Beginner's Mind
Business & Finance
About
Blueprints for Builders and Investors Hosted by Christian Soschner From pre-seed to post-IPO, every company—especially in deep tech, biotech, AI, and climate tech —lives or dies by the frameworks it follows. On Beginner’s Mind, Christian Soschner uncovers the leadership principles behind the world’s most impactful companies—through deep-dive interviews, strategic book reviews, and patterns drawn from history’s greatest business, military, and political minds. With over 250 interviews, panels, and livestreams, the show ranks in the Top 10% globally—and is recognized as the #1 deep tech podcast. With 35+ years across M&A, company building, board roles, business schools, ultrarunning, and martial arts, Christian brings a rare lens: What it really takes to turn breakthrough science into business—how to grow it, lead it, and shape the world around it.
Episodes
- #176 - Why Smart People Say Yes: 7 Lessons from Influence by Robert Cialdini
Some books explain how the world works. Influence explains why people move. Why someone takes the meeting. Why an investor leans in. Why a customer trusts. Why a team follows. Why a board stays stuck. Why a founder keeps defending a decisi…
- EP 175: Stefanie Schubert | Why Smart People Lose Negotiations Before They Start
Most leaders think negotiation begins when both sides sit down to talk numbers. By then, trust, incentives, timing, internal alignment, and first impressions have already shaped the outcome. That is why smart founders, executives, investor…
- EP 174: Wanwipa Siriwatwechakul | Funding the Next Industrial Era
Most people still treat climate solutions as a cost. Wanwipa Siriwatwechaku l argues that this is exactly why so many leaders miss the real opportunity. The next industrial era will not be built by patching old systems, but by redesigning…
- EP 173: Bret Kugelmass | The West Bet on the Wrong Energy Future
Power demand is rising faster than the systems meant to support it. AI, electrification, and industry all need stable energy, but the dominant story sold to the public was far simpler than reality. In this episode, Bret Kugelmass explains…
- #172 - Fast Forward Thinking: Why Most Investments Fail — And How Elite VCs Think Differently
Most investors think they’re rational. Most founders think they’re disciplined. Most boards think they’re strategic. They’re usually wrong. In this episode, we unpack Fast Forward Thinking by Luis Pareras — a physician turned deep-tech ven…
- EP 171 - Björn Cochlovius: Why Brilliant Biotech Breaks at Manufacturing
Most biotech breakthroughs don’t fail in the lab. They fail when science meets manufacturing reality. And by the time this bottleneck appears, tens of millions are already sunk. This episode examines the most under-discussed failure point…
- EP 170 - Jim Pulcrano: Why Most Venture Capital Fails And What Europe Still Gets Wrong
Nine out of ten startups fail, yet Europe keeps funding them the same way. Governments replace judgment with bureaucracy, capital replaces experience, and failure is misunderstood instead of learned from. This conversation exposes why vent…
- EP 169 - Why New Year’s Goals Fail by February - Even for Disciplined People
Most goals don’t fail because of laziness or lack of ambition. They fail quietly — buried under daily noise, competing priorities, and forgotten intentions. By March, even the most meaningful goals have slipped down the list… replaced by u…
- EP 168 - Alasdair Milton: The Innovation Inflection Point: Why 70% of Cures Never Reach Patients
Breakthrough science has never been stronger — yet patients still miss life-saving therapies. Despite decades of innovation, most precision medicines fail at the last mile of healthcare delivery. The problem isn’t discovery. It’s how scien…
- #167: Pattern Breakers — 7 Laws Behind Category-Defining Companies
Most founders obsess over ideas. Breakthrough companies obsess over inflections, conviction, and structure . This episode unpacks Pattern Breakers by Mike Maples Jr .—a book that quietly explains why most startups never break out… and why…
- SPARK20 – 156: Janos Pasztor | The Climate Diplomat Who Refuses to Give Up on Humanity
The world has grown quiet about climate change. Too quiet. We scroll past floods, fires, droughts… and move on with our day. As if the problem solved itself. As if we’ve earned the luxury to look away. Janos Pasztor ( full episode ) has sp…
- EP 166 - Karl Nehammer: Why Europe Fails to Scale – And How the EIB Plans to Fix It
Europe leads the world in discovery — yet too often, its breakthroughs never become global companies. Billions in research funding turn into patents, not products. While others build empires from ideas, Europe risks becoming the world’s la…
- EP 165 – Jason Foster: 153 Rejections Later — What Every Founder Must Learn About Resilience
Most founders dream of raising millions. Few survive the 153 “no’s” it takes to get there. Behind every biotech breakthrough lies exhaustion — late-night calls, failed rounds, and investors who walk away at the finish line. What separates…
- EP 164 - Kat Kozyrytska: AI in Pharma Is a Yesterday Problem – Why Ethical Frameworks Can’t Wait
Imagine waking up to find your company’s most valuable IP leaked—not by hackers, but by the very AI tools you trusted. This isn’t a distant scenario; it’s happening inside pharma and biotech right now. And the cost isn’t just financial—it’…
- #163: The NVIDIA Way — 7 Scaling Lessons from Jensen Huang’s Playbook
Most founders obsess over products. Jensen Huang built a $3 trillion company by obsessing over inevitabilities. This episode unpacks The NVIDIA Way by Tae Kim —the definitive account of how NVIDIA went from near-death startup to the world’…
- Marc Penkala | Why Being Wrong is the Secret to Venture Success (SPARK20 – 139)
How do you succeed in a business where being wrong is the norm? Marc Penkala has lived both sides of the table: as an entrepreneur who built, sold, and failed with companies—and now as a venture capitalist running his own fund. What makes…
- EP 162 - Alex Oppenheimer: The Secret Investors Use Before Writing the First Check
Here’s the harsh truth: If your business model can’t survive a spreadsheet, it won’t survive the market. Every year, ambitious founders pour months into product, pitch, and brand—yet the single biggest reason startups die isn’t funding, it…
- EP 161 - Enis Hulli: VC Secrets Exposed: Why Only US-Based Startups Dominate (and How to Beat the Odds)
Why do Europe’s brightest founders still feel forced to leave for Silicon Valley—no matter how much money or talent we pour into the region? Every year, ambitious startups across Europe and CEE struggle to scale—not for lack of ideas, but…
- EP 160 - Vadim Fedotov: Elevate Your Wellbeing: How Data-Driven Choices Create Peak Performance
Still trying to optimize your health with guesswork and generic advice? Most people settle for “one-size-fits-all” supplements and hope for the best-missing out on the breakthroughs that only real data and personalization can offer. In a w…
- Angeli Möller | Building the Future of Health with Precision, Vision, and Heart (SPARK20 – 142)
How do you lead at the cutting edge of health, data, and AI—while staying deeply human? Angeli Möller has led global data science teams across pharma giants, co-founded one of Europe’s most ambitious AI alliances, and now builds high-perfo…
- #159: No Rules Rules — 7 Culture Principles That Made Netflix Unstoppable
Most founders add layers to gain control. Reed Hastings built an empire by removing them. This episode unpacks No Rules Rules —the leadership playbook behind Netflix’s rise from a DVD mail service to a global entertainment powerhouse. Co-a…
- EP 158 - Rafael Rosengarten: Why 90% of Cancer Drugs Fail — and the Radical AI Fix You’ve Never Heard Of
Most cancer drugs fail. Not because the science is wrong—because we’re solving the wrong problems. The cost? Over $2 billion per failure. And for the patient waiting on a miracle—there’s no second chance. Behind the headlines of “precision…
- EP 157 - Fabrizio Conicella: Why Europe Keeps Losing the Next Breakthroughs in Medicine
Europe has the science. The talent. The breakthroughs. But when an idea feels too uncertain, our systems shut it down before it has a chance to breathe. And with every safe bet… we quietly lose the next cure, the next Car-T, the next AI th…
- EP 156 - Janos Pasztor: The Most Controversial Fix for Climate Change
What if the only way to save the planet... is to cool it? Not figuratively— literally . Because the heatwaves, floods, and fires you’ve seen so far? They’re just the beginning. 🌍 Emissions keep rising. Global cooperation is slowing. And t…
- #155: Ray Dalio’s Playbook — 7 Principles for Building Scalable, Resilient Companies
What if your business ran like a well-designed machine—one that could evolve, self-correct, and outperform your competition over decades? In this episode, I unpack Principles by Ray Dalio , the billionaire investor and founder of Bridgewat…
- Suzanne Heywood | From Shipwreck to Boardroom Leadership (SPARK20 - 133)
What does it take to turn extreme adversity into extraordinary leadership? Suzanne Heywood’s life reads like a novel—shipwrecked at seven, isolated at sea for a decade, forging her father’s signature to survive, and ultimately earning a pl…
- EP 154 - Kristina Levan: Why Life-Saving Therapies Aren’t Reaching Patients—And How to Fix It
ATMPs, gene therapies, and cancer breakthroughs are here—but outdated regulations, high costs, and logistical bottlenecks are blocking access. What needs to change for hospitals to deliver these cures to patients who need them most? 💡 Her…
- EP 153 - Christopher Uhde: The Biotech IPO Boom is Over. Now What?
In 2021, biotech IPOs were soaring. Valuations hit record highs. Investors were throwing money at anything that moved. Then… the market crashed. Funding dried up. Growth stalled. Biotech founders and investors were left scrambling. So what…
- EP 152 - Alex Dang: Billion-Dollar Bets: Why VC’s Best Decisions Go Against the Crowd
🚀 Most investors chase consensus. The best ones? They bet against it. If everyone agrees on an investment, it’s probably not bold enough. That’s why the greatest venture capitalists don’t just follow trends—they seek out the hidden outlie…
- #151: Mastering Uncertainty – 7 Venture Secrets to Thriving in Chaos
What if your greatest asset in business was how you think under pressure? In this episode, I dive into The Venture Mindset by Alex Dang and Ilya Strebulaev , unpacking seven transformative lessons drawn from the world of venture capital an…
- Dan Bowyer: Rethinking Venture Capital with Superseed VC (SPARK 20 – 125)
What does it take to redefine venture capital while empowering founders to disrupt industries and drive meaningful change? Meet Dan Bowyer , a bold investor from Superseed VC reshaping the game with a no-nonsense approach and a passion for…
- EP 150: 2024 in Review: 9 Bold Steps Toward a Brighter 2025
What makes a year unforgettable? Is it the challenges conquered, the bold ideas pursued, or the connections that shaped us? As 2024 comes to a close, this special episode celebrates the lessons, breakthroughs, and visionary insights that d…
- EP 149: Marina Schmidt - How Do We Feed 10 Billion People Without Destroying the Planet?
Our global food systems are at a breaking point. Climate change, geopolitical tensions, and industrial farming are pushing us closer to food insecurity every day. Can we find a way to feed 10 billion people while safeguarding the planet? M…
- Doerte Hirschberg: Investing in Climate Solutions and Transforming Industries (SPARK20 - 114)
What does it take to tackle the world's biggest challenge—climate change—while driving profit and innovation? Meet Doerte Hirschberg , a visionary investor reshaping industries with bold ideas and data-driven solutions. In this episode, Do…
- #148: Think Long-Term, Thrive Always: 7 Lessons From Investing Titans
What if your greatest advantage in business was how you think about the future? In this episode, I explore Richer, Wiser, Happier by William Green, unpacking seven actionable lessons inspired by legendary investors like Warren Buffett, Cha…
- SPARK 20 - 109: Philipp Baaske, CEO of Nanotemper
What does it take to lead a global biotech company tackling diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s—and still treat every team member, from executives to production staff, as equals? In this 20-minute highlight episode, we meet Philipp Baaske…
- EP 147: DC Palter - Why Startups Face the 'Pit of Hell': The Truth About Securing Funding
Startups promise innovation, but why do so many fail to secure the funding they need? Investors demand results before committing, yet startups require resources to build. This paradox leaves founders stuck in what angel investor DC Palter…
- EP 146: Bio Europe - Will Europe’s Biotech Future Survive? Inside the Funding and Talent Exodus
Europe’s biotech sector is facing a crisis: despite its scientific achievements, it struggles with funding gaps and an exodus of top talent to the US. As biotech innovations drive global healthcare, Europe risks losing its edge—and the pot…
- EP 145: Shlomo Noy - Why Healthcare Innovation Fails Without the Right Strategy
Healthcare investment is booming, but why do so few initiatives actually deliver lasting impact? While funding flows into biotech and life sciences, many leaders overlook the complex strategies needed to bridge research and real-world appl…
- #144: 9 Life-Changing Principles from Charlie Munger: Smarter Investing and Decision-Making
What if you could rewire your thinking to solve life’s toughest problems? In this episode, we dive into Charlie Munger's timeless insights from Poor Charlie's Almanack , revealing 9 core principles for smarter investing, better decision-ma…
- EP 143: Jordi Ferrer Rendé - Is Healthcare Destroying the Planet? The Shocking Truth About CO2 Emissions
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare, but what if the real danger lies in the industry's carbon footprint? Despite healthcare’s purpose of saving lives, the industry contributes up to 10% of CO2 emissions in developed coun…
- EP 142: Angeli Moeller - Why AI Isn’t Transforming Healthcare Like It Should
Artificial intelligence is heralded as the future of healthcare, but why do so many innovations fail to make a tangible impact? Despite the hype, countless companies are missing critical opportunities to leverage AI effectively. What’s hol…
- EP 141: Alessandro Morra - How AI-Powered Robotics Will Transform Security—Are You Prepared for the Future?
Many companies today face increasing security challenges, yet few are leveraging the power of AI and robotics to protect their most critical assets. But what if these groundbreaking technologies could not only reduce costs but also provide…
- #140: Customer Obsession Isn’t Enough—What Jeff Bezos Knows That Most Leaders Miss
What’s the secret to building a trillion-dollar company from scratch? In this episode, we uncover Jeff Bezos' game-changing strategies from Invent and Wander , revealing how Amazon became a global powerhouse. In the world of business and i…
- EP 139 - Marc Penkala - Why European Startups Must Think Bigger: Lessons from a Top VC on Turning Failure into Fortune
Many European startups are trapped in a mindset that limits their potential, aiming for millions when they should be thinking in billions. But what if this conservative approach is holding them back from global success? In this episode, Ma…
- #138: The PayPal Blueprint: How Vision Without a Business Model Nearly Sunk a Tech Giant
Ever wondered what it takes to build a tech giant from the ground up? Is it just about having a great idea, or is there a secret formula for success? In this episode, we dive into Jimmy Soni's The Founders , uncovering the key principles t…
- EP 137: Hampus Jakobsson - The Secret to Venture Success: Investing in People, Not Just Ideas
Did you know the secret to venture success isn't just in groundbreaking ideas? It's in the people behind them. Learn how empathy and grit fuel extraordinary success in this insightful episode. Many investors fail by only chasing ideas. Dis…
- EP 136: Focus and Determination: Lessons from Dan Brisse's Sports and Business Career
Discover how Dan Brisse, a former X Games gold medalist, transformed his passion for snowboarding into a thriving real estate empire. In this episode of [Podcast Name], we delve deep into Dan's journey, exploring the resilience, focus, and…
- #135: Empowering Innovators: 10 Lessons from The Innovators by Walter Isaacson
Ever wondered how the digital revolution came to be? Was it the work of lone geniuses, or was there something more at play? In this episode, we delve into Walter Isaacson's "The Innovators," uncovering the collaborative efforts and key pri…
- EP 134 - The Secret Sauce of California’s Biotech Success Revealed by Joe Panetta
🚀 Discover the Secret Sauce Behind California’s Biotech Success with Joe Panetta Unlock the keys to California’s biotech boom as we delve into the insights of Joe Panetta, President and CEO of Biocom California. In this episode, we explor…