In this episode, we sit down with a true legend of the tech and investing world, Fabrice Grinda, Founding Partner at FJ Labs. With a track record that includes founding the global classifieds giant OLX (used by 350M+ people), achieving over 350 exits as an investor, and being named the #1 Angel Investor by Forbes, Fabrice shares a masterclass on what it takes to win in the world of startups.
We dive deep into his incredible journey, from leaving McKinsey at 23 to chasing his entrepreneurial dream, to the bold "spaghetti on the wall" strategy of launching OLX in 100+ countries simultaneously.
Fabrice gets candid about nearly going bankrupt, borrowing money on his credit cards to make payroll, and the resilience it took to build a company to $200 million in revenue.
You'll also hear the untold story of how he tried to buy the "Alibaba.com" domain from a then-unknown Jack Ma, and the pattern recognition that allowed him to become an early investor in future giants like Alibaba, Airbnb, and Flexport.
If you're an entrepreneur, investor, or just fascinated by what it takes to build and identify world-changing companies, this conversation is packed with priceless insights.
⭐ Sponsored by Podcast10x - Podcasting agency for VCs - https://podcast10x.com
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FJ Labs website - https://fjlabs.com/
Fabrice Grinda on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabricegrinda/
🎙️ Hosted by Prashant Choubey
Follow Prashant on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/choubeysahab
We talk about -
- Why Fabrice left a prestigious job at McKinsey to become a founder.
- The high-risk strategy that made OLX a global phenomenon.
- Lessons from nearly losing everything and bouncing back stronger.
- The key traits that separate successful companies from those that fail.
- His contrarian take on the current AI bubble and where the real opportunities lie.
- The future of marketplaces and the next trillion-dollar opportunities.
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction
(03:02) - Journey from McKinsey to becoming an entrepreneur
(04:48) - OLX's global expansion strategy and market selection
(07:33) - Fundraising approach and VC backing for OLX
(09:44) - Building Zingy to $200M revenue after near bankruptcy
(11:16) - Bootstrapping Zingy with small incremental raises
(12:32) - Transition from operator to investor
(14:16) - Being named #1 angel investor by Forbes
(16:11) - Framework for evaluating marketplace opportunities
(17:32) - Pattern recognition in successful vs failed companies
(19:09) - Current marketplace market conditions and valuations
(22:30) - How AI is changing purchasing behavior in marketplaces
(24:42) - Why B2B marketplaces are compelling now
(26:18) - AI's impact on marketplace defensibility and network effects
(27:41) - Early investments in Alibaba, Airbnb, and Flexport stories
(29:58) - Cross-border marketplaces and live commerce trends
(32:27) - International arbitrage and business model innovation
(34:10) - Solving the chicken and egg problem in marketplaces
(36:00) - Take rates in marketplaces from early to mature stages
(39:12) - Marketplace monopolies and pricing power
(41:06) - Zomato's valuation and public market implications
(45:45) - Biggest hurdles for marketplace founders today
(46:35) - Contrarian belief: Investing in marketplaces over AI
(48:08) - Rapid fire: Investment sectors, stages, and check sizes
(49:26) - How to reach Fabrice and closing remarks
For sponsorship or guest appearance requests, write to prashantchoubey3@gmail.com
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