Welcome to Perception Paradox - the podcast spotlighting Europe's Underdog Founders and focused on life, business & health. We dive into the complex relationships between perceptions, worldviews, and behaviors. Invite guests who've defied the ordinary, taken bold risks, and designed their own paths. Real people, real stories, real challenges - a weekly podcast that breaks the status quo and where authenticity meets inspiration. Every Monday, 4 PM CET. Hosted by Zivile (Zivi) Ein
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August 25, 2026Episode 15012 min
E150: From Nights and Weekends to €1M: Building Guideless with Your Best Friend | Evaldas Bieliūnas
What begins as evenings and weekends can become something much bigger. Guideless co-founder and CEO Evaldas Bieliūnas shares how he and his best friend of 18 years, Dovydas Remeika, turned a shared frustration with outdated software training into a platform already used by 3,000+ people across 15 markets. We discuss finding their first customers, building trust between co-founders, choosing the venture-backed path, closing a €1M pre-seed round, and their ambition to build an operational knowledge platform for how companies work. This episode was created in partnership with Superhero Capital.
August 22, 2026Episode 14912 min
E149: Smart Courts, Sports Tech & the Future of Tennis | Zenniz
In this episode of Perception Paradox , created in partnership with Superhero Capital , I speak with the team behind Zenniz , a sports tech company bringing data, intelligence, and real-time insights to racquet sports. We talk with Zenniz co-founder Eero Kuusi about smart courts, product validation, partnerships, and what it takes to build technology that works in real sporting environments — including Zenniz’s testing partnership with Decathlon . Zenniz is a Superhero Capital portfolio company.
August 20, 2026Episode 1488 min
E148: Warm Intros, AI Noise, and Building with Focus — Markku Vuorinen, Co-founder & CEO of Homie
In this episode of Perception Paradox , created in partnership with Superhero Capital , I sit down with Markku Vuorinen, co-founder and CEO of Homie . We talk about why cold outreach is broken, why warm introductions still work, and how Homie is building a systematic way for B2B teams to use trust as a growth channel. Markku also shares what early PMF signals look like, how he thinks about building through the AI noise, and why focus matters more than seven-day weeks — especially with a one-and-a-half-year-old at home. Homie is a Superhero Capital portfolio company.
August 11, 2026Episode 1471 hr 27 min
E147: She Had Everything — But Was Living Someone Else’s Life | Natalini
Natalini became CEO of a global nonprofit before 30. She found herself in Davos with Tony Blair, surrounded by heads of state, celebrities and some of the world’s most influential people. From the outside, she had made it. But her body was telling her something completely different. In this deeply personal episode of Perception Paradox , Natalini shares what happened when she began questioning a life built around achievement, expectations and an identity that, she eventually realised, wasn’t entirely her own. We talk about losing her father, leaving a seven-year relationship and a decade-long career, confronting childhood trauma, psychedelic-assisted therapy, taking a year away from work — and ultimately changing her name as an act of reclaiming herself. But this isn’t only a story about healing. It’s about what comes after. Today, Natalini is Co-Founder and CEO of KOKO Foundation in London, bringing creativity to marginalised communities and exploring what it means to stay deeply human in the age of AI. What happens when you stop building the life you were taught to want — and start discovering the one that’s actually yours? Guest: Natalini from Koko Foundation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justnatalini/ About Koko Foundation: www.kokofoundation.com Hosted by Zivile https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction - Who Is Natalini? 01:33 How They Met & The Art of Real Connection 06:38 When The Body Says No - The Moment Everything Changed 09:00 The Death That Cracked Everything Open 14:19 The Tools That Healed Her - Psychedelics, Therapy & Eboga 27:26 The Grandmother - A Destiny Imposed In Communist Bulgaria 38:48 Changing Her Name - Reclaiming Her Identity 46:57 One Year Of Not Working - The Hardest Gift 54:49 Discovering Her Own Creativity For The First Time 57:18 KOKO Foundation - Building From The Ground Up As Herself 1:09:23 AI & Human Creativity - The Collective Reckoning 1:21:30 Breaking The Model - Designing A Life On Her Own Terms 1:28:12 Final Thought - Are You Creative?
August 3, 2026Episode 14635 min
E146: "My Technical Degree Is Basically Useless Now" with Naomie (Amzallag) Halioua
Naomie Amzallag Halioua spent years training to become a technical specialist - then watched AI make that specialization nearly worthless overnight. As co-founder and CEO of Cleo Labs, she's building an AI-powered product compliance company in a world where technical skill alone is no longer a moat. In this episode, she explains why she believes generalists - not specialists - will win the next decade, why human judgment is now the only real competitive advantage, and why Cleo walked away from a profitable product that nobody actually used. We also get into: • Why AI is quietly making deep technical training less valuable • The difference between using AI and thinking with it • How Cleo found a problem worth solving after abandoning one that wasn't • Building a company (and a family) without waiting for the "right" moment • What confidence actually requires - and where it comes from If you've ever wondered whether your hard-won expertise still matters, this conversation will change how you think about it. Naomie Halioua is the technical co-founder of Cleo Labs, a Paris-based startup that uses AI to help brands sell their products around the world without getting blocked by regulation. She's a Polytechnique-trained engineer, and she built the multi-agent architecture behind the product. Before Cleo, she co-founded Women in Web3, Europe's largest community for women in Web3. Cleo raised a 1.5 million euro pre-seed and counts Decathlon among its clients. Connect with Naomie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiehalioua/ Hosted by Zivi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Naomie's Journey 02:03 Pregnancy and Fundraising: Naomie's Experience 04:15 Role Models and Inspiration for Women in Tech 05:34 Naomie's Background in Web3 and Community Building 08:12 Pivot from AI Education to Product Compliance 13:34 How Naomie Onboards Clients for Compliance 15:45 Human in the Loop as a Competitive Advantage 17:06 Risks and Perceptions of AI Usage 20:14 Evolving Workflows and Team Skills in AI Era 21:50 Hiring for Technical and Legal Expertise 23:35 Learning and Adapting to AI Tools 25:54 Bridging the Educational Gap in AI Skills 27:31 Community Building and Support for Women 31:21 Starting the Day with Positivity and Purpose 33:24 Final Thoughts: The Power of Now and Self-Bermission
July 26, 20267 min
[paradox byte] How to Create Opportunities Before You Need Them with Anne-Maria Salmela
Opportunities often look like luck from the outside. But usually, there is intention, preparation and a lot of invisible work behind them. Anne-Maria Salmela shares how she built communities across continents, approached relationships through value, and deliberately positioned herself for the opportunities she wanted - including joining Resolve AI in San Francisco. How can you expand your surface area of luck - and will you be ready when the right opportunity appears? Watch the full episode of Perception Paradox.
July 24, 2026Episode 14541 min
E145: How to Design a Life That Creates Opportunities with Anne-Maria Salmela
How do you build a life where opportunities keep finding you? In this episode of Perception Paradox , Zivile sit down with Anne Maria Salmela - former Finnish Math Olympian, competitive dancer, community builder, venture investor, and now part of Resolve AI , one of Silicon Valley's fastest-growing AI companies. But this conversation isn't just about AI. It's about designing a life with intention. They explore how Anne navigated three continents, built startup communities from scratch, found her way into venture capital, and ultimately joined one of the most exciting AI companies in the world. Along the way, we talk about ambition, curiosity, resilience, purpose, and why luck is often something we create ourselves. They also dive into: • How to create opportunities instead of waiting for them • What top founders look for in people • AI, the future of work, and the skills that will matter most • Building communities that change careers • Why "where is home?" is a more powerful question than "where are you from?" • The idea of living life in seasons instead of chasing perfect balance Whether you're building a startup, navigating a career change, or simply trying to create a more intentional life, this episode will leave you with practical ideas—and a few questions you'll keep thinking about long after it ends. 🎙 Guest: Anne Maria Salmela Anne is a Finnish-army-knife at Resolve.AI (AI production engineer, $1.5B val), founded the Middle East's largest youth tech community (AI hackathons, conferences, VC pipeline), founding team for $30M hedge fund & $60M VC fund in Saudi Arabia, represented Finland in Maths, national #1 & world-champion #2 dancer. Connect with Anne-Maria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-maria-salmela/ Learn more about Resolve AI: https://resolve.ai/ Podcast host: Zivile Einikyte: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/ If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone designing their own path. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Anne's diverse background 01:59 From dancing and math to impact investing 04:00 Anne's journey through different countries and cultures 08:01 Transition into venture capital and startups 10:52 Defining impact in investment and personal life 16:07 Moving to the Middle East and studying abroad 20:03 Building communities and entrepreneurial ecosystems 25:08 Joining Resolve AI and the importance of team and culture 30:13 Resolve AI's focus on production problems with AI 34:54 Adapting to technological changes and future skills 39:57 Balancing work, health, and personal growth 44:04 Final thoughts: small actions for impact
July 16, 20264 min
[paradox bytes] The 3 Things Every VC Actually Looks For (Most Founders Miss #2) with Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz
Most founders obsess over the pitch deck. Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz — venture capitalist who has seen 15,000 startups — says the real filter is something most people overlook entirely. In this clip he breaks down the three non-negotiables he looks for in every founder: ambition, integrity, and groundedness. And why in the age of AI, soft skills are the only thing that truly can't be replaced. Watch the full episode to hear everything else he's learned from four careers and 15,000 startup pitches. Full episode with Rodrigo on Perception Paradox podcast. guest Rodrigo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsepulveda/ hosted by Zivile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/
July 13, 2026Episode 14432 min
E144: Europe Is Being Colonised. Most People Don't Know It Yet | Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz
Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz has lived five careers in one lifetime. Born in Chile, raised in Thailand, 36 years in Paris, now Madrid. He's been a management consultant, a serial entrepreneur, a venture capitalist who screened 15,000 startups and backed 50, a broadcaster with hundreds of episodes, and today the CEO of a European AI company he believes is genuinely worth fighting for. In this episode we get into what it actually takes to build across decades without losing yourself, why Europe is being digitally colonised and what needs to happen before it's too late, the three things he looks for in every founder, and why a wine exam made him happier than any multimillion dollar deal ever did. And what does he love more than tech or wine? You'll find out at the end. Connect with Rodrigo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsepulveda/ rodrigosepulveda.com Hosted by Zivile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction - Who Is Rodrigo Sepulveda Schulz? 02:42 Reunion & The Lisbon Breakfast Memory 03:32 Leaving Paris After 36 Years - What It Really Felt Like 05:21 Wanderlust & Living in 87 Countries 07:05 The Career Nobody Plans - How It All Started 08:24 From Consulting to Entrepreneur: The Netflix Copycat 11:00 Inventing Himself as an Angel Investor 12:09 The Broadcaster Nobody Talks About - 800 Episodes 14:11 Why He Became a CEO Again at This Stage of Life 14:42 The Wine Exam That Made Him Happier Than Any Deal 16:53 Nature vs. Zeros and Ones - Why Wine Changed Everything 17:25 How to Turn Around a Company That's Stagnating 20:11 What He Actually Looks For in a Founder 22:01 Solo Founders vs. Co-Founders - Has the Game Changed? 25:31 The Question He's Been Trying to Answer for Years 27:00 Europe Is Being Digitally Colonised - And Most Don't See It 29:28 If You Were Starting a Company in Europe Today 31:00 The 5 Stages of AI - Where the Real Opportunity Is 32:25 Final Thought - The One Language That Connects Us All
July 10, 20265 min
[paradox bytes] Why Uncertainty Isn't Your Enemy | Bas Wouterse
But what if uncertainty isn't the problem? In this Paradox Byte, innovation strategist and technology leader Bas Wouterse shares why embracing uncertainty has shaped both his career and his life - and why the things we fear often become less intimidating once we understand them. Would you rather have certainty - or possibility? Full conversation with Bas is available on Perception Paradox podcast. Connect with Bas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baswouterse/ Hosted by Zivile (Zivi): https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/
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