Episode 125: Erika De Santi: Chief Experience Officer at WeRoad –
How do you turn travel into a cure for loneliness?
In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski sits down with Erika De Santi, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer at WeRoad. With over 125 destinations worldwide and $36m in funding, WeRoad is one of the fast-growing travel startups that's redefining what it means to explore the world — with strangers who become friends.
They dive into:
– How WeRoad uses group travel to create deep connections
– Why group dynamics and coordinators make or break a trip
– The role of early growth hacks in building community
– Why unexpected moments are the most powerful memories
– How the new WeMeet app is tackling loneliness in local communities
Takeaways:
– WeRoad creates shared experiences that fight loneliness.
– Travel is a tool to build belonging, not just escape.
– People don’t just want destinations — they want connection.
– Real-life friendships need intentional design.
– The best travel products are designed for emotion, not logistics.
🎧 Whether you’re a travel junkie, community builder, or just curious how tech and real-life connection intersect — this one’s worth your ears.
👇 Timestamps
00:00 Fighting Loneliness Through Travel
03:02 Designing Unique Travel Experiences
06:00 The Role of Travel Coordinators
10:13 Building Community and Connection
13:07 Lessons on Human Nature and Loneliness
17:58 Introducing WeMeet: A New Platform
21:50 Social Responsibility and Community Impact
24:05 Rapid Fire Questions and Travel Wisdom
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#startup #travel
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Episode 124: Charlie MacGregor: CEO of The Social Hub - How The Social Hub Is Redefining Hospitality
In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski sits down with Charlie MacGregor, Founder & CEO of The Social Hub – a bold reimagination of what hospitality, connection, and community can look like in the 21st century.
Starting from a personal desire to improve student housing, Charlie went on to build a hospitality powerhouse that blends hotels, coworking, student residences, coliving, events, and social impact – all under one brand.
We dive deep into:
– The origin story behind The Social Hub
– Why belonging is the most underrated business model
– How diverse communities can thrive in shared spaces
– The role of design in shaping behavior and connection
– How to build spaces where people actually want to connect
– The future of hospitality
This conversation isn’t just about hotels. It’s about how we live, work, learn – and what happens when you design spaces to bring people together on purpose.
Takeaways
– Hospitality is evolving from service to connection.
– Design is not just aesthetic — it’s behavioral architecture.
– Purpose and profit can scale together – if culture leads the way.
– The best growth stories are rooted in human transformation.
– The future of hospitality is human and hyper-local.
Chapters
00:00 The Vision Behind The Social Hub
02:50 Creating Spaces for Connection
05:39 Engineering a Sense of Belonging
08:09 Designing for Local and Global
10:57 Navigating Growth and Sustainability
13:35 Community Impact Stories
16:11 Future Aspirations and Innovations
18:41 Reflections on Hospitality and Leadership
If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the EU-Startups Podcast here on YouTube!
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https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-startups-menlo-media/
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#startup #hospitality #travel
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Episode 123: Mastering AI GTM: Lessons from ElevenLabs’ Carles Reina
Most AI startups don’t fail because of the tech.
They fail because they don't know how to go to market.
Enter Carles Reina, the first investor and GTM strategist at ElevenLabs — the voice AI juggernaut redefining what product-market fit sounds like.
In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin and Carles talk about the real playbook for scaling AI startups. No fluff. Just unfiltered truths from a builder who's done it at breakneck speed.
We cover:
✅ Why AI GTM ≠ SaaS GTM
✅ How to confirm PMF with enterprise contracts
✅ When to hire GTM leaders — and who not to hire
✅ The underrated power of cultural intelligence
✅ Why brand is your best-performing growth channel
✅ And how AI founders can avoid the #1 GTM trap: shipping without strategy
This is the go-to-market MBA every founder and early-stage investor needs — especially if you're building at the intersection of AI, speed, and global ambition.
🔥 Takeaways:
– The first GTM move should focus on sustainable growth
– Execution speed is more important than ever
– PMF in AI is often validated via enterprise contracts
– Global scaling demands deep cultural empathy
– Hiring for energy and adaptability beats experience alone
– GTM isn’t sales. It’s narrative, community & trust
– Brand is not fluff — it’s a growth engine
– Community drives traction before PR ever hits
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI GTM Strategies
02:14 The Unique Nature of AI GTM
05:28 Achieving Product-Market Fit in AI
07:42 Scaling AI Globally: Cultural Considerations
09:57 Common Pitfalls in AI GTM for Founders
12:05 The Importance of Product-Led Growth
14:07 Hiring for GTM Success
16:17 Balancing Brand and Distribution
18:27 Investing in AI Startups: Key Patterns
20:14 Misconceptions About GTM Talent
21:55 Building a GTM Playbook for AI
22:54 Rapid Fire Insights on GTM
If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the EU-Startups Podcast on YouTube!
Or follow along on your other favorite podcast platforms... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QU85dN... / Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast...
Follow EU-Startups on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-startups-menlo-media/
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Subscribe to our Newsletter:
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#startup #ai #artificialintelligence
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Episode 122: Miki Yokoyama: MD & Partner at Aurum Impact - Family Money. Global Impact.
In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski speaks with Miki Yokoyama, Managing Director and Partner at Aurum Impact – an investment firm working at the intersection of family offices and climate innovation.
Miki breaks down the unique role family offices can play in funding a livable future and why we need to rethink how we define impact.
From choosing the right fund managers to measuring what actually matters, this conversation explores the challenges and opportunities of channeling wealth into meaningful climate action.
🔍 Topics Covered:
– Why the ‘what’ matters more than the ‘how’ in impact
– The difference between investing in startups vs. funds
– The need for standardized impact metrics
– Why founders need to understand corporate structures
– How family offices can shift the climate capital landscape
– What empathy has to do with successful investing
– The future of pricing natural resources
💬 Whether you're an investor, founder, or just climate-curious — this episode offers a rare window into how capital can drive planetary change.
Takeaways:
– Family offices can play a significant role in impact investing
– Impact should focus on what is being done, not just how
– Interconnected environmental issues require systemic thinking
– Standardized impact metrics are urgently needed
– Empathy is a vital skill in both investing and leadership
– Long-term climate funding needs to reflect the real cost of nature
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Aurum Impact and Climate Innovation
02:54 Family Offices vs. Venture Capitalists
06:10 Assessing Fund Managers and Their Stories
09:02 Impact vs. Sustainability in Investments
12:02 Navigating Corporate Life and Startups
14:53 The Need for Standardization in Impact Metrics
17:51 Future of Climate Tech Funding
20:57 The Interconnectedness of Environmental Issues
23:59 Rapid Fire Questions and Personal Insights
If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the EU-Startups Podcast here on YouTube!
Or follow along on your other favourite podcast platforms... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QU85dN... / Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast...
Follow EU-Startups on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-startups-menlo-media/
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https://www.eu-startups.com/
Subscribe to our Newsletter:
https://www.eu-startups.com/newsletter/
#startup #venturecapital #climatechange
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Episode 121: Niklas Terrahe: Co-Founder & CEO of Pick'em - How Pick'em Turned Toothpicks Into a D2C Phenomenon
This week on the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski chats with Niklas Terrahe, the CEO & co-founder of Pick’em — the D2C brand reinventing one of the most unsexy products on the market: the toothpick.
It started as a student project. Now it’s chewing gum’s worst nightmare. With millions of views on TikTok, influencer shoutouts from people like Ryan Reynolds, and a toothpick that literally went to space, Pick’em is now one of the fastest-growing Gen Z-led brands, flipping the script on chewing gum and building a social-first movement around flavored toothpicks. Yes — toothpicks. And it's working.
But here’s the kicker:
This isn’t a fluke. It’s brand storytelling, social-first strategy, and insane execution from a team that just gets what moves people.
🎯 In this episode, Niklas breaks down:
– How to turn the unsexiest product imaginable into a viral D2C darling
– How to hijack culture to build brand love
– Why sustainability is table stakes (but not the headline)
– The secret sauce behind authentic influencer marketing
– Why entertainment might just be the best growth hack of all
🔥 Takeaways:
1. Every “boring” market is a canvas for reinvention
2. Build a brand that entertains and connects, not just sells
3. Narrative is the growth lever most founders overlook
4. Sustainability should be real — but not preachy
5. Flexibility & feedback loops win in D2C
6. You don’t need a big budget to build buzz — just story and soul
📍Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Pick'em and Niklas Terrahe
03:03 The Birth of a Lifestyle Brand
05:57 Disrupting the Chewing Gum Market
08:57 Turning Hype into a Sustainable Brand
12:06 Navigating Product Market Fit
14:59 The Challenges of D2C Business
18:10 Building a Brand with Purpose
20:56 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
23:57 Creative Marketing Strategies
26:56 The Future of Pick'em
If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the EU-Startups Podcast here on YouTube!
Or follow along on your other favourite podcast platforms... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QU85dN... / Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast...
Follow EU-Startups on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-startups-menlo-media/
Visit our Website:
https://www.eu-startups.com/
Subscribe to our Newsletter:
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#startup #founders #entrepreneurship #content #marketing
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