Startup Talks
Hosted by Andrei Averin
Two German-based founders debate and analyze startup strategies, business models, and failures in an unfiltered, co-hosted format.
This is a co-hosted show where two experienced founders apply analytical frameworks like case studies and tier lists to deconstruct startup successes and, more often, failures. It functions as a strategic workshop, moving beyond news to focus on the 'why' behind a startup's trajectory. The hosts' dynamic is built on debate and critical analysis of real-world examples.
“The dual-host debate format and the focus on "roasting" or conducting "post-mortems" on real startups is a key differentiator. Unlike interview-based shows, they dissect the mechanics of failure and strategy from an operator's perspective.”
Who hosts this show
Startup Talks is a weekly podcast hosted by founders Andrei Averin and Alex Kempf, based in Germany. In each episode, they roast and analyze real startups, dissecting everything from pitch decks and business models to marketing strategy and founder readiness. The show offers unfiltered, honest takes from their perspective as founders who have been in the trenches, covering topics like equity splits, post-mortems of failed companies, and tactical advice.
Credentials & credits
- Andrei Averin: Frankfurt-based SFMC consultant, founder marketing consultant.
- Alexandre Kempf: PhD in Neuroscience & Data Science, Machine Learning Lead, Senior Product Engineer.
Other ventures
- Alexandre Kempf: Endometric (side project), HearLight (startup from his PhD supervisor).
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01EP 17 — Free Marketing Channels for Solo Founders, Ranked S to FJun 27, 2026 · 16 min
- 02EP 16 — Quincy: When a Real Problem Isn't EnoughJun 20, 2026 · 12 min
- 03EP 15 — How Much Equity Should You Give a Co-Founder? (SPECIAL)Jun 13, 2026 · 16 min
- 04EP 14 — Jibo: $73M, a Robot That Said Goodbye, and Two Bugs Every Founder HasJun 6, 2026 · 10 min
- 05EP 13 — Why Germany Is Killing Its Own Startups (2 roasts)May 30, 2026 · 11 min
- 06EP 12 — What Actually Makes a Startup's Moat Real (4 roasts)May 24, 2026 · 12 min
- 07EP 11 — If You Don't Own Your Traffic, You Don't Own Your Startup (3 roasts)May 16, 2026 · 11 min
- 08EP 10 — Where Is Your Audience? 5 Channel Myths Founders Keep Getting WrongMay 9, 2026 · 10 min
Notable episodes
- 01EP 17 — Free Marketing Channels for Solo Founders, Ranked S to F
A prime example of their 'tier list' format, where they debate and rank strategies, introducing concepts like 'Generative Engine Optimization' (GEO).
- 02EP 16 — Quincy: When a Real Problem Isn't Enough
Showcases their deep-dive 'post-mortem' format, analyzing the multiple layers of failure in a promising startup.
- 03EP 15 — How Much Equity Should You Give a Co-Founder? (SPECIAL)
Tackles a critical and common founder question with tactical advice on vesting, legal structures, and negotiation variables.
- 04EP 13 — Why Germany Is Killing Its Own Startups (2 roasts)
Demonstrates their willingness to critique their local ecosystem, analyzing structural problems facing German startups.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is a co-hosted narrative and debate show, not a guest-interview format. The hosts analyze a specific topic, such as a startup failure (e.g., Quincy) or a founder question (e.g., equity splits), by presenting a case and then debating its merits and lessons. The dynamic is a rapid back-and-forth, with one host presenting a point and the other adding nuance, a counterpoint, or a supporting example.
This is a co-hosted show, not an interview format. The hosts, Andrei Averin and Alex Kempf, engage in a conversational debate, often using visual frameworks like tier lists or structured case studies. One host typically presents a point or a case, and the other challenges or adds commentary, creating a dynamic back-and-forth.
Signature segments
- · Startup Post-Mortems
- · Tier List Rankings (S to F)
- · Answering 'Questions Founders Ask'
- · Startup Roasts
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show is not a guest-interview format. While the hosts may reference experts or authors like Noam Wasserman, they do not feature guests for interviews.
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Estimated: No sponsors or ads were detected in the episodes. Given the show's focus on unfiltered advice for founders, potential sponsors would likely be B2B SaaS tools or services highly relevant to the startup ecosystem.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Andrei Averin
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts?
- The hosts are Andrei Averin, a founder marketing consultant, and Alex Kempf, a data scientist with a PhD in Neuroscience.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast appears to follow a weekly release schedule as of late June 2026.
- What is the show's format?
- It is a co-hosted debate and analysis show. The hosts break down startup case studies and strategies. It is not a guest-interview show.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
- Does the show have guests?
- No, Startup Talks is a co-hosted show and does not feature guest interviews.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
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