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the Founder Files

The Brutal Truth About How To Build and Scale a Business

Season 5 Episode 18

Daniel Novitzkas returns to The Founder Files to unpack how Specno scaled from a two-man startup to building over 200 ventures. We go deep on Daniel’s brutally honest approach to product-market fit, why early-stage startups need to stop chasing perfection, and how to validate real solutions with paying customers from day one. Daniel also breaks down Specno’s three business units; from venture building, to corporate innovation, to scaling global talent. This episode is packed with hard-won insight on building tech startups, thinking like a founder, and why talking to users is still the most underrated move in tech.

Too Long; Didn't Listen? Here's what to look for:

00:00 Introduction

‍04:00 What Is Specno?

‍15:39 Inside the Venture Builder Business Unit

‍23:20 What Do You Look For in CEOs?

‍28:34 Final Thoughts on the Venture Builder Unit

‍31:49 How AI Will Truly Make a Difference

‍45:16 Specno’s Second Business Unit

‍49:42 Why Daniel Believes He Can Compete With McKinsey and Accenture

‍58:48 A Core Skill Daniel Had to Learn

‍01:07:44 Specno’s Third Business Unit

‍01:22:14 Daniel’s Story: Lowest Low and Highest High

‍01:41:45 What Does the Future Look Like for Daniel and Specno?

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