Peter Specht: Spotting Unicorn investments & navigating global markets with Creandum

Peter Specht: Spotting Unicorn investments & navigating global markets with Creandum

Author: JBM, James Mitra March 6, 2024 Duration: 35:37
“We scaled way too fast…and the result was that we mis-hired quite a lot. It was not a sustainable way to scale.” This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Peter Specht, General Partner at Creandum, one of the leading early stage VCs that have invested in over 120 companies, of which 20 are unicorns today.  Following career chapters at Rocket Internet Group, Google and Bain, Peter joined the firm as Investment Manager in 2017, as one of the firm’s first hires in the DACH region, building out its Berlin hub.  Now based in London, Peter primarily focuses on investing into SaaS and B2B marketplaces, with notable investments led for Factorial, CarOnSale, cargo.one, Timberhub, to name a few.   With such a wealth of experience across markets, there’s lots for us to discuss in this final VC feature episode…  Episode Chapters: ➡️ The deal he is most proud of: A Unicorn story [2:03] ➡️ Explore in the early days, specialise later on [6:06] ➡️ Scaling lessons from Lazada [9:01] ➡️ Moving into VC [10:40] ➡️ Creandum’s origin story [12:17] ➡️ Multi-local presence and adapting to global markets [15:52] ➡️ The growing Tech scene in Spain [18:35] ➡️ A Deep dive into the London ecosystem [21:34] ➡️ Rising through the ranks & becoming General Partner [25:18] ➡️ Advice for Founders perfecting their pitch [30:04] ⛳ Helpful links: ➡️ Connect with Peter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pspecht/  ➡️ Find out more about Creandum: https://creandum.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️ Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered what a conversation with a truly groundbreaking founder or an elite performer actually sounds like? 40 Minute Mentor captures exactly that, offering intimate, structured dialogues designed to unpack the real journeys behind extraordinary success. Hosted by James Mitra, this podcast operates on a simple but powerful premise: profound insight doesn't require hours of your time. Each episode is a focused, forty-minute session with a different leader, from purpose-driven entrepreneurs building unique companies to Olympic athletes who have mastered their craft. The conversations move beyond theory, delving into the pivotal decisions, personal challenges, and practical lessons that have shaped their paths. You'll hear not just about their triumphs, but the resilience required during setbacks, providing a honest look at what building a brilliant career or venture genuinely entails. As one of the UK's prominent business podcasts, it serves as a direct source of mentorship, aiming to elevate ambitions by sharing these powerful career narratives. Tune in for a regular dose of inspiration and actionable wisdom, all within the span of a single commute or workout.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

40 Minute Mentor
Podcast Episodes
Bonus: Reinventing expert networks through AI with James Lo & Ethos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:34
In today’s 40 Minute Mentor bonus episode, we’re introducing our brand new partnership with Ethos, the next-generation expert network using AI to match industry leaders with earning opportunities. Tune in to find out why…
Adrienne Adhami: How to make decisions in a world of endless choice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:54
To kick off 40 Minute Mentor’s Season 13, we’re joined by Adrienne Adhami, leading wellbeing coach, podcast host and author. Listed as one of the ‘Top 25 Black Entrepreneurs to watch’ by HSBC and UKBBS, Adrienne is a tra…
Season 13 Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:30
Ahead of launching Season 13 of 40 Minute Mentor next week, we thought we'd give you a preview of some of the pocket-sized mentorship you have to look forward to. Haven't subscribed yet? Make sure you do so now to be the…
Vegard Medbø: Building a portfolio valued at $4.8B with Antler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:15
In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Vegard Medbø, Co-Founder and COO at Antler, the global early-stage fund helping entrepreneurs go from zero to one. Before founding Antler, Vegard spent his early caree…
Bonus: The checklist for your next fundraise with Corinne Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:16
In this final 40 Minute Mentor VC bonus episode, we’re joined by Corinne Thompson, Founder of Ecap Financial. Today’s episode follows a slightly different format, with Corinne sharing a quick-fire checklist for you next…
George Robson: Becoming a Partner at Sequoia at the age of 25 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:17
In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by George Robson, Partner at Sequoia, the fund helping daring Founders build legendary companies from idea to IPO and beyond. From Investment Banking to Revolut and becom…