PODCAST · business
Momentum
by Momentum Makers
This is… MOMENTUM! A podcast for momentum makers. Where entrepreneurs, builders, and investors take the stage to share how they’re making waves in their respective fields - creating the momentum for change and innovation.Your hosts, Erika Cola and Vlada Kiporenko, along with their guests, will dive deep into topics around entrepreneurship and emerging industries.
Episodes
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Bumble, butter & bots: WTF is dating in 2025?
Dating apps are weird again — and honestly? We're here for it. From Netflix's Swiped to AI-powered matchmaking apps for dog lovers, founders are reinventing love with algorithms. In this episode: - The real reason Gen Z is done with swiping - AI that flirts and schedules your date - Why the…
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Raising millions feels nothing like success
Everyone loves the “We just raised $3M!” LinkedIn post. No one talks about the burnout, breakdowns, and bullshit behind it. In this episode: - The emotional tax of chasing your next round - What actually gets VCs to say yes - The moment we realized fundraising is often the worst part of the job
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Robots are coming for your aperitivo.
From AI-powered pizza ovens in Naples to robotic bartenders and airport arms serving poke bowls — theautomation wave is coming for your food. In this episode, we talk about how tech is transforming the hospitality game (and if that’s actually what we want). Robots are fast, efficient, scalable.…
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Screw growth, build wealth
In this short & spicy edition, Erika and Vlada debate one of the biggest shifts in the startup world: Is profitability finally sexier than growth? Fundraising is down. Burn multiples are under the microscope. Founders are rethinking everything — and we’re here for the hot takes. 🔥
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Walliance raised €10 Million + — without breaking the startup playbook
Giacomo Bertoldi didn’t follow the Silicon Valley playbook. Instead, he turned a legacy family business into Walliance — one of Europe’s biggest real estate crowdfunding platforms. Fast-forward: €10M+ raised, campaigns across Italy, Spain, and the US, and a story full of hustle, pivots, and...
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The EU just dropped €10 Billion for startups — should you take it?
The EU just announced a massive €10 billion fund to stop European startups from fleeing to the US — but is this really the magic fix we’ve all been waiting for? In this episode:- The real opportunity behind the Scale-Up Europe fund (and who wins)- The risks: slow bureaucracy, tricky terms…
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From cold emails to €4.2 million: building a quantum startup without a network
No Stanford. No pitchdeck army. No working product. Just an idea, a cold email, and a team of scientists crazy enough to go all in. In this episode, we sit down with Pavel Hrmo — physicist, founder, and the brain behind ZuriQ — a startup building quantum tech from scratch. We talk: - How they...
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Should you start a podcast with your best friend? Let’s talk
Starting a podcast sounds fun. Doing it with your best friend? Even better. Until… it isn’t. In this no-guestepisode, we get real about building Momentum while juggling jobs, babies, bad Wi-Fi, and a hundred Google Docs. We talk late-night edits, friendship dynamics, near meltdowns — and why…
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How he scaled a side hustle to €1.5 Million+ and runs 4 companies remotely
Felice Biancardi runs 4 companies — across sports, real estate, cyber and hospitality — all while living and working fully remote. And he’s not chasing unicorns. He’s building freedom. In this episode: - Why his first startup failed (and why that was the best thing that happened) - How he scaled…
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Turning light into millions — Literally
Two Stanford physicists left the lab to fix a broken system: computer chips that waste too much energy and can’t keep up with AI. Their startup, Lightium, is using light (yep, actual light) to make chips faster, cooler, and ready for the next tech wave — from AI to quantum. In this episode, we…
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Sofía Radley-Searle: She was pregnant. She was fundraising. She was pursuing a Harvard MBA. And she was building one of the boldest healthcare startups.
Meet Sofia Radley — pharmacist-turned-cofounder of AXMED — a company on a mission to fix how low-income countries access medicines. In this episode, we talk: - Why building a global marketplace for medicines is 100x harder than it sounds- How fundraising and team building happened while giving...
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With $800 Million + raised, Casavo is one of Europe’s boldest startup stories.
What happens when a 24-year-old ex-BCG consultant takes on Europe’s slow, dusty real estate market? You get Casavo — a platform that once bought $30M in homes a month... then pivoted hard. In this episode, Giorgio Tinacci shares: How he raised $800M+ (with zero VC experience) The real story…
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From €50K to Formula 1: how he made Nanotech cool
What do Formula 1 and nanotechnology have in common? Andrea Giovannelli. At 23, while Italy’s startup scene was barely on the map, Andrea launched Nanotech — betting on the smallest materials to solve the biggest engineering challenges. Fast forward: today, his company is powering faster F1 cars,...
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Everyone went SaaS. He went government — and it paid off big
In this episode, we dive into how he built Vianova, a mobility data platform used by cities to make better decisionsaround transport and infrastructure. He shares what it’s really like to sell to governments, validate a product in public, and pitch an idea before the market is ready. Chapters:...
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From zero to 3D AI hero: How one woman bet it all and won
Chandralika Hazarika is a walking power surge. No tech background, no co-founder, no safety net—and yet, she’s partnering with global fashion giants to bring AI to your online shopping cart. As co-founder of Bigthinx 3D AI, she’s building cutting-edge tech that powers 3D body scans, virtual...
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She ditched UBS for a bigger mission: ,make financial freedom for all
Cristina Jäger spent years advising millionaires at UBS—then left it all to fix what the industry ignores: the gender wealth gap. In this episode, she shares how Her Financial Freedom was born from a few conversations over Prosecco and turned into a fast-growing platform that’s helping thousands...
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Setback? Try setup: the startup that used failure to win big
In this episode, we sit down with Yury Vasilkov, CEO of Gamaya, to talk about what it really takes to build momentum in deep tech. From overcoming a failed product launch to finding the right market (hello, sugarcane farmers 🧃), Yury shares the behind-the-scenes of navigating pivots, raising...
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He raised €1M without a product: here’s how
"Sell first. Build later." That’s the mindset that helped Tanguy Frecon, co-founder and CEO of Prolong, raise €1.5M before even launching his company. Prolong is reshaping the fashion industry by making after-sales a brand asset—helping companies integrate care, repair, and maintenance services...
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We're back, and this one is special
Quitting Corporate to Launch a Lingerie Empire – Tiffany’s Wild Ride Ever thought about ditching your 9-to-5 to start your own thing? That’s exactly what Tiffany did. In this episode, Erika, Tiffany, and Vlada catch up on her leap from podcast host to full-time entrepreneur—building a lingerie...
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The unfiltered chaos of maternity leave. Real talk with new moms
You’ve seen the cute baby announcements and the glowing pregnancy pics, but let’s get real—motherhood is a rollercoaster, and maternity leave? A whole other beast. In this episode, Erika and Tiffany sit down with Katie to unpack the messy, exhausting, and surprisingly hilarious parts of…
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Old school meets AI: the future of fashion is here
Join Tiffany Monahan as she chats with fashion and tech expert Robin Barrett Wilson about the latest shifts in the fashion industry. They discuss the untapped potential of the 'Silver Generation,' how Gen Z is driving nostalgia trends, and the dual-edged impact and ethics of AI on creativity and...
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AI vs. marketing BS: this founder is coming for it all
From creating content to leading a tech startup, this episode explores how Marta Bosso, serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder / CEO of Brandplane is using AI to tackle some of marketing’s biggest challenges. We also talk about what platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn mean for brands today and how to...
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The Future of Healthcare AI: Corti CEO Andreas Cleave on Innovation and Ethics
In this episode, Andreas Cleave, CEO and co-founder of Corti, shares how his personal experiences with his mother’s healthcare journey inspired him to build an AI platform that supports providers and improves patient care. We discuss how Corti’s technology addresses administrative burdens in...
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Scaling Skills and Teams with AI: Anthropos CEO Stefano Bellasio on Building Momentum in Talent Development
This week, we talk with Stefano Bellasio, founder of Anthropos, an AI skill development platform helping companies tackle recruitment, retention, and skill-building challenges. Stefano discusses how Anthropos’ unique AI simulations and skill taxonomy are reshaping workforce training, and shares...
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Mastering B2B Sales with Eric Shaver: From First Hire to First Deal
What’s the right time to hire your first sales rep? How do you approach market entry when your product is still in beta? In this episode, Eric Shaver provides expert guidance on these questions and more. We delve into the practicalities of hiring, scaling, and surviving in the competitive B2B...
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Balancing Risk, Growth, and Trust: The Realities of Building Viceversa with Pedro Salvi
Erika sits down with Pedro Salvi, co-founder and CFO of Viceversa, to discuss the real challenges of starting a revenue-based financing company. Pedro opens up about his shift from venture capital to entrepreneurship, the tough journey of securing investors, and how Viceversa is navigating growth...
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Crowdtesting and CFO Insights: Antonio Arezzo on Navigating Startup Growth and Profitability
Antonio Arezzo, CFO of UNGUESS, joins Momentum to discuss the evolving role of the CFO in tech startups. From securing €10 million in funding to strategically managing community costs, Antonio offers a masterclass in balancing growth with fiscal responsibility. We explore UNGUESS's unique...
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Transforming Home Heating: Martin Lewerth on Aira's Clean Energy Revolution
In this episode, we sit down with Martin Lewerth, CEO of Aira, to explore how the company is spearheading Europe’s transition away from fossil fuels with cutting-edge heat pump technology. With 145 million raised in an oversubscribed Series B, Aira is expanding into markets like Germany, Italy…
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Fighting Food Waste with AI: Orbisk is Saving the Planet and Boosting Profits
In this episode, Olaf van der Ven, co-founder and CEO of Orbisk, joins us to discuss how his company is tackling one of the world’s biggest yet most preventable problems: food waste. He reveals surprising facts like how 70% of food waste happens before it even reaches the plate, and shares how AI...
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Scaling to Italy's SMB: Sibill’s Playbook for Fintech Growth
Mattia Montepara, co-founder and CEO of Sibill, breaks down how his fintech startup is making waves by scaling in the competitive small-to-medium business (SMB) sector. From automating financial operations to navigating the complexities of Italy's SMB market, Mattia shares the strategies that…
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Beyond the Hype: Authentic Entrepreneurship with MarsBased's Founder
In this episode of MOMENTUM, we sit down with Alex Rodriguez Bacardit, the founder and CEO of MarsBased, a leading consultancy from Barcelona. Alex shares his entrepreneurial journey, offering insights into the strategic decision to pivot from B2C to B2B and the importance of maintaining...
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Fueling Innovation: The Power of Ambition in Startup Success with Plug and Play Italy: Tommaso Maschera
In this episode of MOMENTUM, we sit down with Tommaso Maschera, Director at Plug and Play, the world's largest open innovation platform. Tommaso shares insights into how Plug and Play connects startups with global corporations, driving transformative collaborations across industries like fintech,...
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Transforming Teams and Leadership: Insights with Alexis Monville
In this episode, Alexis Monville, leadership coach and co-founder of Pearlside, shares his expertise on nurturing high-impact teams and fostering emerging leaders. Dive into practical strategies for organizational development, change management, and integrating open-source principles to drive...
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Unlocking VC Secrets: Insider Tips for Startup Success with Eric Shaver
In this episode of Momentum Makers, we chat with Eric Shaver, managing partner of Kensei Partners, about the ins and outs of securing venture capital for your startup. Eric breaks down what VCs really want to see, why financial modeling is crucial, and how to make sure your pitch hits the mark.…
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How to Predict the Future of Food? Create It - AI Food Trends with Alon Chen of Tastewise
Alon Chen, CEO and co-founder of TasteWise joins us to discuss how the food industry is using AI and data analytics. Alon reveals why a shocking 89% of new food products fail, and shares how TasteWise is bridging the gap between what consumers crave and what companies create. We'll also hear…
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Empowering Midlife: XbyX Mission to Transform Menopause Awareness
Monique Leonhardt, co-founder of XbyX, a Berlin-based Femtech company dedicated to improving women's health during midlife and beyond. Monique discusses the origins of XbyX, the significant gap in menopause education, and the company's mission to break the taboo surrounding menopause. Hear about...
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Transforming Fashion Production: How Queen of Raw is Turning Waste into Wealth
In this episode of Momentum, hosts Tiffany Monahan and Erika Cola are joined by Stephanie Benedetto, the visionary CEO of Queen of Raw and Materia MX. They delve into the revolutionary ways Queen of Raw is transforming the fashion industry by tackling its massive waste problem using blockchain...
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Building and Exiting Successful Startups: Insights from Redstone VC
Explore the key performance indicators and qualitative aspects that Redstone looks for in startups with Mickaël Bellaïche. Gain insights into the complexities of exits and M&A in the startup world. Learn about the due diligence process, common challenges, and what makes a founder and their…
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From 20,000 to 7 Million Downloads: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur
Explore the entrepreneurial journey of Eugene Kuipers, CEO of Fectar, as he discusses his experiences in the tech sector and the development of augmented and virtual reality. From his early projects in AR/VR to creating a platform that empowers users to build immersive experiences without coding,...
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The Legal Side of Founding a Startup: Dr. Benjamin Ullrich
At the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship, we come face to face with the legal side. Dr. Benjamin Ullrich, Co-Founder and Partner of YPOG, one of Germany's leading law firms joins us to discuss all things legal and entrepreneurship.
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Meet your hosts! Tiffany Monahan and Erika Cola of Momentum
Erika Cola and Tiffany Monahan met almost 1 year ago today at WMF - We Make Future in Italy. Following this,Tiffany, based in Paris, and Erika, based in Barcelona, have launched Momentum. The podcast is rooted in entrepreneurship and the ”Momentum Makers” who arebuilding companies in...
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Building a Fashion Brand True to Yourself: The Big Favorite
Eleanor Turner, Co-Founder of The Big Favorite, found a button in her father's basement that unraveled a hidden past in fashion manufacturing. A century later, this discovery sparked her mission for sustainable, circular fashion in a category that can't be reused – basics and undergarments. In…
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Cities are going full electric: Highways that charge your car while driving
Elonroad is a Swedish E-Mobility company specializing in innovative electric road technologies that allow vehicles to charge while driving or parked - streaming charge as we stream this podcast! Elonroad is partering with cities and other organizations to transform transportation on road and in…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is… MOMENTUM! A podcast for momentum makers. Where entrepreneurs, builders, and investors take the stage to share how they’re making waves in their respective fields - creating the momentum for change and innovation.Your hosts, Erika Cola and Vlada Kiporenko, along with their guests, will dive deep into topics around entrepreneurship and emerging industries.
HOSTED BY
Momentum Makers
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Momentum have?
Momentum currently has 43 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Momentum about?
This is… MOMENTUM! A podcast for momentum makers. Where entrepreneurs, builders, and investors take the stage to share how they’re making waves in their respective fields - creating the momentum for change and innovation.Your hosts, Erika Cola and Vlada Kiporenko, along with their guests, will dive...
How often does Momentum release new episodes?
Momentum has 43 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Momentum?
You can listen to Momentum on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Momentum?
Momentum is created and hosted by Momentum Makers.
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