What we talked about:
- How he envisioned Stripe and Qonto before their time: Nicolas foresaw concepts like Stripe and Qonto ahead of their time, and these ideas helped shape his entrepreneurial journey.
- Meeting cofounder Nicolas Saison: The story of how Nicolas recruited his co-founder in 2008 as an apprentice, leading to their partnership at Swan.
- Entrepreneurship is learned, not innate: Nicolas reflects on how entrepreneurship is a skill developed over time and the vital role of role models in fostering success.
- The importance of choosing the right co-founders: Why selecting co-founders is critical, and the potential pitfalls of having too many.
- The role of design, marketing, and content: How these often-overlooked elements can drive a startup’s success.
- The ability to pivot or recognize when an idea won’t succeed: Understanding when it’s time to change direction and move away from unattainable goals.
- The ambition to create European champions: Nicolas discusses the importance of building long-lasting companies that prioritize impact over exits.
Timestamps
1. [00:00:00] Intro
2. [00:03:57] Learning to become an entrepreneur: Why entrepreneurship isn’t innate and the importance of role models.
3. [00:09:32] Shaped by PriceMinister: How being one of the ‘small’ cofounders influenced Nicolas' future.
4. [00:21:03] Leaving Limonetik before exit: The journey of his first fintech and why he decided to move on.
5. [00:25:00] Ideas ahead of their time: How concepts like Stripe and Qonto influenced his vision.
6. [00:29:33] Navigating early struggles: Balancing financial pressures with personal responsibilities.
7. [00:32:40] Building Antelop: Creating a contactless payment solution in 2014.
8. [00:45:08] The rise of Swan: How he began shaping his most ambitious venture.
9. [00:47:59] Finding a co-founder in Nicolas Saison: Their meeting, growth, and eventual partnership.
10. [00:53:36] Marketing matters: Shifting focus from solely product/tech to realizing the importance of go-to-market strategies.
11. [00:58:36] What’s next: His entrepreneurial trajectory and the future of Swan.
Key products & people mentioned
- Nicolas Saison: Co-founder of Swan who Nicolas met over 20 years ago.
- Bulledezen: Nicolas’ first company, created in 2005, an ecommerce site for alarm clocks.
- Limonitek: His second company, co-founded in 2007, a payment solution for ecommerce.
- Antelop: His third company, focused on contactless payment solutions.
- PriceMinister: Influential in Nicolas’ career; one of the first employees and a ‘small’ cofounder.
- Visa: Where Nicolas worked between entrepreneurial ventures.
- AXA: Managed web applications during his stint here, before returning to startups.
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