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Episode · Apr 9, 2025 · 30 min

Robots, Grit, and One Really Dark Night in 2012 – with Roman Hölzl, Founder of RobCo

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About this episode

What do robots, risk, and resilience have in common? In this episode, Roman Hölzl, founder and CEO of RobCo, shares how he went from elite freestyle skier to building one of Europe’s most capital-efficient robotics startups.

We get into what it takes to sell robots to people who don't want to buy robots, how to say no to average and build a Champions League culture, and move hardware at software speed – all while staying sane under extreme pressure.

And yes, we unpack that one night in 2012 that still shapes how Roman leads today.

🟢 And before you go, subscribe to our free newsletter at ⁠followthegradient.io⁠. Twice a week, we break down startup and tech news, share exclusive insights from our podcast guests, highlight top job openings from European startups, and provide food for thought you won’t find anywhere else. 🟡

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