Christian Lanng: "How Being a Founder Almost Killed Me" | E1065

Christian Lanng is the Founder and Former CEO @ Tradeshift, a company he took from garage to unicorn raising over $900M for with a latest price of $2.7BN in 2021. Just last month, Christian stepped away from the company and is now Chairman @ Beyond Work, building a better work experience through AI native software. ------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: (0:00) Intro (00:41) Mental Health and Career Shift (15:04) Insight on Startups and VC Life (27:33) Financial Perspective and Investor Relations (37:43) Leadership Challenges and Team Dynamics (50:43) AI Perspective and Future Insights (01:11:50) Quick-Fire Round ------------------------------------------------- In Today’s Episode with Christian Lanng We Discuss: 1. Burnout: When it Hits: How did Christian know when something was really seriously wrong? What were the signs? How did being a founder literally almost kill Christian? How was that not a wakeup moment? How does being a founder make you so out of touch with reality? 2. The Things We Are Never Told: Why does Christian think one of the biggest crimes is the myth that everyone can be a founder? What are the single biggest things about VCs that founders are not told? Why does Christian believe fundraising is absolutely a game? What are the rules to win it? What makes the best VCs? What makes the worst VCs? Why does Christian not like to take a discount for a brand name VC? 3. The Chaos That Happens Inside a Company: Why does Christian believe politics should not be discussed within companies? What are Christian’s biggest lessons on working with friends? Why after 14 years does Christian only have 3 friends that still talk to him? How did Christian fire 50% of his leadership team and productivity not change at all? Why does Christian believe US startups are inherently better than European ones? 4. Parenting and Relationship to Money: Does Christian regret not being a present father for his child when building Tradeshift? What are the two options as a founder you have when bringing up kids? Was Christian scared to leave Tradeshift? How does he reflect on his relationship to money? 5. AI: Co-Pilot is BS, The Future Business Model and more… Why does Christian believe co-pilot is the last dying breathe attempt from incumbents? Why does Christian believe that per-seat pricing will die? What will replace it? Why does Christian believe that AI will negate the importance of consumer-facing brands? In what way does Christian believe that UI is total BS? How does it change over time? ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3j2KMcZTtgTNBKwtZBMHvl?si=85bc9196860e4466 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-twenty-minute-vc-20vc-venture-capital-startup/id958230465 Follow Harry Stebbings on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarryStebbings Follow Christian Lanng on Twitter: https://twitter.com/christianlanng Follow 20VC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/20vc_reels Follow 20VC on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@20vc_tok Visit our Website: https://www.20vc.com Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.thetwentyminutevc.com/contact ------------------------------------------------- #ChristianLanng #Tradeshift #HarryStebbings