In this episode of the Inside Story of Building Businesses podcast, I sit down with Simone La Torre, Director of Business Development at Stellar, entrepreneur, and startup coach.
We dive deep into the real challenges of building companies, the importance of having the right co-founders, and why execution matters more than ever in today’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Simone shares lessons from building multiple startups, the pitfalls he’s seen founders fall into, and the traits that separate successful entrepreneurs from the rest.
💡 Some key takeaways from our conversation:
Entrepreneurship is tough — having a co-founder makes all the difference.
Founder alignment is crucial to avoid costly mistakes.
Obsess over your customers, not your idea.
The best founders know when to pivot.
Execution beats technology. Every. Single. Time.
🎧 Listen in for practical advice on how to validate ideas, attract investors, and build businesses that last.
🔑 Chapters:
00:00 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins
01:36 Traps and Challenges Founders Face
03:20 Lessons from Early Pitfalls
04:59 What I’d Do Differently Next Time
08:04 Why B2B Over B2C
10:19 Founder Mistakes and Blindspots
13:38 Delivering End-to-End Client Solutions
16:05 Traits of Successful Founders
17:50 Coaching That Transformed My Thinking
19:55 Solving Real Problems (Not Ideas)
22:26 Finding Product–Market Fit
25:01 What Makes a Startup Investable
28:53 Why Solo Founders Struggle with Investors
30:48 Choosing the Right Co-Founder
34:43 Investor Red Flags
36:59 The Future of Entrepreneurship