Why 90% of Startups Fail & How to Be in the 10% That Succeed | Oskar Hartmann’s Playbook

About this episode

Why do 90% of startups fail while a select few become unicorns? Is it just luck, or is there a playbook for startup success?

💡 In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, hosts Yuri Rabinovich & Niko Leo sit down with Oskar Hartmann – a serial entrepreneur, investor, and unicorn hunter who has launched & invested in 150+ ventures, lacked 14 unicorns from seed to billion-dollar valuations and survived 43 bankruptcies & learned what really makes a startup succeed

🚀 Oskar shares his hard-earned insights on how founders can navigate the brutal world of startup investing, the importance of choosing the right business model, and why staying in the game is the ultimate key to success

What you’ll learn

• The #1 mistake founders make when choosing a business model
• How Oskar Hartmann built 14 unicorns & survived 43 bankruptcies
• Angel investing vs. VC: where real opportunities lie
• The power of networks & mentorship in startup success
• Why traditional education is failing founders & what replaces it
• Balancing entrepreneurship & personal life as a high-stakes investor

Chapters

1. 00:00Welcome Oskar Hartmann: a unicorn builder and hunter
2. 05:47How Education and Networks Transformed Our Mindset
3. 14:34Choosing the Right Horse for Startup Success
4. 17:49Why Most Founders Waste 5+ Years on the Wrong Business
5. 22:49Funding, Failure, and the Power of Staying in the Game
6. 30:02Success Is a Numbers Game
7. 35:01Why Does Oskar Keep Investing in Founders After Their Startups Fail?
8. 37:15Pay-to-Play Rounds: How Investors Protect Their Stakes in Tough Markets
9. 42:08Balancing Angel Investing and Fatherhood
10. 45:11The Future of Angel Investing
11. 48:08the Long-Term Value of Networks
12. 54:52Why Building Networks Creates Lasting Impact
13. 59:06The Systematic Approach to Finding and Securing Top Mentors
14. 1:05:58How to Find, Engage, and Learn from the Right Mentor