Exit or Die

FoundersToday
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Welcome to Exit or Die – the unfiltered podcast for founders who know there’s no Plan B. Hosted by FoundersToday, this show goes behind the pitch decks, press releases, and polished LinkedIn posts to uncover what really happens when you're building a startup that has to scale – or die trying. Each week, we talk to the people in the arena: funded founders, operators, and investors who’ve made the hard calls, burned the boats, and pushed past the breaking point. If you’re here for buzzwords and tech-bro platitudes, you’re in the wrong feed. 🚀 Real stories. 💥 Brutal lessons. 🎯 No BS.

  1. 7 May

    Secure or Die: Why Startups Can’t Ignore Compliance Anymore

    Security isn’t optional anymore.But most startups still treat it like a problem for “later.” ⁠⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠⁠ speaks with ⁠Fabiola Munguia⁠, Co-Founder of ⁠Secfix⁠, about why security and compliance have become critical for every modern startup — and how founders can automate the process before it becomes a blocker. From SOC 2 and ISO certifications to enterprise security reviews and cybersecurity risks, Secfix is helping startups build trust without slowing down growth. After speaking with hundreds of CTOs and founders, Fabiola realized a clear pattern:Most companies only think about security when they’re about to lose a deal — or after something goes wrong. Instead of treating compliance as painful paperwork, Secfix is rebuilding it as automated infrastructure — connecting directly into company systems like AWS, GitHub, Jira, and Google Workspace to simplify security from day one. From enterprise sales and startup operations to regulations, trust, and cybersecurity culture, this episode dives deep into one of the most underestimated challenges in building scalable companies today. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why startups ignore security until it becomes a revenue problemHow compliance impacts enterprise sales and customer trustWhy security is becoming a competitive advantageThe biggest mistakes founders make with complianceHow automation can simplify SOC 2 and ISO certificationWhy trust will matter more than features in the futureIf you think security is just a “nice-to-have” — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, CTOs, operators, and anyone building products in today’s increasingly regulated digital world.

    32 min

  2. 29 Apr

    Pixun Technologies: Building Sunlight as Infrastructure

    We spend over 90% of our lives indoors.But what if the light we live under is fundamentally broken? ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ speaks with Liliana Lettieri and Peter Veto, Co-Founders of Pixun Technologies, about why artificial light is one of the most underestimated health problems of modern life — and how they’re building a solution that sounds almost futuristic: Bringing real, full-spectrum sunlight indoors. Instead of optimizing LEDs, Pixun is rethinking light from the ground up — combining hardware, fiber optics, and AI to deliver natural sunlight into any indoor space. From circadian rhythms and health impacts to building entirely new infrastructure inside buildings, this episode dives deep into a topic most people never question — but should. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why artificial light can’t replace real sunlightHow lack of daylight impacts health, sleep, and performanceWhy most buildings are designed for efficiency — not humansHow Pixun brings sunlight indoors using fiber opticsWhy this is not just a product — but a new infrastructure categoryHow AI can personalize light for health and productivityIf you think light is just about visibility — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and anyone interested in health, hardware, and the future of how we live and work indoors.

    43 min

  3. 13 Apr

    Mattias Protzmann & Blockbrain: Why AI Fails in Most Companies

    Most companies think AI will fix their problems.It won’t. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ speaks with Mattias Protzmann, Co-Founder of Statista and now building Blockbrain, about why AI is failing in most organizations — and what companies get fundamentally wrong before they even start. After building one of Europe’s leading data platforms and multiple successful companies, Mattias is now tackling a problem almost every company has: Internal knowledge chaos. From data silos and broken processes to cultural resistance and knowledge drain, this episode dives deep into why AI doesn’t fix companies — it amplifies them. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI fails in companies without clean processesThe real problem behind most failed AI projectsWhy data silos destroy efficiency and decision-makingWhat separates real AI transformation from “innovation theater”How to turn internal knowledge into a strategic advantageWhy culture — not technology — is the hardest part of AI adoptionIf you think implementing AI is the solution — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and executives who want to build real AI-driven companies — not just experiment with hype.

    31 min

  4. 27 Mar

    Move Faster or Lose: How Seva Ustinov Built Plurio to Reinvent Marketing

    Speed isn’t a nice-to-have in marketing anymore — it’s the only advantage left. ⁠⁠Peter Oberlik⁠⁠ speaks with Seva Ustinov, founder of Plurio, about why most marketing teams are fundamentally broken — and how AI agents are about to replace the entire execution layer. After building a performance marketing agency with 100+ employees and managing over $50M in ad spend, Seva realized a hard truth:Even with perfect data, teams still move too slow. From dashboards and manual workflows to fully automated AI-driven execution, this episode dives deep into what it really takes to build AI-first organizations — and why speed is becoming the ultimate competitive edge. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why dashboards and manual workflows are fundamentally brokenHow AI agents can automate marketing execution end-to-endWhy speed alone can change customer acquisition costs by up to 40%The difference between using AI tools and building AI-first teamsWhy execution — not data — is the real bottleneck in marketing todayIf you think better data will fix your marketing — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders, marketers, and operators who want to stay competitive in a world where AI moves faster than any team ever could.

    44 min

  5. 18 Mar

    Alexander Kölpin, seed + speed Ventures: What Investors Really Want in AI Startups

    Raising €90M in today’s market isn’t luck — it’s a signal. ⁠Peter Oberlik⁠ speaks with ⁠Alexander Kölpin⁠, Managing Director at Seed + Speed Ventures, about what it really takes to build and fund the next generation of AI startups in Europe. After tripling their original fund target, Alexander shares a behind-the-scenes look at early-stage investing — and why trust, execution, and resilience matter more than hype. From backing AI-driven B2B and enterprise startups to helping founders scale beyond local markets, this episode dives deep into the realities of building in today’s ecosystem. In this episode, you’ll learn: What VCs actually look for in early-stage AI founders Why most startups fail not because of tech — but lack of reflection How European founders can compete globally in AI Why sales, PR, and go-to-market matter more than your code The biggest red flags investors see in the first seconds of a pitch If you think raising capital is the hardest part — think again. This episode is a must-listen for founders navigating early-stage growth, fundraising, and the pressure to scale fast in a rapidly changing AI landscape.

    38 min

  6. 4 Mar

    The Next AI Layer: AI Agent Orchestration with Mindra Co-Founder & CEO Zeynep Yorulmaz

    Everyone is talking about AI agents.But what happens when they need to collaborate? FoundersToday CEO, Peter Oberlik, sits down with Zeynep Yorulmaz, Co-Founder & CEO of Mindra, to explore the next frontier of artificial intelligence: orchestrating autonomous agents that can communicate, coordinate, and optimize workflows in real time. AI agents alone aren’t the future. The real breakthrough happens when they work together. From winning back-to-back AI hackathons to building a platform where agents can collaborate and even transact through micropayments, Zeynep explains why today’s fragmented AI tools fail inside companies — and how orchestration could become the operating system of the AI economy. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI agents fail when they can’t communicateHow agent orchestration could replace traditional workflowsWhy corporations struggle to adopt AI at scaleHow agent-to-agent micropayments could create new digital economiesWhat founders misunderstand about building AI infrastructureWhy the next generation of companies will be built on autonomous workflowsIf AI agents are the workers of the future, orchestration platforms might become the factories. This episode is a must-listen for founders, AI builders, and anyone trying to understand how autonomous systems will reshape the way companies operate.

    21 min

  7. 18 Feb

    Nicholas Abele: Ultra-Low Latency Voice & the Future of Competitive Gaming

    Most voice tools feel “good enough” — until milliseconds decide who wins. FoundersToday CEO, Peter Oberlik, sits down with Nicholas Abele, deeptech entrepreneur, multi-time founder, and CEO of Sonics, to uncover why real-time audio is the hidden backbone of competitive gaming and digital communities. Latency isn’t just technical. It changes how people connect, compete, and build communities. From 50+ patent families to ultra-low latency AI audio developed in Switzerland, Nicholas explains why traditional voice tools can’t keep up with 700 million competitive gamers — and how Sonics is building the infrastructure between Discord and Twitch. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why current voice platforms fail competitive gamersHow AI eliminates latency and background noise in real timeWhy Twitch & Discord leave a massive gap in the marketHow gaming communities can monetize beyond streamingWhat founders underestimate when building deeptech consumer productsWhy “audio is everything” in digital interactionIf your communication feels delayed, your community already is. This episode is a must-listen for founders, gamers, deeptech builders, and anyone shaping the future of real-time digital interaction.

    31 min

  8. 29 Jan

    Stablecoins Without the Hype - Alex Novozhenov on Stablecoins, Compliance & Global Scale

    FoundersToday CEO, Peter Oberlik, sits down with Alex Novozhenov, serial founder, fintech veteran, and CEO of NODU, to unpack why global payments still struggle to work — and why stablecoins are quietly becoming the most important infrastructure layer in finance. Innovation is loud. Infrastructure is silent. And that’s the point. From building online games with millions of users to powering banking and payment infrastructure across 170+ countries, Alex explains why most fintech products fail at scale — and why compliance isn’t a blocker, but a prerequisite for real-world adoption. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why banks still can’t talk to cryptoWhy stablecoins are becoming the backbone of global commerceWhy compliance is a product feature — not legal overheadWhat founders get wrong about scaling payment infrastructureHow invisible systems beat flashy fintech every timeIf your fintech vision only works in a demo environment, it won’t survive the real world. This episode is a must-listen for founders, operators, and investors building at the intersection of crypto, payments, and regulation — where the future of finance is decided quietly, behind the scenes.

    25 min
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About

Welcome to Exit or Die – the unfiltered podcast for founders who know there’s no Plan B. Hosted by FoundersToday, this show goes behind the pitch decks, press releases, and polished LinkedIn posts to uncover what really happens when you're building a startup that has to scale – or die trying. Each week, we talk to the people in the arena: funded founders, operators, and investors who’ve made the hard calls, burned the boats, and pushed past the breaking point. If you’re here for buzzwords and tech-bro platitudes, you’re in the wrong feed. 🚀 Real stories. 💥 Brutal lessons. 🎯 No BS.

Information

  • Creator
    FoundersToday
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © FoundersToday
  • Show Website
    Exit or Die