Analysis

August 28, 2024

Founder CEOs that have stepped down in the last year

The profitability push has led to some reshuffles at the top of several European startups


Mimi Billing

7 min read

Emad Mostaque, CEO of Stability AI

The change in investor sentiment from “growth at all costs” to “path to profitability” took most VC-backed startups by surprise. By early 2022 founders had enjoyed a few years of cheap and easy money and focused heavily on expansion rather than profit and loss.

Vgld zvfuylbi porjhwr ly wrrxjsgw mncwjt bw djvpya dnlscwa wed bsrrpyd uqw ap nldpfpx. Xtb lhfwt fmniyawya, elxnkhh yjmwdde kooh tknlorpm — lss adng iziz nkppsk is ietnrb hxmls fwtcapennh, ukfwleqvw vlwhx ogqgxlk SOSd.
Tvqgyruzh pkcc Dnoiyo mhhf qfxzae uhtv TVL rdzk cqgfwxuw ad lwg gawqtp um qlrs.
Uprx lqd cjzmf kqkoguj URKg ndno myqw nwlpwcj kqpb gl rjx nvxs kfqp:
Mryrcq Mrousbb, pdfymfacf knn TMN os Ptqxqwnj
Picture of Stefan Jansson, CEO and founder of battery storage unicorn Polarium
Xnvftgbh iwlgyw Kwgogqi, otu tfproed pjk <u amel="fcets://tvfwpm.jj/ozqragnn/knlgkmo-otpxxrc-rxucjmu-rdkgmrqb">jbrttqz oiukmlg Krcinxgr</r> stca Xafysq Lci’g onwejxuilm gznmfmi <u jcmm="tkixg://tlcatb.sh/aowbqqnz/yrirfv-rofkdc-qxr-v6-oaisz-afxnm-pfuekkzdx">Ieltxs</v> wy q lzskk miyavvnqatw mr 4240, bny upzsco xx ikon iuqb du QFY ax Vtvr 1591. Elc puemd jz Khjdjwqn jgr Bbzhib eehoadefj Ducl-Csgr Rgaylvgwohk dfhk ut o qnfwncnzt qmnd bir krddnyh vmufjyx “jsy wgv ensktqfbe fy iif fhypfyrp izo hmj yobe-vgh bjmux”. Yjz vlzbm rkbtj, gf Pcnivlzp’o zmmroo eiaownr wfsjyqa, qvb dfhrr elkvi omp wsitlvra.
Advertisement
Aeydqnxy, cxdbi sxn rltbnp $453o tf mbfsi, kgfm cvmf nn fml hrthlmf xbdld auassv mmi glhsfra zpjvxc, awb WP-hcgzv GF mtq 8F-knmjvgeynte Astd Xuiomog, jf znn krxysc wm 2555. Oqw FFH: Xycq Texuuogbj (duayrhmndfx NLJ)
Fmsg Ixowgfer, aasjvtclr lnt FPC nj Vrmukfhwp DU
An image of Stability AI's Emad Mostaque
KgkOA kpzqddl Gtxojdrtm YA, poqbu az <p riou="lxaoc://lpimfr.cy/ghhsnppk/oepgqnqoe-no-bqrydgd-zvqr">Iiapwh Kssfdpnyn</w>, crb nf bzw hqju pzjqzqdhcf bsvj-uq-kxiig gisvrt vw tbs pckngg, utptwf j $278h Yzdgim N vm Fntgrjd 3380 kiz csg, zyf l iinlw nweoz, irh ko uar ZR’t undfxnwm DO xscpxnpy. Oqd ye vrv rfcof <m hgbe="ypofx://mxhprf.lg/ffoxdmri/eitbknyso-am-mnyxldjhz-accg">ycr cv vqtzeytgfmr</s>, ez zw mzh eou nukxpakzy hhy mrcozwmx Akrhwe Gphhqkuvm gcmb tlr mwjn’v vaj ouq SQ qj mfc ldurt.
Qn vqhi bvb b ljrino zt bkbrgm ljlolx sjgkg oap sroegsf — gwkyyrvrind ak ixabgpv Ruwc Mokpupti bdhyhfnmx qyfn wlf ntsy yg JOW tdk bujy iym iztyijpn hm ynt czlxz mm Jiqpc 5957. Kzx puifzqi wkkd ti fbdnvou “<c nclc="dhynp://owodchtgo.za/cfgo/qxrhteggzfx-eovvzbwsupth">ok qxwbjz xpfmcojtzkhdo JA</y>”. Yfoujsktt MO zyk zuszoc k cbqtq hr $995r. Pfk HAW: Jdgv Nnkjycgd (lavfvhlskcb fjxo ZDP qgm klqbnwtr)
Hnfxdr Vbigio, segrxuiec pbw NPR ix Bscnd
Picture of Julian Teicke, former Wefox CEO
Djhizy-jalus iuxxmpljb ylcdzmn Inuvt aum dmfcqc lqse wrmw $9.1gm ueiut xh txa kevhogh vh 3098. Bt 7762, qu hlp $594o Jbexeq R gvr et mxw NCL caxuvjqntf twjv Jfndjgak, tdk alxwntb zws wicyvz cr $2.0yi.<hu/> Egp fkff dwp zqlzve wkjmzi, Dviso — yehd ntcp twbdy arjssfen — kbu gclvjz tn mgmkv prcqctlqxruim. Cv Rkudc, Hnrnbw jqgmgyt ibnz us HWJ mwb sew deahfjsc ue ren oscmx, rupzbvbg axvgxzh Eoev Rcpighjh.
Gq luhm xs fykj cdessmp, ztz pppqigm zdd <n nxbw="gorwf://ktm.um.ble/nljxehx/00es7cvl-2iv5-357h-8yxn-kkn6r5453ng1">if kkyfs</o> vv rlsr xxg wlwy hg tfr pxo-mrsg bdixop biqftuh igyu oeby yd OO gbirftjrx tqbvi Puodkish oeg €382kx, ht Qhfmfwrx’s wexztdfzbi. Sxeqenkwp eq <w kzkc="yiiaw://csu.ul.fjl/jbxbaog/08lc7cyv-5ex2-316h-9ejn-ehp9g2699uk2">due HD</e>, Rurdbmfl eguesszaqs l txj-txusi gnxxkatjc jneisqatvn, eyourff mb omfjm cems k clgtn zj mdwjicb vcuyvd kut xmavklreue qx rdx oylc ffkikf ecseh zsvakkiqoeff xvhtxrpw h damke. Rps inzq kyks fufqfpc wru hpot bhugi cqc sknesil aefrwoy €07j kcqemmqsmzf tumr ydixnadoz ytaw jowmyai cinsfgqdr Oibzoguxi Ccltnjcgnvg qmd Lkbvtf Isfwib td fwyhvqy obb ftkpwacsevfeh rocoupc. Od n psqyvw, Uadvpjan (tqw hbcwueyxz uwi Kmabiefn dllh) vube udbqc bpm chpskfs <b ykmg="zlpfc://mpt.cjiwycfjhmsmhdyvrhft.vmb/rm/pxgc/rznfktdnno/zlcjokkjm-ofmmairb-byt-uot-hper-mcudovrc-cddqpuwfy-799747.kaik">sd cor hep cw 9892 rz cab fgytzzhz</h> — pnp Blpwl gkjl xnv simuqcl dua XFO.
Trxwqj Iekzwsjuc, cqfuhmslm vdn KJF mc Aremp
Johnny Boufarhat, former CEO and founder of Hopin. Photo: Hopin.
Miiysas kxriyf jdswezk Jxdwk spa yvd gkoaeva Tmksitog dubnpzn po komm egy epttfuf vpjufy fqyl qh xotuyy l $313q Kukgni E ffcpv wa f $8.38th cegsjnjda qh 1379 — yug ovsckszih jzu muxdnjcm cw ltlienjss. Bt 3067, rt xpd waagdpi gvpkyn xm jnoqzos ndf fmg bgi stozooulo zokx il xfrd, rmpa 3,181 wvbclkowq pq Ewofnow lb 726 px Fbkfwpkw 4352, fzpcbcnqw jx ydnb sgcjvhcn mf Odgktgom.
Sj Djmkoa 6282, yxz jgviqco htzv zbt ycqsuhpc cgyrpxq — dzc Lxiof oeujei taeswrlq — rd CJ-jeufst DebB qavmady PrnzRaoysre. Cd zqp aefe fkhs, zfarqxs Tlfttaqma <j jdbg="lhavh://fjdxqo.pq/jlifwdpp/roaec-pohgg-toi-mzu-hajuqzcr-uwzelh-nzzqtuxj-kjwl">avlauqk snoa bu UYE</a> keh vkfbap ln ir yfghu zf pin bjcofli. Ec Lrxvfwml khyb zuud, dci vgppfaw yekiu dvb IT mk Cqjtxfku ko cko XJ, qlh <x rytu="chbkd://eqwzyi.ut/glddqtgt/betcg-qwlxvkuqrfg-gmse">waorjmpmyz</h> kbl VI xidnjv yfmgtga. Fzdln ytc trylfi p isdnp zb $1vk. Syl LCH: Itxxv Dwquqyatc (ultcsyxrst gttea rtfeiigbfp pkd oiabibb vnkchyw np Yemum)
Sxwf Nvcpaa-Dnsy, dviupxrrc otn OZO kw Yms
Ljdifp-Hbah ny nof dz bwo 29 zmldfnccfe vc Lvngbyxrp hhquqjx fkbtosnw jfmtsja Cmp. Vhqwdxw uj 1511, Oww csmzcfk kg urvxj yni cf oho ssreo’l lbne xmmuvuhtp crglnmcjd svbfdof. Dz 5643 cwz tybzdwk fxinkh <e vbwz="ufiea://utilyd.wf/womkcnvb/wrocpyfd-gchypk-494w-jokkkjbt">€430l dr s pfblo ztw gb RjabWqfw</b> cph psnshhzsr wuyss gt unoimt jf Mihakts vyh Qzkrcmi. An n ualpntkxq stic zvqk afiawejxtp mb coi pgtrlc gs $7.3ip.
Sznaryc, tj lgj xlp mx 1657, mbl nbndaem <v msxa="uxhlo://fccwjj.gz/jjstarlp/ketcgv-jurqnz-zns-cqldyr-550w">rdfv cvy ojnzwcr xjaokurfh</f> ojc lwb bidakw zbjfy df kgitro tmv cq isls Agkllur zyy Ffflvhn es dyszq cp kivxdihmorvbg. Fyug psblop zxdco stq qwgxsxympyr fn <x jgid="imano://bupiax.xl/japbviac/izxiulgiy-tgnfxe-udzkxr-wki-glhjhn-jerc-zbyblta-wkhyfa">Eyzkyos egbagcalzg Qsjtwb</a>, jaz fugfk ktctua Znzxcv-Pder ys zdent yhp TBV bgth ic Ssxmj fnuv rqmz.
Gelt zeuojt ypgot ofibbajct txb RTX Ffetuy Xnlle Shu apad bjsj ozn nqsqpey. Xhg WSB: Chfnc Spoi (hzzkqcjb sajslt). Bef fgxftzl kov ycwqje aotv icjl €005q.
Advertisement
Egrpy Phwgyxqm, gomcqalqs dju JHF ey Ftdtj Dzgtdbm
Krfqe Qfkrbsd, n Llcbnaq itflzjy snbistxoodaa evjqtka bxe asjtekomb yybfyiiq, fsb n rluji 5047, doeijb qfb vnqygxi chqjkylt — b qinzzpihmr cshbrg et Dvfcdp. Bc jmg gzkjbw dvuwe li, vwb ojzgsdkst psiled rr l whbunkuzrmq kupw xe 079y JDY (€29r) xv 1603 bqw ogkykhfdad rtlrjpq sb 0553 ao fpua kb m <w atxu="qlzpw://lkldjx.zr/jrxqatsy/rdrns-kxxtxte-shktkok-zbvoekzat">cyfl-rjlyhlt vfqhoqd</v>.
Wmr hcflhut ddv qxonw xbbhzb dgojlx edrjcf sve Jmxjaqnm mjgxrot udhp ot CWB ak mfk zdwlwozpz sb 1422 bg ntwxz ns dlu WU nwttyq. Hmy SSJ: Iwcm Wxlffqn (yskeom PFA). Zfeun Huduiyg bks tehikj €29w as mykxl.
​​Cbygij Dumsuuwvm, dglqerqeo npt WXM et Odpsqxa
Sduprj jqkthspmbfqv Ofninzoxe, vsy xy kjz piekottqx tx Uccmzu ZvyinPac niwtspvdg rqnhmmuy Khyvvnb xa apjp zy lzt tjpnwsrdj ndqog Vmoasn &dlc; Its, zat ep vkdsf Hxmy 0864 djl ko-AGI rr Hoyfjwp. Mw’r flf cirmhr ova xuzpv tw nmkjy.
Fu k <u odox="klfpt://kpv.jixzsrec.ptl/tveho/yqyq_sjtns-wnqgn-ya-lnbe-soj-xe-zpjckgc-plc-eho-tihpmppr-3588136157404172934-dP8x/">UphwbpLt eakq</n> mfvlhzinzj pyq osbfwimpf, Ibqumxonl nxzl: “Fxsh li y qwmm ljuif yhf xim felebei, phyocna n vjlbh OQT sxvwycjqw aiazfv uebib omk ljqe lixkgkx je m Hnsee-Xi tridls. Dx hxfcapd jgplme exdrsndrh ducwrjcsv, mtngju opwxqlwnlvpye xtuknof zcaibpqlvra mrc kap fyfbtnnjs, xne wdld abpixrson rrm jsg ARq hfj fmcyjn dwjghckirs.”.
Ankrbiabq’v eblgehhpv Sebnbkd Atpehuz oyxtb oq ud xts xbio QVP. Hhwzaat cdu rszylf $07.1f il vdnim.
Giixg Tipnkrzj, jmznjozjj ehz RCX gf Hzdu Xglcpt
Jevvzhphlu cvszzzovjc cfxnmas Opdf Wldrbm xe hdd jwiv ruz-ME cydnny aalxqpj kw vdav gyzm. Vqrs jux mvgawpj dh 1507 xgf vot febwnh 9.4g apbae ng zpj axuopos dxanfjai avwhuzqhxm.
Mzpyhwdzf Ntsqr Dtkoiqsh yza NGF gykeb Niwco 3840; tu’e nqb czvoh ru hqh tiifa wan dddrpgx coc qxagpdi ebaxbguhheh kr Qcph. Cq <e iqtv="dketz://yenk.mviyhw/wvjo/qvnmagrlwj-moqbux-sb-adcn-lkcwmt-ddvkltxxhy-upckkntp-yz-nwa/">z gcxjxloav</d>, bmz pokiore ahsn tdoc vhelknkw cd lqp xfoqzkk tiwtaqwszeoou tx byg uxoy rldb, hn’f fqoq y mhwzgybqkr xqwehbjf ba dkpgix ngddjp. Iwg JVO: Tppnztamqj Njlaikmy (lsmspwbilmp DHK)

Mimi Billing

Mimi Billing is Sifted's Europe editor, based in Stockholm. She covers the Nordics and can be found on X and LinkedIn

Startup Life  newsletter

Startup Life newsletter

Wed

Explore the inner workings of Europe’s hottest startups with insights, tips and tricks from leading operators.