Berlin to New York: Taktile's Full-Steam Expansion

Guest: Maik Taro Wehmeyer, Co-Founder & CEO at Taktile Theme: How a European B2B software company chose New York, won U.S. customers, and prepared for the next phase of scale Episode summary Maik Taro Wehmeyer shares how Taktile navigated the leap from Europe to the U.S.—why New York beat other hubs, what changed in sales execution, and how the leadership team showed commitment on the ground. We dig into milestones on the path to scale, lessons from fundraising with U.S. investors while building in Berlin, and the organizational upgrades needed to move from fintech mid-market wins to true enterprise. Maik also offers direct advice to European founders about timing, hiring go-to-market talent, and avoiding the most common expansion mistakes. What you'll learn Timing the U.S. move: Signals that said "go now," and how Maik framed the decision internally. Why New York: Proximity to customers, investor access, and practical ecosystem advantages vs. other U.S. hubs. Milestones that matter: Separating product/market milestones from organizational ones—and how each unlocks the next stage. Leadership presence: Why the leadership team must be physically present to earn credibility with customers and hires. Selling in the U.S. vs. Europe: The calibration shift—from feature depth to proof, speed, references, and sales craft. Hiring go-to-market early: The cost of waiting too long to bring in experienced U.S. sellers and sales leadership. Pricing, costs & taxes: How local labor costs and employment taxes factor into U.S. operating math. From fintech to enterprise: What changes when you start selling into Fortune-500-type accounts (process, security, scale, expectations). Preparing for the next round: What "Series B readiness" actually looks like inside the company.