The Pool Podcast

Andreas Mihalovits is a former serial entrepreneur turned angel investor based in Marbella, co-founder of the Global Super Angels Club, and board member and early investor in The Pool. Born in Romania, raised in Germany, and now building one of the most active investment networks on the Costa del Sol, Andreas shares a remarkable story spanning decades of entrepreneurship, exits, and a deliberate s...

Stratify AI founder Tom Williams discusses building AI-readiness foundations, lessons from 12+ years at GE, enterprise consulting across industries, and practical guidance for startups. He also shares his family’s relocation to Spain, finding community in Marbella, and plans to lead the CTO Hub at The Pool. What you’ll learn:- Why validation and rapid iteration matter more than assumptions- How to...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast hosted by Christian Rasmusson, Semi Hakim shares his journey from chef to agri-food entrepreneur and outlines the vision for a new FoodTech Hub. He discusses climate-focused innovation, supporting startups in emerging markets, and positioning Spain as a practical bridge to Latin America. Semi also explains his upcoming venture fund for Emerging Europe and the im...

Former Siemens executive and Airbus Defence and Space leader Zoltan Wirth discusses his career across global mission-critical communications, the evolution of cybersecurity, and how 5G/6G, AI, and blockchain are shaping resilient infrastructure and public safety. He also shares views on digital sovereignty, Europe’s competitiveness, tokenization of real-world assets, and the role of standards and...

In the episode of The Pool Podcast, Elizabeth chats with Maxim Kinds, founder of Claropark. Maxim shares how he turned a personal parking frustration into a growing platform that helps homeowners rent out unused parking spaces to long-term seekers. He discusses his background, why Claropark started in Madrid, operational focus before expansion, and the roadmap toward Barcelona and other European m...

Crypto Megan join Vicente Ortiz in this special episode of The Pool in Podcast to discuss The Bridge 2025, a weekend hackathon supported by Sui Foundation, and how Marbella is growing as a hub for technology and digital assets. They cover local government support, the potential for initiatives like Draper University in Spain, and the impact of EU regulation (MiCA) on startups. Megan also reference...

Cristina Sancho shares her career journey across technology and media, from early social media roles to Amazon in Seattle, Netflix in Amsterdam and Madrid, leading Taringa as CEO, and co-founding Initia, an AI agents company. She discusses leadership, company culture, writing and measurement rigour, experimentation, handling rapid growth, managing through shutdowns, and the personal discipline of...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast, gaming creator Jelly (Jelle) shares his journey from early YouTube uploads to 23+ million subscribers and 15B+ views. He discusses naming, first contracts, scaling with consistency, content strategy for a young audience, and how the pandemic impacted viewership. Jelly also covers workflow, team structure, health and balance, moving from the Netherlands to Monac...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast. Christian Rasmusson chats with Marbella resident Cristina González-Pitarch (Cristina Pitarch), Managing Director for Security at Google Cloud in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Cristina shares her career journey and practical insights on leadership, cybersecurity, and building high-performing teams. What they discuss: Early life, competitiveness, and studies i...

CEO and Founder of Biocircular Fiber, Maziar Nodehi, shares his journey from building Sweden’s largest youth club at 13 to launching Spain’s first hemp processing facility in Seville. In this conversation with Christian at The Pool Podcast, Maziar discusses B2B sales, scaling SaaS, his experience at Serendipity, the EU’s Digital Product Passport, and the path to building a circular materials busin...

Payl8r Co-founder and COO Samantha Fogerty discusses building a profitable, regulated UK fintech that expands ethical access to credit. She explains how adopting open banking early enabled underwriting underserved demographics, the role of AI and machine learning in decisioning and fraud mitigation, and why compliance and risk discipline drive sustainable growth. Samantha also covers team structur...

Join Christian in the latest episode of The Pool Podcast featuring Nawal Roy, an entrepreneur and investor, as we delve into crucial topics like mental health, entrepreneurship, and the transformative power of data in healthcare. Discover how Nawal’s venture, Holmusk, is pioneering data-driven solutions for mental health and learn about the unique challenges and opportunities in this field. They a...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast, host Elizabeth welcomes Iris Arbel of Saboris. Iris shares her remarkable journey from a strategic consultant in Israel to a CEO of a water investment company in China, and now a culinary entrepreneur in Marbella. Discover her insights on integrating into diverse cultures, her passion for healthy living, and the importance of community-building through food. Do...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast, host Elizabeth welcomed Paula Benedi, Founder & CEO of Synergised, as she shares her inspiring journey from law school to becoming a leader in functional and integrative medicine. Paula opens up about her personal health struggles, the transformative power of nutrition and holistic health, and how she built a successful wellness brand. Discover the importan...

n this episode of The Pool Podcast, Elizabeth sits down with Dakota Flaget, a student ambassador at Marbella International University Centre (MIUC), to explore her unique journey from the United States to studying in Marbella, Spain. Dakota shares her experiences of choosing an overseas education, the benefits of studying at a UK-accredited program in Spain, and the international community at MIUC...

Join Christian Rasmusson on The Pool podcast as he dives into the inspiring journey of Adriana Rojas. From her entrepreneurial beginnings in Colombia to becoming a pivotal leader in the tech industry, Adriana shares her experiences of scaling businesses, embracing automation, and navigating challenges in male-dominated sectors. Learn about her passion for innovation, her role in launching a Women...

Join Christian Rasmusson in this episode of The Pool Podcast as we welcome Kari Suleman, a key figure in the development of The Pool community. Alongside Fredrik Bäge, co-founder of The Pool Marbella, Kari shares her journey from Canada to the vibrant creative hub of Marbella, discussing her involvement in tech ventures like Elevate. Discover her insights on fostering creativity and innovation amo...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast, Christian welcomes Nawal Roy, Founder and CEO of Holmusk, who shares his remarkable journey from the world of finance to pioneering advancements in mental health data. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Holmusk, Nawal discusses his transition from a successful career in finance to building a leading data company focused on mental health. He delves into the cha...

Step into the world of cross-cultural finance as we explore Alex Villaverde's remarkable career trajectory. With Spanish and Dutch heritage, Villaverde brings a unique global perspective shaped by his upbringing in Spain and educational pursuits across the UK and United States. Now based in the sun-drenched shores of Marbella, he plays a pivotal role in a prestigious Dutch family office. Villa...

Join Elizabeth and Christian in this 9th episode of The Pool Marbella's podcast as they sit down with Lex Fisun, the Co-founder of Global Ledger. Delve into the world of fintech innovation and discover how Lex is leading the charge in building cutting-edge solutions to tackle the complexities of global finance. From blockchain technology to compliance challenges, Lex shares the journey of Global L...

In Episode 8 of The Pool Podcast, we dive into the exciting world of The Pool of Talent, an innovative project connecting the vibrant youth of Marbella with the dynamic business community. Join host Christian Rasmusson as he speaks with Yuval and Lily, two inspiring sixth-form students, who share insights into this initiative's origins, its impact, and future aspirations. Discover how The Pool of...

Join Christian and Elizabeth for episode 7 of The Pool Podcast as they welcome Bob van Winden, a key figure in the fintech industry. In this episode, Bob shares his experiences at Stripe and discusses his new role at Bridge, a startup focused on building stablecoin infrastructure. Learn about the remarkable $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge by Stripe and the evolving landscape of digital payments...

In this episode of The Pool Podcast, Elin Bergman, referred to as the Circular Economy Queen, and Johannes Paul-Schwarz discuss the rebranding of their vertical from AgTech to CleanTech. The rebranding aims to encompass a broader range of sustainability-focused technologies and foster inclusivity within the sector. They detail the upcoming CleanTech event scheduled for November 14th, focusing on t...

Magnus Jern, a tech entrepreneur originally from Sweden, shares his journey and experiences in the tech industry. He recounts his early start in tech entrepreneurship, inspired by his father, and his involvement in the IT boom in the '90s. After facing challenges during the IT bubble burst, Magnus moved to London and worked for Vodafone, where he gained insights into the mobile world and co-founde...

Alba Marquez Canalejo, the Global Head of Expansion at Google Cloud Security, discusses her professional journey and experiences with Christian and Elizabeth. Alba shares her background, including her studies in advertising and criminology, and her early career in Spain and the US. She details her move to Silicon Valley for personal reasons and how she navigated the challenges of finding a job at...