Shows
Runway#27 – Nick Huber: 25 Years Writing for the FT, BBC & More - Candid Comms Advice for Startups From a JournalistVeteran journalist and content consultant Nick Huber joins JJ and Mauro to demystify how startup founders should think about comms. Drawing on 25+ years writing for outlets like the Financial Times, BBC, and The Guardian, Nick shares:Why founders should relax about PR and also stop treating it as a black boxThe biggest mistakes companies make when trying to get media coverageHow journalists actually pitch their editors, and what PR pros can learn from itWhat makes a story genuinely newsworthy (hint: it’s not just a product update)The difference between being newsworthy an...2025-06-0444 min
Runway#26 - Ben Costantini, founder and CEO of Sesamers: The G.O.A.T. of Events on The Role of Events for Startups🎙️ From Music Festivals to Startup Exhibitions: Ben Costantini on Building the Future of EventsIn this episode of the Runway Podcast, JJ and Mauro sit down with Ben Costantini, founder and CEO of Sesamers, a platform connecting various tech players around events to drive real-world traction.Ben truly is the GOAT of events, having studied them, collaborated and worked with them, as well as event attendees, presenters, exhibitors and sponsors for years. And he shows proof of that in plentiful golden nuggets of advice, the insights, tips and a...2025-05-261h 04
Runway#25 - Joel Burke, former Head of Business Development of Estonia's e-Residency Program on the Country's Digital Rise: Lessons for the World from the Economic and Institutional Reboot post-USSR, Digitisation, Startup SuccessHow does a tiny country with no natural resources, a legacy of Soviet occupation, and just 1.3 million people become one of the most digitally advanced nations on Earth?In this episode, Mauro sits down with Joel Burke, author of Rebooting a Nation: The Incredible Rise of Estonia, E-Government and the Startup Revolution, to unpack Estonia’s remarkable transformation.Drawing from his own experience and research for the book, Joel shares his journey from Silicon Valley and Berlin to helping lead Estonia’s e-Residency program, and what he learned about innovation, identity, and (e)government along the...2025-05-1949 min
Runway#24 - Anda Asere, Editor at Labs of Latvia and Finday.lv: The Godmother of Latvian Startups On The Latvian Ecosystem, Hot Verticals and Startups in Latvia, and PR AdviceIn this Baltic special, we sit down with Anda Asere, journalist at Labs of Latvia and co-founder of business newsletter Finday.lv.Often referred to as the “godmother of Latvian startups.” Anda has been covering the Latvian startup scene since the very beginning... before “startups” was even a thing in Latvia!We dive into:How Anda’s journey from business journalism led her to startupsThe origins and mission of Labs of Latvia, and why it matters for the ecosystemThe do’s and don’ts for PRs and founders when approachin...2025-05-1237 min
Runway#23 - David Johnson, Country Manager at Maddyness UK: From Books to Media, The State of UK Startups and SMEs, The French Connection and PR/Media AdviceDavid Johnson, Country Manager and Editor at Maddyness UK (part of Maddyness, of French origin), joins the show to share his winding journey from running a bookshop to shaping one of the UK’s most influential startup media platforms.We talk about:How David’s background in literature, architecture publishing, and Libya (!) led him to startupsThe real state of the UK tech ecosystem in 2025, and how it compares to FranceComparing France and the UK when it comes to startupsWhat founders and PR people still get wrong when pitching storiesWhy storytelling, not just news, still matters, and what...2025-05-0540 min
Runway#22 - Vlad Andriescu, Editor-in-Chief of start-up.ro: Inside Romania's Startup RiseVlad Andriescu, Editor-in-Chief of start-up.ro, joins Mauro in this Runway episode to unpack the evolution of Romania’s startup ecosystem, from the early days of €10K investments and hackathons... to the post-UiPath reality and the country’s cybersecurity edge.This is the perfect episode to get up to date with the Romanian startup ecosystem and learn about its history!We explore:💡 Romania’s startup history and how UiPath changed everything🚀 Why technical founders dominate the scene (and what’s changing)🌍 How smaller Romanian cities are building innovation...2025-04-1436 min
Runway#21 - Nick van Osdol, Founder of Keep Cool & Venture Partner at Climate Capital: The State of Climate Tech in 2025The State of Climate Tech in 2025 With Nick van OsdolIn this episode, we’re joined by Nick van Osdol, writer, analyst, and founder of Keep Cool, the go-to newsletter for nearly 20,000 readers tracking what’s happening in climate tech. From mining and energy to early-stage startups, it's got you covered! Nick is also a Venture Partner at Climate Capital.We dig into what “climate tech” really means (and whether the term still makes sense), how the industry is evolving post-2024 election, and what areas of innovation, like EVs, methane reduction, or grid infrastru...2025-03-2455 min
Runway#20 - Philip Mohr, Founder of AddTrust: Breaking Down the EU AI Act - An Innovation Killer, or Is the Startup and VC World Overreacting?AI Regulation & Startups: Breaking Down the EU AI Act with Philip MohrThe EU AI Act. Innovation killer or necessary safeguard? In this episode, we sit down with Philip Mohr, founder of AddTrust, to break down the realities of AI compliance for startups.Philip, a seasoned entrepreneur turned AI compliance expert, explains what the EU AI Act really means for founders, who actually needs to worry, and why fears of overregulation may be overblown. We also discuss whether AI startups are really fleeing Europe, what founders should...2025-03-1737 min
Runway#19 - David Cruz e Silva, founder of EUVC: The Story Behind Europe's VC Media Platform and Community🎙️ How do you build a media powerhouse and investment platform at the same time?In this episode of The Runway Podcast, we sit down with David Cruz e Silva, co-founder of EUVC, a one-of-a-kind business that combines podcasts, newsletters, events, and investments to shape the future of European venture capital.David shares the untold story of how EUVC started, from an industry insider’s frustration with the lack of transparency in venture to creating a platform that enables better access to knowledge of the European venture capital space.We un...2025-03-1043 min
Runway#18 - Sigvards Krongorns, Associate at Verge HealthTech Fund: From Founder to VC – HealthTech Startup Challenges, Fundraising Pitfalls, and the Future of HealthIn this episode of The Runway Podcast, we sit down with Sigvards Krongorns, Associate at Verge HealthTech Fund and former co-founder of CastPrint. From building a startup that Forbes called “the future of casts” to investing in early-stage HealthTech companies, Sigvards shares his journey from founder to VC.We dive into:🔹 Sigvards’ and CastPrint’s story🔹 Categories and ways of looking at HealthTech🔹 The 5 payer levels in HealthTech🔹 The biggest challenges facing HealthTech startups in 2025🔹 Common mistakes founders make when pitching inve...2025-03-0353 min
Runway#17 - Dino Starčič, Co-Founder of higroup: From Fiverr to Fortune, And How A Taxi Ride Sparked A Global Business With Repeat Founders from Silicon Valley - Chatting Agencies With Slovenia's Youngest FounderIn this episode of The Runway Podcast, we sit down with Dino Starčič, founder of higroup, to explore:🔹 Starting a (software consultancy) business at a (very) young age - Dino's and higroup's story – how Dino and three friends from school built higroup🔹 How software consultancies work – different models, collaboration styles & what clients should expect🔹 Startups & how they should work with external software development agencies – common mistakes, red flags, and what to look for in a tech partner🔹 Speed vs. quality...2025-02-1945 min
Runway#16 - Christian Sørensen, Founder of Podder: The State of Podcast Analytics and Podcasting🎙 Unlocking Podcast Growth with Data: A Conversation with Podder’s Christian SorensenIn this episode of The Runway Podcast, we dive into the evolving world of podcasting with Christian Sørensen, founder & CEO of Podder, the platform often called the Google Analytics for podcasts.If you’re a startup founder, marketer, or creator, this one’s for you—because just like in startups, data-driven decisions separate the winners from the rest.🔹 How Christian and his team went from an ad...2025-02-0342 min
Runway#15 - Stefano De Marzo, Sr Comms Manager at Openers: Exploring Tech Journalism & PR for Startups (S1E15)In this episode of The Runway Podcast, Mauro sits down with Stefano De Marzo, Senior Communications Manager at Openers PR in Berlin and former Head of News at EU Startups to talk about - you guessed it - startup PR, tech journalism and the biggest stories of 2024.Stefano shares the story of the journey from journalism in Peru, to startup and tech reporting roles across Europe, to his present PR role. An action-packed 30 minutes in which we dive into:-Stefano's story-How PR professionals can better collaborate with journalists2024-12-2531 min
Runway#14 - Andra Bagdonaitė, Partner at FIRSTPICK: The Baltic Startup Ecosystem, Life of a VC and Marketing for VC funds (S1E14)In this episode of The Runway Podcast, Julija Jegorova and Mauro Battellini return to the mics as they are joined by Andra Bagdonaitė, Partner at venture capital firm FIRSTPICK, to explore:Andra’s journey: From studying economics and politics to becoming a consultant, to making the move to VC and supporting Baltic startups.What makes a great founder (what FIRSTPICK looks for): The importance of grit, resilience, and adaptability in building successful companies.The role of a VC partner: A deep dive into the day-to-day. Deal sourcing, por...2024-12-1841 min
Runway#13 - Rana Rahman, Founder & MD of Raptor PR: On scaling a PR agency for the video games industry (S1E13)In this episode of The Runway Podcast, Mauro sits down with Rana Rahman, founder and managing director of Raptor PR, the world’s only dedicated B2B PR agency for the global gaming industry. Rana shares his journey from tech enthusiast to PR expert, detailing the unique challenges and opportunities he’s encountered building a specialized agency in a fast-evolving sector. Together, they dive into the gaming industry’s growth, how B2B PR supports it behind the scenes, and what it takes to grow a resilient, successful agency in a niche market.Rana and Ma...2024-11-0642 min
Runway#12 - Zoltan Vardy: How Startups Can Master B2B Enterprise Sales (S1E12)Join us for an insightful conversation with Zoltan Vardy, a seasoned business growth mentor who’s closed over $2 billion in B2B sales. Zoltan shares his journey from major executive roles at NBC Universal to helping startups through his Launch Code framework. Dive deep into B2B sales strategies, startup challenges, and Zoltan’s advice for founders navigating enterprise sales for the first time.Zoltan will launch a book with real life examples of applying the Launch Code. It's coming out in February 2025 and you can sign up here or through the link below to receive the firs...2024-10-2839 min
Runway#11 - Alex Gibb: Stories of Founding, Investing, Exiting (S1E11)In this episode of The Runway Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Gibb, an investor, founder, and connector of people, who shares his incredible journey from the corporate world and NGOs to startups and venture capital.Alex is a Brit who fell in love with Lithuania, helped it join the EU and then became one of the country's most well-known angel investors. With a focus on Triple Top Line startups—People, Planet, and Prosperity—Alex is a true catalyst for positive change.Here’s what you’ll find in this episode:•How Ale...2024-10-2141 min
Runway#10 - Zane Bojare: How to Master the Startup Pitch with Expert Tips on Storytelling, Confidence, and Common Mistakes (S1E10)In this episode of the Runway Podcast, hosts JJ and Mauro are joined by Zane Bojare, a seasoned pitch coach and former Head of Brand at Startup Wise Guys. Zane shares her journey from branding expert to pitch coach, revealing what drew her to help founders refine their investor pitches.With experience training over 500 founders, Zane discusses the essential elements of a winning pitch, from storytelling and balancing data with narrative to managing stage fright and showcasing company culture.She also breaks down the common mistakes startups make when pitching and offers practical tips for...2024-10-1439 min
The Pursuit of Scrappiness178. PR Pros Reveal: What Makes a Story Newsworthy, How PR CAN Drive Sales, How to Build Trust with Journalists & Why Your New Website Probably Won't End Up in TechCrunch w/ Black Unicorn PRThe support for this episode comes from Leadfeeder - turn anonymous pageviews into concrete sales pipeline.Imagine knowing which companies are checking out your site, tracking their behavior on your site, and integrating all this into your CRM.That’s exactly what Leadfeeder does for you. Head to https://bit.ly/4dQVsWe for a FREE demo and get a FREE EXTENDED premium trial by mentioning the Pursuit of Scrappiness podcast.Head to https://bit.ly/4dQVsWe====Julija Jegorova and Mauro Battellini are co-founders of Black Unicorn PR, an agency sp...2024-10-0144 min
Runway#9 - Elisheva Marcus, VP Comms at Earlybird Capital: When Comms Meets Venture Capital (S1E9)Mastering PR in Venture Capital: A Conversation with Elisheva Marcus, VP of Comms at Earlybird VCIn this episode, we’re joined by Elisheva Marcus, VP of Communications at Earlybird VC, for an insightful conversation on the role of PR and comms in the world of venture capital. Elisheva shares her unique experiences in helping Earlybird and advising its portfolio startups in crafting compelling narratives, building trust, and navigating the complexities of PR.From managing proactive and reactive communications to supporting startups through funding announcements, Elisheva offers expert tips on...2024-09-2333 min
Runway#8 - Matthew Thompson, Director Sales Development EMEA at Deel: Running and Scaling Inbound Sales (S1E8)In this episode, we sit down with Matt Thompson, Director of Sales Development for EMEA at Deel, the world’s leading global HR solution. Matt has played a pivotal role in scaling Deel’s sales development team from 4 to 150+ people, representing 40% of all opportunities created by the whole organisation and helping the company become the fastest-growing SaaS business in history.Join Mauro as he and Matt dive into the intricacies of inbound sales, inside sales strategies, and scaling teams. Whether you’re looking to grow your own sales organization or just want to fine-tune your sales sk...2024-09-1641 min
Runway#7 - Eric Melchor, Founder of B2B PodPros: How to Run and Advertise on Podcasts, for B2B (S1E7)In this episode of Runway, hosts Julija Jegorova and Mauro Battellini engage in a captivating conversation with Eric Melchor, the founder of B2B PodPros and host of Innovators Can Laugh. Eric shares his unique journey from being a startup founder in Romania to becoming a trailblazer in the podcasting community. Discover how Eric leveraged his passion for connecting with people to create a thriving B2B podcast network and advertising model that benefits both brands and podcasters.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:•The Inspiration Behi...2024-08-1234 min
Runway#6 - Kotryna Kurt, Founder of Linkedist: The Ins and Outs of LinkedIn for B2B Startups (S1E6)Unlocking the Power of LinkedIn with Kotryna KurtIn this episode of Runway, we are thrilled to welcome Kotryna Kurt, a LinkedIn influencer, entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Linkedist. Kotryna joins us to share her wealth of knowledge on how to effectively use LinkedIn for personal branding, marketing, and sales.Discover the evolution of LinkedIn from a simple job-seeking platform to a comprehensive professional network. Kotryna discusses practical strategies for optimizing profiles, creating engaging content, and leveraging LinkedIn’s features to drive business growth. Whether you’re a st...2024-08-0534 min
Runway#5 - Vik Ratomske, co-founder & CEO of Partnergap: Affiliate Marketing 101 (S1E5)Exploring Affiliate Marketing with Vik Ratomske, co-founder & CEO of PartnergapIn this episode, we sit down with Vik Ratomske, the CEO of Partnergap, to demystify the world of affiliate marketing. With over 12 years of experience, Vik shares her journey from accountancy to becoming a leading expert in affiliate marketing.We discuss the basics and complexities of affiliate marketing, including its applications in both B2B and B2C markets, the importance of using the right tools and platforms, and how to measure success through key performance indicators. Vik also sheds light on the...2024-07-3131 min
Runway#4 - Adam Jennings, Founder of Made By Contour: Branding For Startups and New Companies (S1E4)Adam Jennings is the founder of design agency Made By Contour and a branding expert. He's the man behind Black Unicorn's brand, website, logos and more. Proof that his work is great? Our logo got 'stolen' multiple times by a number of companies.Whether you're building your company's brand for the first time, are considering an upgrade or evolution, or just want a branding refresher -- after listening to this episode, all things branding should be clearer. Check it out!================================================================= Thanks for listening! For more, follow us on LinkedIn. Ru...2024-07-2340 min
Runway#3 - Gregory Kennedy, Founder of BrandZen: Experienced Silicon Valley Marketer on the State of Marketing for B2B Startups and Scaleups (S1E3)Gregory Kennedy is the founder of BrandZen, a marketing strategy and content creation agency. With extensive experience as a Silicon Valley marketer, Gregory has a proven track record of driving significant growth and engagement for B2B clients.In just over a year, BrandZen has generated over 10 million organic impressions, created 1,000s upon 1,000s of leads, increased follower counts by over 300%, written multiple viral organic posts with more than 500,000 views each, and increased ARR by as much as 40%.In this episode, Gregory shares his invaluable insights of 20 years in marketing in Silicon Valley, including on...2024-07-1638 min
Runway#2 - Jake Meth, Founder of Opinioned: Ex-Fortune Op-eds Editor on How to Master the Art and Science of Op-eds (S1E2)For our latest conversation for the Runway pod we had the privilege of speaking with Jake Meth, founder of op-ed writing and strategy firm Opinioned.Jake started Opinioned to support business leaders with thought leadership, with a laser focus on op-eds, after spending five years as Fortune Magazine’s opinion editor.Jake shares his journey from living in Egypt during the Arab Spring to becoming an editor at Fortune, before we begin unpacking all the goodies on how to write the perfect op-ed.What you’ll get from listening to the pod is Jake...2024-07-1049 min
Runway#1 - Robin Wauters, Founder of Tech.eu: European tech, the business of media and AI (S1E1)Robin Wauters is the founder and also founding editor of Tech.eu. He also announced a few weeks ago that he was stepping down from his role at Tech.eu.We caught up with him just before the Tech.eu Summit in London, the first one in the UK’s capital after the two initial editions in Brussels.As well as talking about Tech.eu, its origins and the summit, we also asked him how he saw the business of media outlets, the impact of AI on a number of topics around European tech and his opinio...2024-07-0345 min