO, discussing the intricacies of the packaging business, the importance of experience, and the challenges of leadership and h...

In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Akhil Sivanandan, CEO and co-founder of GreenStory, discusses the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry. He shares his personal journey towards creating a platform that helps consumers understand the environmental impact of their clothing choices. The conversation delves into the complexities of the fashion supply chain, the significance...

Delayed Gratification - The Key to Zachary Gray's Success In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Zachary Gray shares his remarkable journey from financial struggles to becoming a successful entrepreneur in real estate. He discusses the importance of mindset, the influence of role models, and the transition from a career in fitness to real estate investing. Zach emphasizes the significance o...

In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, Darren Valen interviews Melih Tekin, CEO of Wabel, a B2B matchmaking company focused on the FMCG industry. Melih shares his journey from a small town in Turkey to becoming a successful entrepreneur, discussing his early leadership experiences, educational challenges, cultural adaptations, and the importance of self-belief and networking in achieving su...

In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Alessio, the CEO of Adaptive Companies, who shares his inspiring journey from a challenging upbringing in Mexico to building a multi-million dollar business in industrial automation. Alessio discusses the importance of family support, education, and passion in achieving success, as well as the risks and rewards of entrepren...

In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, host Darren Valen interviews Lukas Vács, an entrepreneur and co-founder of the SIVAS Group, a commercial real estate company in the Czech Republic. Lukas shares his journey from being an employee to becoming an entrepreneur, discussing the challenges and motivations behind his decision to start his own business. He reflects on the lessons learned from...

In this episode of What It Takes Podcast, I sit down with Renate Straume, the founder and CEO of Varig, a company focused on reducing carbon footprints in the building industry. Renate shares how her journey took her from engineering and acting to starting her own business. We talk about the power of technology in driving change, the challenges of transitioning to entrepreneurship, and how she wen...

In this episode of the What It Takes podcast, I sit down with Jimmy Widen, an absolute powerhouse in the world of luxury real estate. Jimmy’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—from washing dishes at 13 to landing a top sales job in Sweden’s TV industry, to now running a thriving real estate and relocation agency in Marbella, Spain. We dive into his story of spotting a gap in the market, taking...

In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Powers, and let me tell you, this guy's story is something else. We dive into his incredible journey from being a troubled kid trying to find his footing to building a thriving career as a real estate entrepreneur. Andrew opens up about the moments that really changed his life—how he found his self-worth, the role faith played in giving him purpose, and why...

In this episode, I sit down with Franziska Scheuerle, the brilliant mind behind Loremo, a company that’s redefining luxury art. Franziska shares how she’s blending craftsmanship with AI to create bespoke pieces that reflect the personality and style of her clients. We explore her journey of bootstrapping Loremo, navigating the challenges of balancing technology with tradition, and her vision for t...

In this episode, I sit down with Evelina Kvartunaite, a true example of living life on your own terms. From her start as a young poet in Lithuania to her work as an educator, photographer, and humanitarian, Evelina’s journey is all about curiosity, creativity, and making an impact. We explore her unique career path, from teaching leadership and working in conflict zones to creating Strive Cards, a...

In this episode of What It Takes, I sit down with Maximilian von der Ahé, the founder of Betahaus, one of the first co-working spaces in Germany. Maximilian's journey is nothing short of inspiring—from starting out as a lawyer to becoming a pioneer in the co-working industry. We dive into his early days of building Betahaus, scaling to 11 locations across Europe, and the challenges of running a bu...

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Raffaella Solfanelli, who left behind a high-profile corporate career in banking to pursue her dream of entrepreneurship. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and reinvention. After an epiphany in her Paris office, she traded spreadsheets for the sun-soaked shores of Spain, where she now thrives in luxury real estate and interior design. We talk ab...

In this episode, I sit down with Angelica M Bermudez, whose story is nothing short of incredible. Angelica went from growing up in Colombia with big dreams and very little else to building a thriving property maintenance business here in the U.S. She didn’t just overcome challenges—she completely redefined them. From navigating financial struggles and supporting her family to creating opportunitie...

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Oli van der Elst, an incredible entrepreneur who’s been shaking things up in the electric bike industry. We dive into his journey from starting Green Air in Ireland to launching Volo in Spain. Oli shares what sparked his passion for sustainability, how he’s overcome social norms to follow his path, and the big lessons he’s learned along the way. We a...

What’s good, everyone! In this episode, I’m sitting down with Bartek Kuzma — an IT entrepreneur with a seriously inspiring story. From breaking down old electronics as a kid to building his own IT consultancy, Bartek's journey is packed with valuable lessons. We talk about what it really takes to start a business, the power of patience, and why following your passion is a game-changer. Bartek also...

Ever wonder what it really takes to break free from the 9-to-5 grind and build a life of financial freedom? In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Freed — an entrepreneur who's gone from working a traditional day job to managing over 300 rental units. Yep, 300. His story is wild, inspiring, and packed with actionable gems you can use right now. We talk about that pivotal moment that shifted every...