The Inside Story of Building Businesses

In this episode of the  Inside Story of Building Businesses  podcast, I sit down with  Simone La Torre , Director of Business Development at Stellar, entrepreneur, and startup coach. We dive deep into the real challenges of building companies, the importance of having the right co-founders, and why  execution  matters more than ever in today’s entrepreneurial landscape. Simone shares lessons from...

What does it take to build a startup that simplifies relocation, connects people with homes, and balances tech with a human touch? In this episode, I sit down with Joao Mesquita(CEO) and Alec Hilbert (Chief Growth Officer), the co-founders of StaysCo, a tech-enabled service company based in Luxembourg. Their mission? Make relocation seamless for expats, HR teams, and business travellers by connect...

🚀 What’s the #1 skill every founder needs to master but most ignore? Sales . In this episode of the Inside Story Podcast, I speak with Panos Meintanis, founder of DealsUp and Deelan, a sales acceleration platform built specifically for startups. Panos brings years of frontline experience - from closing deals at Talkwalker to helping founders transform their mindset around selling. We talk about w...

🤔 Ever moved to a new country, started from scratch, and wondered how to make people see your value? That’s exactly what Lisa Burke did — and not just once. In this episode of the Inside Story Podcast, I speak with Lisa Burke: seasoned broadcaster, event host, and the powerhouse behind launching RTL Today’s English-language news in Luxembourg. 💬 We talk about: ✔︎ Reinventing yourself professiona...

Meet Marco Houwen , the founder of Zentrapreneur and serial tech entrepreneur who sold it all to help leaders build businesses aligned with who they truly are . He joins Inside Story podcast to share how spiritual intelligence, failure, and inner clarity are the keys to lasting success in today’s fast-paced world. After two decades building and scaling high-impact tech businesses like Datacenter,...

🎙️In this episode of Inside Story, I talk to Imeshi Weerasinghe, co-founder and CEO of WEO, a Luxembourg-based startup transforming satellite data into climate resilience tools. 🤔 Imeshi shares the journey of founding WEO with a clear mission: to create real-world environmental impact, not just chase profits. She opens up about the challenges of long sales cycles, resisting pressure to scale at a...

What do investors really look for in startups? And why do so many promising ventures still fail to scale? In this episode of Inside Story, I speak with Daniel Biedermann, Investment Partner at NewSpace Capital and seasoned startup coach, about what it takes to grow and fund high-impact companies, especially in the fast-changing space industry. 🌍🛰️ From spotting the right investment opportunities...

🎙️In this episode of Inside Story, I sit down with Dorothy Germain, Managing Director of Spa Escape in Luxembourg. Dorothy shares her inspiring journey from launching a home-based wellness business in Canada to building a successful spa in Luxembourg. Along the way, she opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship—navigating financial hurdles, adapting to a new market, and building strong cust...

The fashion industry is evolving — and Vestis Labs is leading the charge. My guest, Fonny Bunjamin, founder & CEO of Vestis Labs, is on a mission to revolutionize how small and medium-sized fashion brands operate through technology, sustainability, and digital transformation. 🎙️ In this episode, we dive into: ✅ The biggest challenges fashion brands face — and how tech can solve them ✅ Why re...

What does it really take to build a business while managing family, life, and all the doubts that come with it? In this inspiring episode of Inside Story Podcast , I sit down with Katy Dyzewska , Founder of AMC Services , to talk about the real entrepreneurial journey — the highs, the lows, and the mindset shifts that make success possible. Katy shares her personal story of starting a business in...

What does it take to build a thriving marketing consultancy after working with global brands like LinkedIn and Nokia? 🤔 In this episode of Inside Story of Building Businesses , I sit down with Emi Orbán-Agg , founder of Do It Right Marketing , to uncover the realities of entrepreneurship, growth marketing, and making smart business decisions . 🔥 Key Takeaways: ✅ Growth marketing is about revenu...

🎙️I sat down with Chanukya Patnaik, founder of AI Planet, to explore the journey of making AI accessible to all. From launching an AI marketplace and open-sourcing powerful LLMs to fostering a 300K+ global community, AI Planet is reshaping how AI is developed, learned, and adopted. 💡 What we cover in this episode: ✅ The challenges of building an AI-driven startup ✅ Why education & community...

🎙 In this episode of Inside Story of Building Businesses, I spoke with Monica Serban-Mantero, an environmental economist turned screenwriter, who’s on a mission to change how we think about climate change - through comedy! Monica is the creative mind behind "Ten to Midnight," an environmental sitcom set to be filmed in Romania. In this episode, she shares her inspiring journey of turning...

🌿  Can businesses change the world for the better? 🎙️In this episode of  Inside Story of Building Businesses , host Dursun Halimova speaks with Virginie Ducommun, founder of Indoor Forest, about the journey of creating impactful and sustainable businesses. Virginie shares her insights on how smart technologies can transform buildings, the importance of sustainability, and the unique challenges of...

🎙️In this episode of the Inside Story podcast, Dursun interviews Keith Amoss, an experienced career coach and entrepreneur, to uncover the profound role values play in entrepreneurship and career decisions. ⚡️Keith shares his unique perspective as someone who transitioned from a stable public sector role to starting his own coaching business. Together, they explore the importance of self-awarenes...

In this episode of  Inside Story , host we sit down with Isabelle Mattern, a talented visual and communication designer, to explore her inspiring entrepreneurial journey. From launching her business during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to mastering the balance between creativity and client demands, Isabelle shares invaluable lessons and insights. ✨  What You’ll Learn : The power of stor...

🎙In this episode, we explore how Schoolmait is redefining well-being in schools. Founders Bosmat and Yuval share their vision for a better future for students and how they built a startup focused on well-being from the ground up. Together, they share how Schoolmait empowers educational institutions with data-driven insights to identify and address well-being challenges. Bosmat and Yuval discuss th...

In this episode of Inside Story , host Dursun Halimova sits down with Dr. Guy Schumann, CEO and founder of RSS Hydro, to dive into the world of disaster management, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As a leader in private-sector research, Dr. Schumann shares his unique insights on building a business around R&D and the essential role of hope and resilience in the face of setbacks. They explore...

In this episode of Inside Story , host Dursun Halimova dives into the world of startup stories with Jacob Pichna, co-founder and CEO of sommify , an AI-powered wine sommelier startup. Learn how Jacob turned a simple business idea into a thriving tech company by focusing on real customer needs, applying Lean Startup principles, and raising funds to fuel his venture. Jacob shares his experience of s...

Discover how Alexandra, a successful coach, transformed her passion for helping others into a fulfilling career. In this episode, we sit down with Alexandra Neves, founder of Mind Tree Coaching and the President of the International Coach Federation (ICF) in Luxembourg. She shares her insights on: Building a strong foundation: Creating a clear vision and setting goals Overcoming challenges: Embrac...

What do you do when you don’t have a startup ecosystem in your town?  You create one. That's what Maurizio did. He created a series of startup events, to encourage entrepreneurs to exchange startup ideas, learn about startup equity, funding, being startup founder, and creating startup businesses. At one of these events he met one of his future co-founders.  Through a startup xchange program he...

Tune in as Albin Axelsson, the visionary founder of A3C Consulting shares how he built a service business and scaled it using a software. Discover how Albin transformed his entrepreneurial journey from a solo freelancer to a thriving consultancy serving top-tier private equity firms. In this episode, Albin shares his invaluable insights on: Navigating the competitive market: How to stand out and a...

Feeling trapped in a corporate cubicle? 💼 It's time to break free! 🎙️Join us as Silvija Zagar, a body-centered therapist, shares her inspiring journey from employee to entrepreneur. Discover how she transformed her passion into a thriving business while overcoming self-doubt and building a supportive network. Learn valuable insights on: ✨Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success ✨Fin...

🎙️In this episode, we dive deep into the world of startups with Guillaume Chatelain, the mastermind behind Fuck Up Nights Luxembourg. Contrary to popular belief, failure is not the enemy of success, but rather a stepping stone to it. 🎧 Join us as we explore the importance of embracing setbacks, the power of learning from mistakes, and the mindset needed to build a resilient business. Guillaume sh...

Join us as we chat with Julie Mangen, founder of ShapeUp, a fitness program designed specifically for women and moms. Julie shares her inspiring journey of building a supportive community focused on outdoor workouts and body positivity. Discover how she: Created a safe space for women to rediscover their strength post-pregnancy Navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship across different countrie...