#307: #1 Startup Investor: How to Turn an Idea into Global Success? Playbook for a Billion Dollar Business

👉 ⁠https://formeds.pl/greg⁠ Get 20% off high-quality Polish-made supplements with the code GREG20. Boost your performance, energy, and wellbeing with pure formulas, optimal ingredient doses, and third-party lab-tested quality.👉 ⁠https://albrechtpartners.com/mentoring-strategiczny/ Albrecht&Partners - a team with over 20 years of practical experience in strategy, leadership and coaching. Get a free consultation.================================Daniel Tomov is the founding partner of Eleven Ventures, one of the most active early-stage venture capital funds in Southeastern Europe. Since 2012, Eleven has invested in over 200 startups, helping shape the regional startup ecosystem — including Payhawk, Bulgaria’s first unicorn.
In the #307 episode of the Greg Albrecht Podcast, Daniel shares why he’s not a picker but a builder and how that philosophy changes everything about VC, founder support, and building lasting companies.
What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ Why most startup boards fail — and how to build ones that actually work✅ How Eleven supports founders before and after investment✅ How many pivots does it take to find product-market fit — and are 24 pivots to unicorn a lot? (like Payhawk)✅ How to decide when to pivot, persevere, or pull the plug✅ What makes CEE founders unique — and what’s still holding them back✅ How a personal health crisis gave Daniel radical clarity and focus
If you're a founder, VC, or startup operator — this conversation will change your thoughts about early-stage investing.================================Chapters:00:00:00 Intro  00:00:56 Who is Daniel Tomov, and what is Eleven Ventures?  00:01:40 “We’re not pickers, we’re builders” – two philosophies of venture capital  00:04:27 What is an Eleven’s startup playbook, and why most VCs don’t have one  00:07:58 How Eleven works with founders before and after investment  00:09:47 When the plan doesn’t work – pivots, product-market fit, and Payhawk’s 24 pivots  00:12:51 The role of a startup board and why most board members get it wrong  00:17:05 How to be a board member that supports, not destroys  00:24:55 How Eleven evaluates startups and finds the right teams  00:29:20 Red flags you can spot in the first 30 seconds00:32:04 The ultimate founder test: do they live and breathe the company?  00:36:04 When to walk away from a startup – and how to know it’s time  00:39:55 The Untapped Power of Southeastern Europe00:47:41 The origin story and mission behind Eleven Ventures  00:50:31 Community as the real advantage of startup ecosystems  00:55:42 Daniel’s health crisis and the life clarity it brought  01:04:52 Idealism vs financial return – how Daniel balances both  01:09:39 Final vision: collaboration across CEE to build global companies 
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Website: https://albrechtpartners.com/gregalbrechtpodcast/Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/greg-albrecht-podcast/id1364621095Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6mOUEu9iUycazH169w6btk?si=d5d31c6b85104f31All episodes: http://bit.ly/2SkXHKfShorts: https://www.youtube.com/@GregAlbrechtPodcast/shorts