TLDR:
- Cristina Fonseca, General Partner at Indico Capital Partners, discusses her journey into entrepreneurship, building companies such as TalkDesk and Cleverly AI, and her transition to venture capital.
- She emphasizes the importance of focusing on solving real problems and being the cause, rather than jumping to the effect.
- When building a company from scratch, wearing different hats and adapting to changes and challenges is crucial.
- As a board member and investor, providing guidance and support to founders while respecting their autonomy is essential.
In this episode of the EU-Startups podcast, Cristina Fonseca, a tech entrepreneur, investor, and General Partner at Indico Capital Partners, shares her experiences and insights in the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital.
Fonseca begins by discussing her journey into entrepreneurship, highlighting her co-founding roles in successful companies such as TalkDesk and Cleverly AI. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on solving real problems and being the cause, rather than simply aiming to mimic the success of great founders, like Steve Jobs.
She also discusses the challenges of building a company from scratch, highlighting the need to wear different hats and constantly adapt to changes and new challenges. Fonseca stresses the importance of being comfortable with uncertainty and learning from failures along the way.
As Fonseca transitioned from entrepreneurship to venture capital, she emphasized the importance of providing guidance and support to founders as a board member and investor. She discusses her approach to working with founders, acknowledging the need to balance guidance with respecting their autonomy.
Finally, Fonseca discusses the evolution of the Portuguese startup ecosystem and her personal impact and interests. She highlights the growth of the ecosystem and the increasing number of success stories in Portugal. Fonseca also shares her passion for ocean-related investments and her belief in the potential for startups to make a positive impact in this field.
Overall, Cristina Fonseca’s interview provides valuable insights into the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on solving real problems, adapting to challenges, and providing support to founders as an investor.
