Zoltan A. Vardy's Linkedin Analytics

“Chaos can only take you so far.” That’s one of the ideas I unpacked recently on the Nothing Ventured podcast with Aarish Shah. With The Launch Code now out, it was the perfect time to share how I turned 30 years of sales experience into a clear, practical guide to help founders succeed in B2B sales. In our conversation, we covered: ✔️Why so many founders fear selling, and how to get past it ✔️ How structure brings order to chaos and unlocks growth ✔️ Why selling isn’t about persuasion, but solving real problems ✔️ Why structure enables innovation (not the other way around) ✔️ And my favorite truth: what got you from 0 to 1 won’t get you from 1 to 100 I even shared my view on the value of formal education, and why it still matters in a world that celebrates self-taught hustle. 🎧 Give it a listen, and let me know what resonates. 👇Links in the comment below. #TheLaunchCode #founders #b2bsales #startups

You’d think $2 billion in B2B sales experience would make this easy. It didn’t. I have decades of sales and leadership experience, so when I started my advisory business, I thought I would mentor founders on how to build their companies. It wasn’t long before I realized founders need the most help in growing revenue. I had the know-how and the solution I could deliver at high quality. The question was, who wanted it? First, I targeted small companies, both tech startups and traditional businesses. But I realized startup founders were a better fit. Why? They are ambitious and excel at product development. But sales is their kryptonite - they fear it, hate it, and avoid it. The founders who struggled the most were those with a product and some paying customers, but no idea how to scale their sales. What they lacked was a way to accelerate their growth. And I decided that that’s the niche that I would fill. —---------------- It wasn’t always easy, but my journey to product-market fit has helped me serve more than 200 clients using my B2B sales and marketing blueprint, The Launch Code. Every founder has to find product-market fit if they want to succeed. If you’re a founder and you feel stuck in sales limbo, consider checking out The Launch Code. 👇To learn more - click on the link in the first comment below.

I set out to write a game-changing book on founder-led sales. 👇 Here’s what startup founders are saying after reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: ✅ “No fluff—just practical advice that works.” ✅ “Each chapter feels like a personal coaching session.” ✅ “Transformed our growth across 11 markets.” Reading this kind of feedback - and seeing the impact it’s having - makes me incredibly proud and grateful. This is why I wrote the book. If you want to master founder-led sales and boost your revenue growth... Grab your copy on Amazon today. #startups #b2bsales #TheLaunchCode

Hate selling? You’re not alone. But here’s the truth. B2B sales isn’t about convincing people to buy—it’s about helping them solve a problem. Once you shift your mindset from "selling" to "solving," everything changes. In this video, I break down the #1 mindset shift that makes selling feel natural--and even enjoyable. 👉What’s the biggest mindset shift you’ve had to make in building your business? #b2bsales #founders #thelaunchcode

I’ve closed $2 billion in B2B sales leading teams with 9-figure quotas. Here’s one lesson I’ve learned the hard way. Nail your ICP, and you’ll at least double your close rate. How do you do it? - Define what they sell - Size them up by revenue & headcount - Focus your industry targeting - Get specific on geography - Go for precision, not broad reach 👇Check out my process here. #b2bsales #founder #startups

At every Launch Code book event, one question keeps coming up: “How do I get prospects to actually care about what I’m saying?” This week’s newsletter tackles exactly that - with a simple 6-step messaging framework to help you speak your customers’ language and turn interest into action. 🧠 Plus: a fresh podcast on founder-led sales and what real founders are saying about The Launch Code. 🚀 Read the latest edition here 👇

A Harvard study showed that only 3% of people make plans to achieve their goals. A decade later, those who did make a plan earned 10x more than the rest. The good news? Founders only need to follow these 5 steps to create a plan and build the business of their dreams. 1️⃣ 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀. Working on your product? Making some team changes? Raising cash? Deciding what’s most important focuses the rest of your thinking. Choose one focus – let’s say it’s to raise VC funding – and apply the rest of the process below. 2️⃣𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. Who’s going to prepare the pitch deck? Who’s going to do the outreach to investors? Who’s going to present the pitch? This avoids wasted effort and defines who is accountable for results, good or bad. 3️⃣𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀. This forces you to understand... 1) What you would use the cash for 2) What other companies that raise this amount typically look like, and 3) How you would justify the expected return to investors. Numbers is the language of business. If you can explain the numbers, you can do anything. 4️⃣𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 & 𝗞𝗣𝗜𝘀. Specify how many investors you’ll contact, and over what period. So if it’s 10 a week, you’ll know if you’re on track or not. 5️⃣𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻. Don’t overdo it. Remember the 80/20 Rule: 80% of your output comes from 20% of your actions. Focus on the stuff that really moves the needle. _____________________ Struggling to focus your efforts and build your business? Shoot me a DM and let’s see how I can help - free, no strings attached. Or if you just want to download my brain, check out my new book, called 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲. Sign up to receive a FREE chapter or buy it on Amazon. 📖 👇Link in comment below. #b2bsales #founder #startups

Love reading stories like this! I may have written The Launch Code with startup founders in mind, but as RUBICA proves, the core principles of focus, structure, and customer-first selling apply anytime you're launching something new—whether it’s a company, a market, or even a mindset. Excited to see how Ivan's team of “founder-like” consultants uses TLC to grow in LATAM and beyond. Can't wait for that success story! 💪📈

Struggling to build your dream team as a founder? Adopt these three game-changing mindset shifts. 1️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆-𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 You’ve built the product and people are buying. Great. Now focus on the big vision. You are the one who needs to have the most important conversations with the biggest prospects and investors. It’s a new phase of your company’s life, and that’s okay. 2️⃣ 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Many founders fear the loss of chaos will dull their creativity. Actually, it does the opposite. Having processes in place frees up mental bandwidth for testing ideas. 3️⃣ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼. Just don’t overdo it! Overly bureaucratic environments, like the one I experienced at NBCUniversal, can smother innovation. On the other hand, clear expectations paired with operational freedom drive success. ***************** Founders have to master new mindsets to unlock the most success at every stage of a business. I’ve seen a lot in my career. I’ve sold two businesses. I’ve closed $2 billion in B2B deals. I’ve turned around a bleeding sales division of an established corporation. And in the last few years, I’ve taught more than 200 founders the tools and strategies to help them grow their sales and build lasting companies. I’ve put all that experience in my new book. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 ▶️ Sign up to receive a FREE chapter or buy it on Amazon. 📖 👇Link in the first comment below #startups #founders #thelaunchcode

LinkedIn is a powerful tool to generate B2B leads, but most founders screw up the basics. Here are three quick fixes to whip your LinkedIn profile into shape: 1️⃣Your profile headline and banner explains who you are and how you help. Who am I? I help founders close high-ticket deals using The Launch Code, and have personally generated $2 billion in B2B revenue. 2️⃣ The “About” section describes why your solution stands out. How am I different? I bring my solution to life by providing details about the problems my customers face, and how The Launch Code helped solve them. 3️⃣ The “Featured” section offers credibility-boosting content. I include links to my free value proposition training, my most popular posts, and my website in case founders want to learn more about me and my offering. ***************** Founders shoot themselves in the foot with a confusing LinkedIn profile. Your customers are out there, overwhelmed with information and alternatives. Make it easier for them to buy from you! My LinkedIn profile has helped me land dozens of clients to my B2B sales blueprint, The Launch Code. More than 200 founders who were struggling with sales have used the principles and strategies I teach at The Launch Code to help them boost their revenue. Now I’ve distilled those lessons in my new book: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 ▶️ Sign up to receive a FREE chapter or buy it on Amazon. 📖 👇Link in the first comment below #b2bsales #founders #thelaunchcode

Q1 is done. Now what? 👀 You could guess what’s working and what’s not… or you could use a smarter approach. Most founders track numbers, but few know how to turn data into decisions that actually drive growth. If you want to make Q2 your strongest quarter yet, you need to see what’s really moving the needle. I break it all down in my latest newsletter, check it out here 👇

I helped co-founders break free from years of struggle—by shifting their focus from building a product to solving a problem. Peter Strobel Tiborcz and Emy Farkas pivoted Bannerse, their European streaming startup, three times in three years before we started working together. Their issue? They built a company around a product, not a problem. First, their interactive streaming platform offered live and recorded fitness, health, and yoga content. But its appeal faded after the pandemic died down and people left their homes again. Then they moved to influencer-hosted events for shoppers. It was big in Asia, but European agencies preferred sticking to traditional and polished campaigns. Then they thought they could enhance digital advertising. Despite initial interest and brand partnerships, the solution didn’t gain traction. This is when I told them to first find a problem they could solve with their tech – and not the other way around! Peter and Emy nailed it. They noticed that marketing messages to sports fans during live events are often fragmented. Bannerse is now integrating all functions into a single QR code, providing a unified platform for fans to access information, interact, and make transactions. Now, advertisers are reaching out because Bannerse offers them a direct connection to potential customers. No more pivots! —---------------- Owning a problem-solution connection is a requirement for any successful business. Founders need to be super clear about the customer’s problem before they can build a product to solve it. It was tough for Peter and Emi, but thankfully we found each other and now they’re off to the races. They are among more than 200 startups that I’ve taught through my B2B sales and marketing blueprint, The Launch Code. 👇Learn how you can apply my B2B sales blueprint to your business through the link in the first comment below #b2bsales #founders #thelaunchcode

Are you smarter or better at business than Jeff Bezos? I’m going to guess that you’re like me and the other 99.999999% who aren’t. So stop thinking you’re on his level in your first years of building your company. Because neither was Bezos himself! Amazon wasn’t a global behemoth on Day One. Instead, Bezos targeted a specific audience—young men, the most active internet users at the time—and solved a specific problem: accessing hard-to-find books. Once he had tested his business model and logistic capabilities, he expanded into music and films, eventually turning Amazon into the juggernaut it is today. You have to narrow your focus in the early days – even if it feels limiting. ▶️ 𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂? ***************** Serving a specific set of customers is a critical part of building early momentum for your business. Yet many founders struggle with reconciling this reality with their long-term vision. I’ve helped dozens of founders adjust their mindset as part of a broader package of tools and strategies I teach to help them grow their businesses. Now you can read about it in my new book: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 ▶️ Now available in eBook and paperback on Amazon - the house that Bezos built. 📖 👇Link in the first comment below #startups #founders #thelaunchcode

Argue with prospects and you'll win the debate, but lose the deal. In my experience closing $2 billion in B2B deals, you should never disagree during a sales discussion. Do this instead, and watch your close rate soar. ✅𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁: Your prospect is unsure about the €100,000 cost of your service. Acknowledge it. “Hey, I totally get it. €100,000 sounds like a lot of money, and it is!” You never want to make them feel as though you are talking past them. When you do that, you signal that you care more about the money than you do about solving their problem. Not good. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲: The beauty of “repeat” is that you’ve steered the conversation into an emotional space. Now you can show your prospect that what they fear is either silly or holding them back from their potential. “€100,000 is a scary number, but you already told me that your electricity bill is €5,000 per month per office. And there’s, what, 100 offices worldwide? So that’s 500k a month, and €6 million a year. Our service saves an average of 20% from the monthly bill, or €1.2 million in your case. We should be charging you more!” Then you both have a laugh. Why? Because you’ve demonstrated your value and your prospect knows it. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲: Offer some last words of reassurance. Tell them how other customers have benefited from working with you. Paint them a picture of that better future. Think about it like this – if you close the deal, not only did you win financially, but it also means your customer now agrees with the point you would otherwise have made in a fight. 👉See how handling objections works? 😀 ***************** The three Rs are one of many tips and strategies I’ve taught to more than 200 founders to help them crush sales. You can read about it in my new book: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 ▶️ Now available in eBook and paperback on Amazon. 📖 👇Link in the first comment below #b2bsales #founders #thelaunchcode

The secret formula for creating viral LinkedIn content - revealed! ↗️ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀. - I was poor/homeless/a drug addict, but then I did[x] and now I’m rich/happy/working 4 hours a week on a beach. - Here’s how I helped [your ICP] achieve [unrealistic outcome] by applying [your system.] - It took me [x] years to learn [an important lesson], but I’ll teach it to you in [30 seconds.] ↗️ 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲. Make the first point long and attention-grabbing. Write the second one just a little bit shorter. Continue with point three at this length. Then finish off with a few ideas That end up with you writing just a word in the last point. See how that works? ↗️ Add an out-of context throwback pic that makes people stop the scroll. Pro tip: throwback pics work best. (This is me 20 years ago) ↗️ End with a call-to-action that asks for your audience to engage. 👉Do you think this post will go viral? Help me get this post in front of 50K people and generate 100 likes and comments. P.S. I will share the results in a comment at the close of each day. Off you go people - like, comment, and share! 👍🗣️♻️ #socialmedia #content #tips

Unlock the code to B2B sales success – live in Bucharest on Wednesday, April 9! Join me for an exclusive in-person panel on founder-led sales -- where we’ll break down what it really takes to win high-value deals as a startup. Hosted with Underline Ventures, I’ll share insights from helping 200+ founders in 26 countries grow faster using the framework behind my new book, The Launch Code. And I won’t be doing it alone: ✅ 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 – moderated by Bogdan Iordache (Underline Ventures), joined by Zsolt Nagy (Vicket) ✅ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗤&𝗔 – Bring your toughest B2B sales challenges ✅ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 – Be among the first to buy a signed copy of The Launch Code on-site 📍 M60, Str. D. I. Mendeleev 2, Bucharest 🕕 Wednesday, April 9 | 18:30 👇Spots are limited – register now via the link in the first comment! #b2bsales #founders #thelaunchcode

3 simple tricks I taught a tech founder that helped him 8x his customer base and boost recurring revenue by 400% in two years. ✍️ Create a clear sales message 🔄 Develop a repeatable, results-driven sales process 🎯 Align long-term goals with daily actions to maximize productivity Aleksander Niemczyk started Action Audit (Ruby Logic) to reduce the time heavy industries spent auditing their manufacturing processes. But he was only able to land six clients in the four years he was in business. He was too shy – at least that’s the guy I met at a startup conference in Poland in October 2021. “Sales was completely odd and stressful for me,” he once told me. “It wasn’t in my nature to convince people to buy something. I wanted them to spot the features and value by themselves.” My game plan was to arm him with the skills to notch some wins. My bet was that with a bit of momentum, the deals would start to flow. ❓Why those three items❓ Without a clear understanding of his ideal customer, his business suffered too much volatility. I had him write down what problem he solved, and who he solved it for. This allowed him to focus on automotive and aerospace companies that would benefit from automating time-consuming admin work. Not knowing how and where to get engaged leads was slowing his growth. Over time, we noticed that there were consultants in Germany who had the trust of his ideal customers. He struck partnerships with a few of them, who became his best sources of referrals. Imagine the kind of online presence a shy founder has. That was Aleksander. By the end of the program, however, he was posting about his business and expertise a few times a week on LinkedIn. He now spends 60% of his time doing sales and marketing, compared to 5% when we first started. And he’s still the company’s primary sales figure, despite the growth. He completely transformed his business. Subscription became the bulk of revenue, and he grew across Europe, and even into the US. Now the company is expanding into new industries, like hotels. ________________ Aleksander is one of hundreds of founders I've helped 'Blast off!' using my B2B sales and marketing blueprint. If you’re a founder and need to accelerate your revenue growth, check out The Launch Code. 👇To learn more - click on the link in the first comment below. #b2bsales #founders #thelaunchcode

Struggling to turn interest into actual sales? You’re not alone. Last night in Bucharest, a room full of ambitious founders came together to tackle one of startup life’s biggest challenges. How to sell when you’re not a salesperson. We dove into: ▶️What really works in founder-led B2B sales. ▶️ How to shift your mindset from hesitant to confident. ▶️ Practical strategies to unlock serious revenue growth. Huge thanks to Underline Ventures for co-hosting this high-energy evening—and to Bogdan Iordache for expertly moderating our panel discussion with Zsolt Nagy from "Vicket - Take your seat online". And shoutout to everyone who brought their toughest B2B sales questions and made the live Q&A so dynamic. One key takeaway? You don’t need to become a “salesperson” to succeed—you just need the right framework to sell like a founder. BTW, the event also marked the Romanian launch of my book, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗱𝗲 - and I couldn’t be more excited to see it sparking real conversations and action. 👉 Curious what the buzz is about? Check the first comment for a link to the book and reviews. #b2bsales #founders #TheLaunchCode

That’s a wrap on a milestone board meeting at Antavo AI Loyalty Cloud – and it’s just the beginning. I had the pleasure as chairman of partnering with co-founder/CEO Attila Kecsmar to organize and lead our first-ever full-day board session. Here’s what made it special: 💡 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 – We went beyond standard updates with focused sessions on product, go-to-market, and fundraising strategy. 👋 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 – We welcomed Bill Demas(NED) and Zoltan Fekete (Lead Ventures) to their first board meeting. 🤝 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 – Board members joined small-group sessions with Antavo’s leadership team to tackle key business challenges together. 🎙️ 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 – Several operational leaders presented, giving the board firsthand insight into the people driving day-to-day execution. 🍸 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – We wrapped up with cocktails and dinner — a chance to build relationships and celebrate the team’s progress. We left energized, aligned, and focused on scaling our GTM strategy and continuing to grow a category-defining business. 2025 is shaping up to be a breakout year. Let’s make it count! #antavo #loyalty #chairman

Being an underdog founder taught me something no corporate job ever could. I was in my late 20s, working as VP of sales at CBS in the US. I quit because I was itching to get in on the action of the dotcom era. So, my wife and I left LA and moved to Budapest, where my brother and I launched what we hoped would become the “Yahoo of Central and Eastern Europe.” We raised $1.5M to build a network of news portals for a region just waking up to the internet - and we hit the ground running. The early days? Exhilarating. And terrifying. Managing cash flow, navigating conflicts, and facing new obstacles daily tested me in ways I never expected. I wanted to quit. So many times. Yet I kept going because I believed in what we were building. Then came the breakthrough. I talked myself into a meeting with Hewlett-Packard. Back then, digital photography was just getting started, and HP wanted to lead the market. Our portal spoke directly to their target audience: tech-savvy young users. All I had was a PowerPoint and conviction. No product. No traction. Just a clear understanding of their need — and a deep belief in our solution. Against all odds, they said yes. That moment taught me a powerful lesson: founder-led sales isn’t about polish — it’s about clarity, conviction, and follow- through. It’s about understanding your customer better than anyone else — and showing up with a solution they can believe in. If you can master that, you can sell anything. ____________ 👉 What’s the biggest lesson you learned the hard way as a founder? #founder #startup #lesson