Scale SEE Podcast

Vladislav Pavlov

Welcome to the Scale SEE Podcast, where we unlock the secrets behind Southeast Europe's most successful startups. Join host Vladislav Pavlov as he interviews the founders, operators, and investors who are building global companies from the SEE region. Each episode is packed with actionable advice, inspiring stories, and a special focus on expanding into the US market. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a young professional in the tech industry, this podcast is your roadmap to success.

Episodes

  1. How to Scale SaaS in 2026: Insights from SaaStanak (CEE’s Largest SaaS Community)

    6D AGO

    How to Scale SaaS in 2026: Insights from SaaStanak (CEE’s Largest SaaS Community)

    Today’s guest is Leonard Eldić — founder of SaaStanak, the largest SaaS community in Central and Eastern Europe, and the man behind one of the most high-signal SaaS conferences in the region — built by the sea. Through SaaStanak, Leonard has worked closely with hundreds of SaaS founders, operators, and investors — giving him a front-row seat into what actually works when scaling B2B SaaS… and what keeps most startups stuck. In this episode, we go deep into: • What actually makes a SaaS company scalable• Why most startups get stuck at €20K–€50K MRR• The biggest mistakes B2B founders make when trying to grow• Which GTM channels are working in 2026 (and which are dead)• The reality of selling SaaS from Southeast Europe to global markets• What separates companies that reach €1M+ ARR from those that don’t• Lessons from building SaaStanak into the largest SaaS community in CEE If you’re building a SaaS company — or thinking about it — this is the real playbook from the people doing it across Europe. — This episode is brought to you by Neubase.co Neubase helps Balkan founders open a US LLC or C-Corp, set up Stripe, and prepare for raising US venture capital — without paying crazy US legal fees. If you’re serious about selling into the US market, you’ll eventually need a US entity. Head over to neubase.co and use code ScaleSEE for 10% off your company setup. 🚀

    49 min

  2. APR 24

    20 Founders, Yacht and €300K Prize: This Is Founder Games with Sanja Mitrovska

    accelerator formats coming out of Southeast Europe.20 founders. 20 days. A yacht from Greece to Croatia. Live challenges, investor judging, and a €300,000 investment prize.But this isn’t just a show.Founder Games is building a new model that combines capital, content, and competition — and is already expanding globally through partnerships in the UAE and Brazil.In this episode, we cover:Why she gamified accelerationWhat founders get wrong about scalingHow media is changing venture capitalAnd what it takes to build globally from the Balkans-----------This episode is brought to you by Neubase.coNeubase helps Balkan founders open a US LLC or C-Corp, set up Stripe, and prepare for raising US venture capital — without paying crazy US legal fees.If you’re serious about selling into the US market, you’ll eventually need a US entity.Head over to neubase.co and use code ScaleSEE for 10% off your company setup.

    57 min
  3. Wonderful raised $150M: Life Inside a Fast Growing AI Unicorn with Vedran Bajer

    APR 3

    Wonderful raised $150M: Life Inside a Fast Growing AI Unicorn with Vedran Bajer

    Today’s guest is Vedran Bajer - General Manager Adriatic at Wonderful, an AI startup that recently raised $150M and reached unicorn status, building deeply localized AI agents for enterprises across chat, voice, and email.But Vedran’s story didn’t start in AI.He spent over a decade at Google, leading partnerships and business development across EMEA and APAC, before becoming Country Manager of Microsoft Croatia — driving digital transformation across enterprises, government, and entire industries.Along the way, he’s stayed close to startups — advising companies like Treblle and Chipolo, and helping founders navigate growth, enterprise sales, and global expansion.In this episode, we go deep into:• What it really takes to build a $1B AI company• How Wonderful deploys AI inside enterprises in under 48 hours• Generative AI explained — without the hype• Whether open-source AI (like NVIDIA) is a threat or an opportunity• What actually happens inside a startup after raising $150M• Why Balkan operators don’t become angel investors — and how that should change• The biggest mistakes startups from this region make when scaling globally• What separates companies that raise capital from those that don’tIf you’re building in Southeast Europe and thinking about AI, fundraising, or becoming an investor yourself — this one is for you.—This episode is brought to you by Neubase.coNeubase helps Balkan founders open a US LLC or C-Corp, set up Stripe, and prepare for raising US venture capital — without paying crazy US legal fees.If you’re serious about selling into the US market, you’ll eventually need a US entity.Head over to neubase.co and use code ScaleSEE for 10% off your company setup.

    48 min

  4. MAR 6

    From $20M to $300M ARR: The Playbook behind Hellas Direct’s Scaling in SEE

    Today’s guest is Luka Prelevic — Managing Director of Hellas Direct, one of Europe’s fastest-growing Insurtech companies, generating $300M+ in ARR in 2025 and on track toward unicorn status.But Luka’s journey didn’t start in startups.From working at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch, to practicing law alongside his father, earning a Master’s degree at Bocconi University, founding a student consulting firm, spending 4+ years at McKinsey & Company, and eventually investing in and joining Hellas Direct as MD — Luka’s career is a masterclass in reinvention.In this episode, we go deep into:• Why he left McKinsey for a startup• How Hellas Direct scaled to $300M+ ARR• The future of Insurtech in Europe• The biggest wealth transfer in history — and what it means for entrepreneurs• Family offices vs VCs — who really writes the checks today?• The Balkan startup ecosystem vs Greece and the rest of Europe• Hosting global HNWIs in Belgrade and bringing investors like Paige Craig (early investor in Lyft, AngelList, Twitter, Airbnb) to the BalkansThis conversation is about ambition, capital, scaling from Southeast Europe - and why innovation might be born here, but funding still thinks globally.If you’re building in the Balkans and thinking about scale, capital, or long-term wealth creation - this one is for you.—This episode is brought to you by Neubase.Neubase helps Balkan founders open a US LLC or C-Corp, set up Stripe, and prepare for raising US venture capital — without paying crazy US legal fees.If you’re serious about selling into the US market, you’ll eventually need a US entity.Head over to neubase.co and use code ScaleSEE for 10% off your company setup.

    1h 10m

  5. FEB 22

    From Research Paper to Refine Startup: Landing Enterprise Deals in less than 6 Months

    Today’s guest is Aleksandar Stojanovic, CEO of Refine Skills — a startup he built from a research paper into a fast-growing HR tech company landing 5+ enterprise clients in less than 6 months.Aleks started with an academic insight: corporate trainings don’t work because they are too long, inefficient, and disconnected from how people actually learn. His solution? A 6-minute micro-learning model designed specifically for large organizations.In this episode, we break down how he: Turned research into a real productApproached and closed enterprise HR clientsStructured early pilots with large companiesBuilt credibility without a big teamNavigated corporate decision-making cyclesIf you’re a B2B founder trying to break into enterprise — this conversation is for you.He shares practical insights on selling to HR departments, shortening sales cycles, and positioning innovation inside conservative corporate systems.Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠Neubase⁠.Neubase is a team of Balkan founders who have been where you are. They have had challenges with opening up an LLC or C-Corp in the US, and are now helping you!If you are a startup from the Balkans you will eventually need a US company, to sell into the US market, open up Stripe or raise VC Money.Neubase helps with all of that, at a fraction of the cost that you would pay US lawyers and accounts for.Head over to neubase.co and use code ScaleSEE for a 10% discount on your LLC or C-Corp setup!

    1h 12m

  6. JAN 26

    Systems for 100x Growth: How to Compete with Top Silicon Valley Startups

    Today's guest is David F. Calabrese, a serial founder, who has scaled multiple 7 and 8 figure business. After being successful in his media company, he started working for PE backed companies and helping them with Growth and Marketing. One of those companies was Marketo, where David served as Head of Digital Experience, and was part of the exit to Adobe for $5B, after which he served as Head of Digital Experience for Adobe Group. He is an active mentor at Scale SEE and other prominent Silicon Valley startups programs, and is currently building his new venture - Break the Wheel. Stay tuned for more episodes with amazing entrepreneurs, operators and investors who building and scaling from Southeast Europe! Today's episode is brought to you by Neubase. Neubase is a team of Balkan founders who have been where you are. They have had challenges with opening up an LLC or C-Corp in the US, and are now helping you! If you are a startup from the Balkans you will eventually need a US company, to sell into the US market, open up Stripe or raise VC Money. Neubase helps with all of that, at a fraction of the cost that you would pay US lawyers and accounts for. Head over to neubase.co and use code ScaleSEE for a 10% discount on your LLC or C-Corp setup!

    1h 34m
  7. From Building a 350+ Team to an Endava Exit - and Into the VC Scene: The Journey of Goran Stevanović

    12/06/2025

    From Building a 350+ Team to an Endava Exit - and Into the VC Scene: The Journey of Goran Stevanović

    Our first guest will be Goran Stevanovic! He co-founded PS Tech, grew it to 300+ people, and sold to Endava. After 7 years scaling Endava across Europe, he’s now a partner at South Central Ventures backing Southeast European founders. Can’t wait to share his story! 💡

    1h 10m
  • 7 Episodes

About

Welcome to the Scale SEE Podcast, where we unlock the secrets behind Southeast Europe's most successful startups. Join host Vladislav Pavlov as he interviews the founders, operators, and investors who are building global companies from the SEE region. Each episode is packed with actionable advice, inspiring stories, and a special focus on expanding into the US market. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a young professional in the tech industry, this podcast is your roadmap to success.

Information

  • Creator
    Vladislav Pavlov
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Vladislav Pavlov
  • Show Website
    Scale SEE Podcast